Page 71 of A Brother's Secret

“She lets herself get overwhelmed,” Isaid.

“So, use the dick god gave you and distract her withit.”

I laughed. Couldn’t argue, it had worked last night, even if it had been a short reprieve and sex was a great stress reducer.

“Thanks,” I said gettingup.

“No problem.”

I got up, and shook the man’s hand out of respect, and went to collect Mali’s things. When I got back to the house, I found her right where I’d left her, racked out and exhausted in my bed. I stood there for I don’t know how long, just staring at her. She was like a dream made flesh. Everything I had ever wanted, everything I had ever wished upon stars for, or prayed to whatever god, whatever powers that be – fate, karma, the universe – fuck. I didn’t know what was out there, but whatever it was, I had begged and pleaded with it for her and here shewas.

Who said dreams didn’t cometrue?

Of course, I’d been a realist about it. I knew she wasn’t going to come back to me completely undamaged, completely unbroken. She’d always been the stronger of the two of us on the day to day, but I guess now it was my turn to really hold her up and hold her together. I’d relied on her plenty of times growing up to take care of shit I was ill equipped to deal with… Feelings weren’t always her forte, so I guess it was time for a bit of a crash course.

One thing at a time…I reminded myself. Baby steps.

I set her things off to the side and quietly stripped bare, going around to what I guessed would be my side of the bed from now on, and slipping between the sheets. I cuddled up to Mali’s back and drew her into the curve of my body. She stirred and mumbled something unintelligible.

“Shhh, go back to sleep,” I whispered.

“Mm. Mm-hm,” she murmured and her breathing evened and deepened. She was exhausted and I couldn’t say I blamed her. I was pretty much right there with her. So I closed my eyes, breathed her in, and slept right along withher.

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