Page 25 of Room Ten: Praise Times Three

“You think?”

“Let’s get back in there. I told her we wouldn’t miss the opening credits.”

When we enter the house, we find Soren sitting on one end of the couch, but it’s not until we come around to face him we find Leti with her head resting on a pillow in his lap.

He shakes his head, his cheeks flushed red. “She wouldn’t sleep any other way.”

I shrug. “We give her whatever she needs.”

She opens her eyes and grants me a small smile, pushing herself to sit up. “You’re back. Come sit on the couch with us and watch the movie.”

I sit on the other end of the couch and return her smile. “Watch the movie.”

Moving the pillow from Soren’s lap to mine, she lies her head down and brings her legs up on the couch. With silent movement, Soren adjusts the blanket and settles her feet in his lap, his hand resting on her calf.

Reese slumps down in the chair next to us, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. We are bone tired, the day’s events finally catching up to us. Absentmindedly, I stroke her hair and lean my head back, closing my eyes. Part of our training was learning how to sleep sitting up, propped against a tree, with our eyes open. This is damn comfortable in comparison. It takes nothing for me to find sleep.

* * *

I’m not sure how long we sleep, but my head snaps up and my adrenaline is pumping when Leti whimpers and then screams, kicking her legs and flailing her hands. I pull her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. “It’s okay, baby girl. We’re here. You’re safe.”

She clutches at my chest, burying her face in my neck. Worming her way onto my lap, she straddles my thighs and clings to me in a way that both fills and breaks my heart at the same time.

“Shhhhh.” I close my eyes, shutting out the room as she sinks into me. I’ve never felt such warmth and the need for love radiating off another person. I’m sure she doesn’t love me—how could she when she doesn’t really know me—but this is what it feels like when someone trusts you. Maybe this results from the trauma she experienced, or maybe she’s been so desperate for someone to trust, someone to care for her, someone to love, and she instinctively knows it’s us.

Either way, I’m going to soak it up while I can.

Reese and Soren are staring at us. I’m sure they are jealous. I would be, too, if I weren’t the one holding her in my arms. Standing up, I make quick eye contact with them, who are both on their feet, and then carry her down the hall into the master bedroom. She wraps her legs around me like she’s afraid I’ll let go.

She doesn’t understand. I’m never letting go.

“Baby. You’re safe.”

Shaking her head, her breath is hot on my neck, and the press of her body against mine speaks to my most basic needs as a man. I need to protect her, covet her, own her—mind, body and spirit.

“Come on now,” I whisper as I sit down on the edge of the bed with her in my lap. “Be a good girl and show me your eyes.”

She tenses with my words, her fingers curling into fists at my back, her ankles hooked around my waist. Bringing her head up, her jade green eyes flash as they lock with mine. “I’m sorry.”

I smile, smoothing back a strand of her hair. “Nothing to be sorry about.”

“I don’t mean to be so much trouble.” She bites her lip, bringing my eyes down to her mouth. Fuck, they are pink and plump and give me so many ideas.

“You’re not any trouble. We’re here to protect you, and if we can provide comfort, we’re here for that, too.”

Her eyes close, and without warning, she presses her lips against mine. I freeze, fully aware of the precipice we’re balanced precariously on at this moment. I want to respond. I want to roll her to her back, slip my tongue between my lips and claim her in the first of many ways. But I also know that once I start, I will not want to stop.

I grip her shoulders and pull her back. “What are you doing?”

She shakes her head, a red blush hitting her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

Sighing, I run my hands up her neck and slide my thumb across her lips. “Baby, you never have to apologize to me. But you’ve had a traumatic experience, and I don’t want your emotions causing you to do something you’ll regret later.”

“I only wanted to feel something,” she whispers.

“If this was any other time, any other place, I would want to make you feel those things.”

“You would?”

“More than I could say right now, but if you want to have that conversation after you’ve had a good night’s sleep, you can ask me later. For now, I need you to go to bed.”

“Are you going to leave me?”

“Nope. I’m going to lie right beside you and either Reese or Soren will lie on the other side of you. We’re here, and anytime you need to reach out for us, we’ll continue to be here until you don’t need us anymore.”

“Can we all sleep in this bed?”

I glanced over her shoulder at my partners standing in the doorway. She takes my cue, glancing behind her back. A small squeak comes from her as a deep blush darkens her cheeks.

Reese shakes his head. “The bed is not big enough for four of us, doll, but we are right outside the door.”

---