Page 19 of At A Dreamwalkers Mercy

“That’s really cool. What kind?” It wasn’t that grand, but the way she smiled and lit up when she asked about it made him feel ten feet tall. “Pretty much anything from couches and tables to bed sets. Anything I can draw up, I guess. I have a set of end tables that I’m working on for a client right now.”

“Maybe…” She paused, then continued, the pink in her cheeks growing red, her eyes dropping as if she wasn’t quite brave enough to say it and maintain eye contact as well. “Maybe you could show me sometime?”

He leaned forward, wrapping his hand around her neck and pulling her forward till their noses were almost touching, watching as her eyes dilated, listening to the hitch in her breath, and wondering if her heart was thumping as loud as his.

“Anytime, sweetheart.” Then, knowing that she wasn’t ready for him to devour her mouth like he wanted, and he was too tired to give her the time that she deserved, he gave her nose a quick bump with his, rubbing softly before pulling back.

“Let me show you to the bedrooms.”

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, wondering if he was going to be able to let her have the bedroom and take the couch, or if he was going to give in and just slip in beside her, pull her into him and let sleep take them both.

Would she let him?

Would she feel safer with him wrapped around him?

Mostly, though, he just wanted her to come out of the bathroom. She had been in there a while, and he was starting to think that she was using it to escape him.

Should he leave?

Could he leave?

Just when he was about to force himself to get up and let her be, he heard the click of the door and it slowly opened to reveal his beautiful girl.

Her bright orange hair was down, the long curly strands hanging almost to her waist, her face clean, allowing the freckles spread across her nose to stand out. Even the blue in her eyes looked more at ease.

But what really made the package was that she was in his favorite shirt.

Or at least it was his favorite now.

He was never going to be able to wear that shirt without the image of her playing in his mind.

“I can leave if you want me to,” he forced himself to offer, then said a silent prayer that she wouldn’t make him. She glanced to the bed behind him, taking a moment to think it over, before shaking her head no. As she padded softly to the bed, she seemed to ignore the way that he was watching her every move. Then she climbed up on the bed, clearly leaving room for him on the other side.

Fuck yes.

He didn’t take his pants off, feeling as if that was pushing things a bit too far, but he did reach behind him and slide his shirt off over his shoulders. The flare of heat in her eyes as they skimmed his chest was equivalent to a shot of pure adrenaline. He felt as if he could conquer the world with just that one look.

He slid into the bed, pulling the covers up, and laid down next to her, her stiff body frozen next to him.

“Relax. I would never push you for something you didn’t want to give. I only want to be here next to you.” His words did little to soften her, and he debated if he should just get up and leave, but she surprised him by turning over and laying her head on his shoulder.

This time it was him freezing as she settled in next to him with her hair draped over his arm and her body pressed against his. She seemed to stare at her hand on his chest for a moment, then continued to get comfortable.

The feel of her was better than he remembered.

“Thank you for saving me,” she whispered, and his throat got tight. Before he could come up with a good response, her body went slack, and she fell asleep against him.

He followed shortly after, feeling more at peace than ever before.

Chapter 8

Mercy

Shecouldhearthebanging of pots and pans, so she knew that everyone was downstairs, probably waiting on her, but as she sat on Garrett’s bed, she couldn’t seem to work up the courage to move.

Would they judge her?

Would they give her dirty looks and demand that she leave?

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