Page 82 of Play Pretend

She let out a breathless laugh. “It was…” Another laugh bubbled up, but she managed, “Amazing.”

willow

Ronan’s guest room was just like the rest of his house and office—bare. There was only a bed and a rickety nightstand, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry or laugh because of it. But I didn’t mind it because I felt safe knowing Ronan was just a room away.

I stared up at the ceiling as I tried to calm my heart. Today had been a whirlwind. It felt like a year had passed, but it had only been a few hours. The kiss helped me forget about the break-in for a short time, but now that I was lying in a bed, staring at the ceiling just like I had been earlier, it was the only thing I could focus on.

Iwantedto think about the kiss. I wanted to relive every second of it, feel every hitch of breath and the possessive way Ronan held me against him. It had been a kiss out of a movie, out of a dream.

It was perfect.

We’d crossed a line tonight, and I wasn’t sure if we were still just pretending or if things were starting to feel real for him, too. I didn’t have the courage to ask him earlier, because if he said it was only a kiss, that it meant nothing, it would gut me, and I didn’t have the strength for that tonight.

There was a sound outside the door, and my eyes opened wide. My breathing turned ragged as I sat up, a feeling of déjà vu overtaking me.It’s nothing, I told myself. If there were someone out there, Ronan would’ve heard, and I trusted him to take care of it.

To take care of me.

But I couldn’t stop the tremor wracking my hands, or the way my breathing turned harsh. Fear wrapped around my throat andsqueezed.

Another creak came from the other side of the door, and I gripped the blanket tighter. There had been noises all night, but that felt different. Felt heavier, like a person.

No. It’s nothing.

But then something pressed against the door causing the wood to groan, and I shot out of bed.

“Fuck this,” I breathed. There was some god playing a cruel joke on me tonight, because two break-ins in one night? It felt like a harsh bout of karma, but I didn’t know what I did that was so terrible to causethis.

“Shit.” The voice was muffled, and I pushed my brows together. It sounded like Ronan’s voice. Was he out there? What the hell was he doing at this hour? Why wasn’t he passed out in bed?

Without telling them to, my feet carried me to the door. There was another quiet curse, then another thud, and I let out a harsh breath. I yanked the door open, and a heavy weight toppled into my legs, sending me flying through the air. A shriek escaped me on my way down, and I landed heavily on the floor. My eyes were wide as I stared at Ronan. He stared back, sitting back on his knees.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I hissed.

“I was—” He roughly cleared his throat. “I was sitting outside your door.”

I blinked at him. “What? Why?”

“I wanted to be close to you,” he muttered shyly. “In case you had a nightmare. Sometimes—” He cleared his throat again. “Traumatic events can cause nightmares. I just wanted to be around in case you needed me.”

I clenched my jaw as a wave of emotions rose inside me. There was no way this man was real.

“I’m okay,” I whispered, though I wasn’t. Every sound made me jolt awake and sent me back to those moments in the closet.

“You don’t have to be,” he said. The words hung in the air. Shadows covered his face, but his eyes shone in the low light pouring in through the window. “Have you slept at all?” I shook my head, and he sighed. “Come with me.”

He groaned as he pushed to his feet and held his hand out. There was no hesitation as I slid my palm against his, and he pulled me gently to my feet, but he didn’t let go of my hand.

“Where are we going?” I asked as he led us down the short hallway.

“You can sleep in my bed. It’s comfier.”

“Ronan.” I tugged on his hand, pulling him to a stop. “I can’t take your bed. You need your sleep.”

“I never sleep,” he said quietly. “I have insomnia.”

“I’m sorry.” I squeezed his hand, and his lips tipped up in a gentle smile.

“You take my bed, shortcake. I’ll lie on the floor.”

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