Page 25 of Catching His Runaway

I’m putting my trust in her, and I can’t tell if it’s a good idea or not.

The more I think about it, the more muddled my head feels.

Unlike her, I don’t waste time standing beneath the stream. Washing my body, I’m quick with spreading the suds and washing away the day’s evidence. Once the water is running clear, I’m right back out.

I don’t like the unfamiliar sensation gnawing at my chest at the thought of discovering that she’s no longer in my room. Instead of letting it hold me back, I push open the door and expect the worst.

When I exit the bathroom, I find her spread across my bed; the blankets kicked at her feet, and a look of comfort on her face. It’s a surprise she hasn’t already molded to the mattress and fallen asleep.

My eyes are immediately drawn to her bare skin, and from here, I can see the pink shorts she’s wearing. Thank God.

Her face changes when she catches my stare, and I hear the sharp intake of air. “Oh.”

I feel her stare as I walk over to my dresser and pull out a pair of briefs. She’s not even trying to hide her curiosity.

“Please tell me you don’t intend to get dressed right there.” Her voice wobbles, and I can hear the hesitation.

“My room, I can get dressed wherever I please.” Turning to look at her, I take in the dark twin patches on her cheek as my free hand grazes the towel’s knot at my hip. “Up to you if you look or not. I don’t care.”

I’ve never been shy of my appearance, never giving a damn either. Never having a reason to need to impress anyone, I haven’t worked out any of my flaws.

I’m sure she can see all of the scars decorating my back, injuries I’ve received while distracted. My chest is just as decorated. Everything below the waist doesn’t look as bad.

Dropping the towel, I’m sure she’ll see that much if she doesn’t get all bashful.

Willing to bet she’s got her hands over her eyes, I pull them on and ditch my towel before making my way over to the bed.

I don’t put on more clothes. Without letting myself dig too deep into my actions, I choose to sleep in just my underwear tonight.

Getting on, I see that she’s done exactly what I thought she would. Blushing a bright pink, she sputters as her hands fall away.

“You can’t–”

“You are a grown woman. Stop acting like you haven’t shared a bed with a man before.” Growling out my frustrations, I yank the blanket up toward my body, covering hers at the same time.

“It’s different…” Murmuring the words, she sighs as I shut off the light. Taking away any reason for her to get flustered, I lay flat on my back and stare up at the ceiling.

Much to my dismay, I can’t help but wonder if I smell better. Will she put as much distance between our bodies as possible, or will the opposite play out?

Having her this close, I can hear the rate of her breathing. Despite giving her a comfortable place to sleep, she’s not relaxed. What is it now? Is it me?

After a few minutes, she shifts, restless.

“What is it?” I finally ask, taking in the outline of her body through the darkness.

At first, she doesn’t answer. Maybe she’s asleep, simply moving through her rest. For a moment, I almost fall for the thought. Then she turns her head to look at me.

The moonlight slipping through the curtain does damage that a blade can’t. Catching the faint outline of her in the dark—the curve of her shoulder, the way her bottom lip is caught between her teeth, I’m caught in awe.

This is bad.

“I can’t sleep.” She moves the blanket from her body like she’s too warm. Maybe that’s what it is, but from the way her body stirs, something else is at play here.

I exhale through my nose. There are ways to fix this. Another stroll through the garden. A mindless argument to burn off the energy. But then there’s the other option, the one that’s been sitting heavy in the back of my mind since she first climbed into my bed.

An option I shouldn’t even be considering to make a reality. It’s safer locked up in my head. But once I consider it, it’s too late.

It’s the same when I kissed her. Once I do something I can’t possibly take back, thinking becomes impossible. My body takes control, and I’m moving to solve this problem of hers.

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