“Trina.” His voice sounded strained as he pulled his wrist out of my grasp. He brushed hair off my forehead in a way that made me lean into his touch. So soft. So gentle.
So much the opposite of how I’d been touched for the last several years that I felt my body craving that tenderness even though I knew I shouldn’t desire it.
“Not sure that’s a good idea,” Declan said, his thick voice a bit raspy.
“Please,” I whispered again, opening my eyes to see him. The outline of his body was barely visible in the darkened room, and slightly blurred because of my sleepiness.
After what seemed like several minutes passing, Declan finally nodded. I shifted on the bed and then watched as he fumbled with the button and zipper of his jeans. He sat on the edge of the bed, his back to me, and removed them.
The bed dipped as he lay down next to me, his T-shirt still on, and rolled toward my side. One of his arms slid under me and he pulled me to him until my head rested on his shoulder. His hand settled on my lower back, and I felt the warmth of his light but still possessive touch soak into my skin through my shirt.
His other hand rested on his stomach.
Closing my eyes, I shifted my body against him, trying to get as close as possible. His whole body was tense, rigid.
My body felt like it was waking up for possibly the first time.
We lay there silently while tension rippled in the air around us, both of us feeling it, neither of us acknowledging it.
I had almost been lulled back to sleep by the slow movement of his chest as he breathed, when he turned his head toward me and brushed his lips across my forehead.
“Go to sleep, Trina. We won’t let him hurt you.”
I pulled in my last deep breath before sleep claimed me, and fell asleep knowing that Declan believed his own words 110 percent.
I fell asleep cradled in Declan’s embrace, feeling safer with this almost-stranger than I had since the day I said “I do.”
I fell asleep with my life a mess, my future unclear, but I knew one thing for certain. I never wanted this feeling to fade.
Ever.
But when I woke up?
I was all alone.
Just like always.