Page 33 of Ruined

Breaking away once again, I hold my form, refusing to let her drag me back down.

“Blake…” I moan. I already know I’m going to regret this before I say it, but I need to say it. “We have to stop.”

Just like I thought, Blake freezes, her hands stilling against my back.

“Don’t do that, Sunshine, don’t,” I tell her. Reaching around I cup her cheek. “I would spend all day kissing you, but I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

Blake nods, but I can see the sadness there. I hate that look and never want to see it again.

“Baby steps, Sunshine, let’s take baby steps, okay?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.

She smiles shyly at me, nodding her head. Pressing my lips against her forehead, rolling to the side, I prop myself up on my arm. “Think you can stay in bed and cuddle with me?” I ask, wiggling my brows.

Blake rolls her eyes but keeps smiling.

“I’ll let you be the big spoon if you want.”

Blake gives a silent laugh, pulling the covers up over her shoulder. When I don’t move, she raises a brow and wiggles her finger around.

“Great, I’ve never been the small spoon before.” I chuckle. Turning around, I ease myself down, holding my breath until her dainty arm wraps around my waist. Sliding my hand down, I grab her wrist pulling it up until her palm lays against my chest. “This okay?” I ask.

Blake presses her forehead against the middle of my back, and moments later I feel her nod against me. Smiling into the darkening room, I tap her hand once, hoping she understands the words I want to say but don’t understand yet.

“Go to sleep, Sunshine, I’ll protect you,” I whisper.

It doesn’t take long before I feel her relax against me, her breathing warming my back.

I’m not sure when things changed inside for her when they became more mental than physical. But whatever happens, I’ll do whatever it takes to make her trust me. I’ll kill anyone who dares to touch her. Blake will become human again. She won’t be this walking shell forever. She’ll learn that I’ll bury anyone for her. All she has to do is say the word.

“She still asleep?” Luna asks the next morning.

“Yeah,” I mumble sleepily. I barely slept, worried that if I did, Blake would freak out when she found herself wrapped around me. Or I would wake up and she would be hiding in the bathroom again. Every time I dozed off, I would jerk awake, my heart beating too fast for my liking. Only to calm down when I felt her still up against my back. Which is where she slept the entire night.

“Good, I’m glad.” She smiles, holding out a steamy cup of coffee.

“Thank you,” I mutter. Gulping most of it down while standing there, I groan. Nothing better than a hot cup of coffee.

“When are you guys heading out?”

“Soon, I don’t want to stay too long.” Leaning back against the counter, I continue to sip on my coffee.

“I can make some breakfast before you guys head out. I’m sure both of you are hungry after going to bed early.”

Peeking over my coffee at her, I open my mouth to say something but stop when Blake slowly opens the door, stepping out into the living room.

Her eyes aren’t fully open, as she rubs them, her bottom lip sticking out a bit. I can’t take my eyes off her, not for a second. Knowing I’ve had my lips on hers, that she is comfortable enough to sleep in bed with me all night.

Blake stops the moment she realizes that Luna and I are both staring at her.

“Morning.” I smile, sipping the rest of my coffee.

Blake glances between Luna and me before her eyes finally settle on mine.

“Pancakes or waffles?” I ask before she can crawl back into her shell. I can already tell that look in her eyes. She wants to run again.

“I can wait here all day, Sunshine.” I smile.

Blake narrows her eyes at me before holding up two fingers.

---