Page 33 of Their Reluctant Catch

I snort.

“What?”

“It’s probably a good call. It’ll be hard enough explaining to her that she spent the night half out of it with two guys, but one of those men being naked wouldn’t go over well.”

Todd chuckles, stretching as he settles onto the other side of the bed on top of the covers. “I think our starling has a sharp, pointed beak, and she’d certainly try to bite you with it.”

I smirk, pulling on the pants before I climb on the bed.

Maybe.

But at least she’d be fighting.

Chapter14

Todd

Something shifts against me and pulls me from sleep. Disoriented, I blink into the darkness and try to get my bearings. This is not my room, but Colton’s. Memories of the previous day rush in.

Colton finding Savannah.

Us taking her back home.

Tucking her in Colton’s bed.

I’m in bed with my brother and Starling.

A sense of rightness settles deep inside me, filling my chest with warmth. This is where she belongs. Where we belong.

I turn to my back, careful not to jostle the mattress too much, and blink up at the ceiling. What woke me? I’m a solid sleeper, and not much can rouse me when I’m off into dreamland.

A whimper, barely more than a breath.

I tense and turn my head to the right. Savannah’s fingers are clenched around the sheets, and she’s mewling like a scared little kitten. She’s trembling, her whole body locked tightly, like she’s bracing for something bad—really bad.

What the hell?

Is she having a bad dream? Some sort of reaction to what happened yesterday?

Colton sits up instantly on her other side and murmurs. “Nightmare?”

I fumble around, find the light switch, and turn on the nightstand lamp. “Looks like it.”

She shifts, her mumbling incoherent, her breath coming in ragged little gasps.

Colton’s jaw tightens. “Wake her up?”

I nod. “Spoon her, but don’t hold her tight. Just give her a little compression and a human touch. Don’t try to hold her when she tries to fight you off.”

Without questioning it, he slides closer, resting his arm lightly over her waist. He’s not trapping her but simply providing an anchor for her. Good man.

I slip out of bed and crouch beside her, careful to stay within her line of sight if she wakes swinging. I have no clue what the nightmare is about, but I don’t think we should crowd her.

“Savannah?” I keep my voice low and soothing. “Starling, wake up.”

She stiffens but doesn’t open her eyes—another whimper escapes her like she’s in pain.

Damn it.

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