Page 66 of Sizzling Nights

"What's wrong, Baby?"

She closed the distance between them and his arms immediately wrapped around her body and held her tightly. "Hey, you're shaking. Are you alright?"

"Yes." She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I was absorbed in my story and heard the camera and saw a car, but it took me a bit to realize it was your car and fear ran through me."

He squeezed her tightly and whispered in her ear. "That's understandable. The stuff you're writing about is dark. I should have texted you that I was on my way. I'll do that from now on."

He released her and stepped back slightly. He bent down and kissed her lips, then he grinned. "But, your story! That is so exciting, Babe."

She smiled. "I started writing. I've been at it for..." She looked at her watch. "Oh my God. Three hours." She chuckled. "I've been writing for three hours!"

He held his hand up for her to high-five, which she did. "That's fantastic, let's celebrate."

She grinned. "Are you too tired?"

"No, I'm always wired when I get home. Let's have a drink and you can tell me all about it."

She smiled and took his hand. "How about this? You sit here..." She moved him to the sofa. "I'll get you a beer and I'd love for you to tell me about some of your pictures."

He smiled as he looked at the photo album on the coffee table. He picked it up and opened the cover. Theresa ran to the kitchen and got them each a beer and sat next to him. She handed him his beer and tapped her bottle to his. "Cheers."

"Cheers."

They flipped through the photo album, and he spoke about the places he'd been, the people he'd met, and that the woman in the pictures was a friend. Once in a while, she was a friend with benefits, but that was it. She felt that little pang of jealousy for a moment, then let it go. That was his past, she was his present, and hopefully, his future.

He yawned after an hour and a half and she did too. They both laughed, then stood and began shutting off the lights. They were a normal couple, and it felt pretty freaking great.

As she snuggled into Marco's arms Theresa's heart felt full. Setting aside her writing this past year had been from necessity. Getting back to it now, only in a different way felt so good.

She closed her eyes as Marco's deep even breathing lulled her to sleep.

A loud alarm broke into her restful sleep. Sitting up in bed, dazed and trying to figure out what was going on took some time. But not for Marco. She turned to see him alert and dressed in his sweatpants.

He pulled his phone from the charger and read the screen. He huffed out a breath and ran from the room. That panicked her more than the abrupt alarm. She scooted to the edge of the bed, pulled on her sweats and a T-shirt, and went out to find Marco sitting at the desk, watching the computer. His brows were furrowed, the alarms still going off.

"What is it?" she yelled.

"I don't know. I'm trying to figure it out."

She checked her phone, there wasn't an amber alert or silver alert on her screen. The alarms came from the house. They weren't smoke alarms.

Marco's phone rang and he answered it immediately. "Karason."

Theresa's throat clogged with worry. Her breathing came in short bursts and her brain finally caught up to what was happening. The shrieking of the alarms began pounding in her head. She hadn't had a PTSD attack in a long time. But she felt her body shake as if one was about to happen.

She scrambled to the bedroom to put her shoes on. If they had to leave, she needed shoes. Without a second thought, she grabbed her laptop and shoved it in its case, then slipped her arms into her backpack. She hurried to Marco, who was now typing something into the computer.

The alarms stopped and silence fell around them. He sat still, watching the computer screen, his fingers shook, and she noticed his body locked tight. She swallowed the lump in her throat and called out to him. "Marco."

He sat still as a statue.

"Marco. Baby, it's me, Theresa. Honey, can you talk to me?"

She approached him slowly, not sure if she should get too close in case he thought she was an enemy. She blew out a breath and moved to stand next to him. Slowly she knelt down to her knees so she wouldn't look imposing in his state, and she laid her hand on his thigh. She held herself steady, as she tried to get her own breathing under control. She felt sweat trickle down her back and temple.

Taking a deep breath once more, she softly said, "Marco. Baby, please come back to me." She squeezed his thigh gently and sobbed when his hand rested on top of hers.

She opened her eyes to see his beautiful brown eyes watching her. He turned in his chair and took a deep breath. Then he reached under her arms and pulled her up onto his lap.

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