Page 17 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“Come get some sleep, babe,” Jed says, grabbing my hand and tugging me towards the bedroom. “I’ll keep the nightmares at bay.”

Zee won’t meet my eyes as we pass him into the narrow corridor. I point toward my door and Jed pulls me towards the bed, my body flops onto the soft mattress and my limbs go like jelly at the promise of rest. But my mind stirs with worry, resentment, anger, hurt, and sadness. I make a pact with myself that isn’t the end of us, Archan and I have unfinished business, so whatever beastie has set up shop in him, needs to move the fuck out. Then we can argue about his stupid decisions.

Jed lays next to me and tips my head towards him. “Zee’s worried. Try not to take his gruffness to heart.”

I chuckle. “I’m not. Zee’s panicked because he’s in a situation he can’t control. I know it’s because he cares.”

“So wise for someone so young.”

“Newsflash, Smoothie, I’m older than dirt, or made from it at least.”

Jed strokes my hair, relaxing me. “Sleep, Natia.”

* * *

The warmth of a fire prickles the exposed skin on my face and legs. I stretch like a languid cat, running my hands over the soft furs beneath me. I breathe in the woody odor of burning wood and sigh as I roll over and snuggle into a bare chest. In a move I will later consider as bizarre on reflection, I flick my tongue out and find the familiar intoxicating scent and taste of Archan. My eyes pop open in response to the deep chuckle.

“Quite the greeting, Miss Waterford.” Archan’s deep baritone voice makes me shiver.

My head tips back, I follow the scrolling tattoo on his chest over his shoulder. My eyes lock on to his swirling gold ones, reflecting the open fire behind me. I smile as he wraps his arms around me and draws me up to face him before licking along the seam of my lips. A small groan escapes me as he tangles his hand in my hair and gives me a deep, dizzying kiss.

“Why are you wearing my clothes?” he mumbles, pulling back and examining my body clad in his shirt.

I shrug and chase his lips. “Evil you made a mess of mine, well Barney’s, and when I was recovering in your bed… again, Nathan gave me some clean clothes.”

His left eyebrow tilts and I kiss it. Again, weird move. It’s like I need to memorize every true Archan expression and be thankful for it. “Why were you wearing Barney’s shirt? And what were you recovering from?” he asks as my mouth trails along his jaw in teasing kisses and nips, which earns me a low growl.

“Dream you is much nicer than the authentic version, even the non-evil real you.”

He gives me a small shake, and I blink. “Natia, why were you recovering wearing another man’s clothes?”

My hands run through his shoulder length, silky hair. “I neglect my clothes when I teleport, and evil you ripped one of your men’s heads off inches from me, getting the shirt messy which Barney covered me with. After evil you dragged me through the wards to rip away my mental shields, my mind was almost fractured, it gave me the worst migraine known to man. Nathan helped me heal and rebuild my shields. Enough of the psychoanalysis. This is my dream, less talk, more action.” I snap my fingers.

He plunders my mouth with another toe curling kiss and rolls me onto my back. “Yes,” I breathe as he nips and kisses my neck, moving lower. Big warm hands curl around my ribs as he pushes the shirt up and over my head, my back arching as little tingles skid along my flesh from his touch. He glances down and a wicked smirk followed by an arched eyebrow appears on his handsome face.

“You’re wearing my underwear?”

“Not for long,” I mutter, reaching to shove them down. He grasps my wrists in one hand and pulls them above my head. I almost pout. “Archan, please.” Begging is fine, because this is a dream. Yet my brain keeps true to his reaction as he ghosts his lips over my neck and grinds his erection into my core.

“You look sexy, Natia, and as I promised, I have you begging.”

“This is a dream so it doesn’t count. If this was real I’d be berating your ass about what a complete asshole you were to me before.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, Natia. You could have told me who you were.” He’s apologizing. I must be dreaming.

“I didn’t know. I still remember nothing. But you were an ass earlier today and you’re not forgiven.”

He lifts his head and stares into my eyes. “He cannot know you mean anything to me. At the minute he believes I did what I did to get you to drop your shields.”

My gaze flicks between his eyes. “Did you?”

He shakes his head. “No, Natia. At first it was about breaking you, but when I took you to my bed, it was because I wanted you, and you wanted me. You are the most amazing woman I have ever known. Your strength and beauty pulls me in like you’ve bewitched me.”

“Dream you sure knows the right thing to say.”

“Make no more deals with him. Promise me.”

I shake my head. “Who knows what the future holds, but it’s clear it’s my job to get rid of him. Ant said it is my destiny.”

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