Page 82 of Give Me Redemption

I puddle at her feet and surrender.

You have me, Dalton. I’m at your mercy, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

The lights flicker again, and off they go.

“Shit,” I say.

Dalton turns around and bumps into me. “Sorry,” she says. She grabs my waist and moves around me, and I slowly exhale as my eyes shut painfully.

Her touch hurts, knowing she can do it freely, but I can’t.

It’s agony.

“I’ll light some more candles. Good thing we have a gas stove and enough firewood to last all night.”

“Yeah,” I say lowly. I swallow and push off the wall. “I’ll throw another log on.”

_____________

“We might have to sleep in here,” I say as I stand up and grab her empty bowl from the table. “The rooms will be too cold.”

“You’re right. But the floor is going to be pretty uncomfortable.”

“Let’s move the mattress then.”

She laughs. “That’s not a bad idea.”

She stands up and walks into the room with her stuff on it. “You coming?” she calls out.

______________

Getting the mattress in here was not easy. The damn thing weighed a ton and sorry, but Dalton wasn’t that much help. She’s got enough blankets on there and pillows to smother us. I’m fucking nervous about sleeping next to her.

Actually, I’m not.

I’m anxious.

I’m ready, and I can’t promise nothing is going to happen. I blow out all the candles after we brush our teeth. Dalton sits on the mattress with her chin resting on her knees. She’s off in her own world when I sit down beside her. It’s cold in other parts of the cabin. Bringing the mattress into the living room was a good idea.

“You tired?” I ask her. She looks over at me but doesn’t take her chin from her knees.

“A little. You?”

I shrug. “A little.”

I lean back on the couch, one leg stretched out, as I pull the other up. I look at the fire and listen to the wind outside.

“What’s on your mind?” I ask, looking in front of me.

“What’s on yours?” she throws back.

“You,” I say, looking over at her. The reflection of the fire makes her face glow. Her eyes shine, and her hair looks like silk. Right now, she looks innocent, like the world hasn’t done something damaging to her. “Come here,” I say gently.

She shuts her eyes for a moment and exhales.

“I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to, Dalton.”

And I mean that.

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