Page 35 of Hawk
“Would you be more comfortable with me staying at a motel?” I inquired, and she shook her head. “Then I think the couch is a great place to sleep.”
“Okay,” she said, looking at me for a moment before turning and walking down the hallway to her room.
Zeus walked back to the door, and I gave him scratches on his head before he walked inside. I locked the back door, making sure all three locks and the security chain was firmly in place. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her, and I had no doubt Zeus would annihilate anyone who tried to harm her, but I wanted to secure the house. Just in case.
When she returned, I was sitting at the dining room table, rolling a joint from the stash inside my bag. She looked beautiful in her sleep pants and shapeless shirt, and I could only imagine what she looked like underneath. Not that I would see that anytime soon, but a man can dream.
She took a seat next to me and spoke softly, “I can sleep on the couch if you’d be more comfortable in a bed.”
I looked at her and reasoned, “I’ll be fine on the couch. I don’t want to put you out of your own bed.”
“The offer stands, just let me know,” she responded as I licked the glue and sealed the joint closed.
We smoked the joint over the next few minutes and with each pass between us, I watched her lids grow heavier. When we were finished, I could see she was fading fast. She wasn’t used to the strength of the DHMC primo I had in my bag, and I felt guilty I didn’t warn her. She tried to cover a yawn and I smiled at her.
“Let’s get you to bed, darlin’.”
“Okay,” she said and when she stood, she stumbled a little.
Feeling bad that she was so tired, I stepped up to her and swiftly picked her up into my arms. She weighed practically nothing in my arms, but she felt right.
“I can walk,” she tried to protest.
“And I can carry you. Let me take care of you, Stella.”
She didn’t respond, but when she placed her head against my chest as I maneuvered the short hallway, I knew that was her answer. She was a strong woman, perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but I wanted to be the one she turned to when she needed something.
I just didn’t know if she wanted the same thing. No matter what, I would protect her, but if she gave me a chance, I would show her what true love and devotion was.
The door to her room was open and a small lamp cast just enough light for me to see where all the furniture was.
Carefully, I placed her onto the bed and helped her under the covers. She looked up at me with her bright blue eyes, and I fought every urge inside me not to kiss her. When I went to turn the bedside light off, she reached out and stopped me.
“Can you leave it on? I . . . I still struggle sleeping in the dark.”
I kneeled beside the bed, and she rolled to face me. “Anything you need. Are you going to be okay? I know today was taxing on you.”
“I’ll be fine after some sleep. I think everything is catching up to me.” She hesitated before adding, “Thank you for coming, and thank you for being such a good friend to Hailey.”
I stood and brushed a lock of hair from her forehead and replied, “I’ll be in the living room if you need anything. Sweet dreams, beautiful.”
“Good night, Hawkins.”
“Please, call me Colton.” I said, and she smiled from her prone position on the bed.
In her sweet voice, she replied, “Good night, Colton.”
I winked at her and stepped around Zeus, who was sleeping in the middle of the floor, then I pulled the door closed behind me and made my way to the kitchen to retrieve my bag. I quickly changed out of my jeans and shirt, carefully laying my cut across the back of one of the kitchen chairs. My gun was still on the table, and I grabbed it before walking to the living room.
I saw a pillow and blanket on the couch and smiled down the hallway, knowing she had laid them out for me. After plugging my phone in to charge, I made the couch up and double checked the locks on the front door before turning off the light. It was a wide sofa, but my feet stuck off the end of the armrest as I tried to get comfortable. I kept my gun within reach as I let the quietness of Stella’s house pull me into slumber.
***
THE SCREAMS THAT EMANATEDfrom the back of the house jerked me awake, and I jumped from the couch and grabbed my gun. It took less than a second for me to remember where I was and who must be screaming, then I turned to run down the hallway. Without care, I kicked her bedroom door open, expecting to find someone hurting her, only to find her thrashing and struggling under the covers, fighting an invisible enemy.
Zeus was standing beside the bed with his paws on the edge, using his nose to push into her but to no avail. He turned at the loud crash of the door then returned his attention to Stella, who was whimpering and pleading for someone or something to stop.
“Please,” she begged. “Stop.”
