Page 49 of Vengeance Becomes Her

“I think we should postpone for a day or two, things didn’t exactly go as I had planned. I want a little more time with my family. You never know…” she trailed off, the thought of how dangerous her journey could be started to creep in, despair threatening to rise again as she imagined how much she’d miss them.

He nodded and turned to go. “Goodnight.”

He lingered a moment, hand outstretched to the door.

“Will you stay? Please? I don’t want to be alone tonight. You could even have the bed, I’ll sleep in the chair.” The words tumbled out of her, and she realized how desperately lonely she had been lately.

His hand slowly dropped from where it hovered over the handle, he turned to look at her, his eyes sending a piercing gaze through her own. He tilted his head, clearly thinking about his options.

“Okay, but you get the bed, I’ll take the chair.” Before she could protest, he put his hand up in the air. “Trust me, I’ve slept on much worse. This chair is one of the more comfortable sleeping arrangements I’ve had over the years when I haven’t spent the night in my own bed.”

She grabbed a pillow off her bed and her favorite soft blanket and set them on the chair. “Thank you, again.” She huffed an awkward laugh, wondering why she suddenly felt so self-conscious in his presence.

“Feel free to help yourself to anything you need, I have extras for guests.” She instantly regretted that last part, but he didn’t tease her about it. He nodded and went into the washroom to get ready for bed. He came out in only a small pair of shorts that barely covered his upper thighs. Instinctively, she covered her eyes.

“You could have at least warned me,” she exclaimed, awkward laughter lacing her voice.

He laughed. “Are you really trying to tell me this is the first time you’ve seen aman undressed?”

She whipped her hand from over her eyes, her mouth agape. “That’s different. This is you.” She gestured sharply with her hand towards his figure. She tried not to look but her eyes wandered over his body. The wide expanse of his chest that was lightly defined. The comforting softness of his stomach. The thick muscles ofhis large legs.

He caught her lingering gaze and gave her a smirk, his eyebrow raised knowingly.

She rolled her eyes and walked over to get into bed, resigned to keep her eyes to herself the rest of the night. She could feel Tristain’s stare burning into her as she lit the candles on her nightstand. She ignored him.

When she turned to pull back the covers and get into bed, he was sprawled out in her reading chair, propped up on several throw pillows. His legs were extended on the large footrest and his arms lazily tucked behind his head—he looked at home. She smiled at the sight.

“What?” His eyes squinted slightly in suspicion that he was missing out on some joke.

“Made yourself at home, I see,” she quipped.

“Well, you are forcing me to sleep on a chair. Luckily for you, I can make myself comfortable anywhere.”

“I said you could have the bed.” The pitch of her voice was much higher than she intended. He had her on the defensive now, the last thing she wanted to be was a burden to him. He had already done so much for her.

“I was trying to get a rise out of you, see if there’s still a heart in there after all.” He realized his mistake as soon as the words came out.

It was like the air had been sucked out of the room. Rhiannon’s smile faded and her shoulders grew heavy. Without a word, she got into the bed, sitting up with hands in her lap. The silence stretched between them for several beats.

“I don’t want to be cold and guarded, you know. I used to be open and lighthearted. I rarely took much of anything seriously. But ever sinceyou know.” She rubbed a hand across her chest absentmindedly, searching for the words. “Nothing has been the same. It’s hard for me to let everything go and be in the moment, except when—”

She shook her head, shaking off what she’d wanted to say but couldn’t. She dragged in a deep breath. “Never mind, let’s forget it. I need to get some sleep.”

Tristain wasn’t willing to let the moment pass by. “I’m not that tired. We can talk. I’mhere for you.”

A tear slid down her cheek without her permission. She wiped it away harshly, but more still came. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” It was almost a whisper, her voice rasping with tears and shame.

Before she registered the movement, Tristain was kneeling beside her bed, his hand extended and resting on her hers. “There’s nothing to apologize for. What happened to you was an unspeakable betrayal, you’re allowed to take the time you need to heal. Talking about it is good, it gives you a chance to process.” He reached a hand up as if to wipe her damp cheek, but he hesitated, hand frozen in midair.

Rhiannon couldn’t seem to find her voice. Between the reminders of what she’s lost chasing at her heels all night and the gentleness with which he had cared for her over the last hour, she was experiencing an overwhelming cacophony of emotions.

She turned toward Tristain, dangling her feet off the bed. He placed a hand on her cheek, and she leaned into it as he reached his right hand up to do the same on the other side. They sat like that for several minutes, her eyes closed, her breaths calming, the tears drying. They were both as still as death, afraid to move and break the spell that had created this moment of serenity between them.

Eventually, she let out a heavy sigh and opened her eyes. Looking back at Tristain, Rhiannon felt her heart ache. His hands were her anchor, bringing her back to the present when she’d been so lost in the pain of the past moments ago. His heavy gaze was willing her to let him in. Every muscle in her body was fighting the gravitational pull that drew her towards him, and then it wasn’t.

Before she registered what she was doing, she was leaning down, her eyes slowly shuttering closed. She stopped herself within a breath of touching his lips. She wanted to kiss him, she could imagine how it would feel to disappear in his soft caresses and warm mouth. The scent of him filled her lungs as she breathed him in. It was as if he was filling some of those cold empty spots left in her. His fast breaths pulsed against her lips in time with her own heartbeat.

All she had to do was close the distance and she could drown in this feeling tonight. She opened her eyes to look at him, wondering why he hadn’t closed the gap himself. To her surprise, he looked terrified.

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