Page 73 of Would You Rather
She doesn’t want to talk about it, that’s fine by me. I’m a patient man. I can wait. For her, I can wait. I sigh softly, reaching out to switch off the lamp, but as soon as the room goes dark, she reacts with a gasp.
“No,” I hear her cry out, her voice trembling.
I quickly flip the lights back on. “What’s wrong?” I ask her, my voice filled with worry.
Madeline sits on the bed, curled up, shaking her head. “Don’t turn off the lights. Please,” she begs. Madeline has never begged me for anything, never asked for anything. My brows knit together as worry starts to take over.
“Okay,” I reassure her. “I won’t turn them off.”
She lies back down, her gaze meeting mine. Tears well up in her eyes, a single droplet tracing a path down her cheek. My heart aches at the sight. I’ve only seen Madeline cry once before – in the elevator when it went dark. I didn’t even know her, and even then, her tears were painful to watch. But now, it’s a thousand times worse.
“What happened to you, Madeline?” I ask softly, my heart pounding against my chest.
She shakes her head again, more tears spilling down her face. “Nothing,” she whispers.
“Bullshit.” I inch closer to her, my hands hovering in the air for a moment, aching to comfort her, to feel her soft skin beneath my fingertips. But then I remember that she doesn’t want me to touch her, so I clutch the comforter instead. “Tell me what happened.”
She doesn’t respond as she turns away from me again, facing the other direction. I’m left staring at the back of her head as I hear her shaky exhale. I close my eyes, feeling utterly helpless, wishing she’d let me in.
I wake up with a scream.
I bolt upright in my bed, my heart pounding in my chest when I hear Madeline thrashing against the tangled sheets, her body contorted in terror.
“What the hell?” I mutter, panicking as I fumble against the dimly lit room.
I glance toward Madeline, seeing her face twisted in anguish, her moans of terror alerting me. “Let me out,” she shouts. Her cries intensify, growing more desperate with each passing second.
“Madeline?” I say, my voice quaking when I hear her crying. “Madeline, wake up. It’s me, Lucas.”
“Please,” she cries again, her voice cracking with raw emotion. My heart aches as I watch her suffer, and I can’t take it any longer. I reach for her, my hands trembling as I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her toward me.
I hold her tightly, my arms wrapped around her trembling form. Her eyes remain shut, but I can still see the torment painted across her face.
“Madeline,” I say again, more urgently this time. My thumb brushes against her cheek, and I cradle the back of her neck. “Madeline, it’s me. Open your eyes.”
I feel the tension in her body slowly dissipating as I continue to hold her, my thumb stroking her cheek in an attempt to soothe her. “Madeline, please,” I murmur softly, pressing my lips against her forehead. “You’re safe. You’re with me. It was just a bad dream. Open your eyes, baby.Please.”
Her cries begin to wane as her eyes flutter. She blinks at me, confusion and fear lingering in her gaze. It takes a moment for her to fully take in her surroundings. “Lucas?” she whispers, her voice shaky and fragile.
I nod, relief washing over me like a tidal wave. “Yeah, Mads, it’s me,” I tell her. “You’re safe now. It was just a nightmare.”
Madeline’s breathing steadies, and she clings to me, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist. My heart races, thudding loudly against my chest, and a warmth spreads through me.
She’s so soft and warm. I can’t help but revel in the way her body fits perfectly against mine like we’re two missing puzzle pieces finally finding each other. Her eyes fall closed as she settles back into sleep, not daring to let go of me, and I let out a content sigh, resting my chin on her head as I fall into one of the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had.
Chapter 24
Those were your rules
As my eyelids flutter open, I let out a groan, adjusting to the soft morning light that filters through the curtains. My hand moves almost instinctively and brushes against something warm and soft. I look up, my brows tugged together, and there, less than two inches away from me, is Lucas. I’m sleeping right next to him, or to be more precise, I’m cuddled up against him.
My leg is draped over his, and my hand rests lightly against his chest, where I can feel the steady rhythm of his heart pulsating beneath my touch. I swallow hard, unable to take my eyes off where my hand meets his chest. We’re so entangled together I don’t even know where he starts and I end. How did this even happen?
And then it clicks. I was stuck in a nightmare last night, replaying that night that has haunted me for years.
Open your eyes, baby, please.
I can still hear the desperation in his voice and how he pulled me toward him, holding me in his arms until we fell asleep.
