Page 101 of Straight to Me

It has. I turn in his arms and rest my face against him. Sleep starts taking over me. I yawn and close my eyes, holding him tighter.

VP glides his hands up my back to my neck. Lifting my chin up to look at him, my body relaxes at his touch and he leans down, gently placing a kiss on my lips.

“You’re going to bed,” he says slowly, dipping his body and curling me up in his arms.

He walks me forwards, eventually sitting me on the edge of the bed. Turning around, he walks to my bag and opens it, taking out his t-shirt I brought with me. I can't help but admire how he’s taking care of me.

“Here, put this on,” he says walking back to me.

I slip it on and lose the towel. “Thank you.”

VP picks it up off the bed and he pulls the duvet back for me to get in.

The sheets are fresh; a burst of exotic aromas hits my nose and I close my eyes, desperate for sleep, as he places his hand at the small of my back.

“Now sleep, my girl.”

I climb under the covers and curl backwards, resting my head against the soft pillow.

Looking to the window, the first signs of the sun starting to rise, peek through the blinds.

VP pulls the covers up and places a kiss on my head. I watch him walk away, removing his shirt as he heads to the bathroom. My eyes then close and the sound of running water soothes me to slumber.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Rocco’s hand grabs mine, pulling me away from VP lying motionless on the ground. My hands scratch and claw at the monster holding me. My feet shuffle and scrape in the dirt, trying to find their hold. I need to get to VP. The blood’s spreading underneath him, pooling around his lifeless body. He needs me! “Let me go!”

The monster doesn’t speak. He continues pulling me away, in the opposite direction to where I need to be. My hand reaches out for VP. He’s fading. His body getting smaller the further I’m dragged from him. “Dean!” He can’t hear me. My screams are carried away in the wind as the image blurs to nothing.

My eyes open and I’m suddenly aware that I’m sweating. The stuffy heat from under the covers stirs me from my nightmare. Tears run down my cheek as I bury my face, wiping them away on the sheets. “Rise and shine, my girl. You’ve slept all day.”

VP?

I scramble out to look at him. A towel is wrapped around his waist from his shower. He isn’t bleeding or hurt. It was just a dream. “Mads?” VP catches me as I launch myself into his arms. My bare legs wrap around his waist. “What’s got into you?”

With my hands I grab at him, holding him close and never wanting to let him go. He sits on the bed with me still in his grasp. Once my breathing calms, he lifts my chin. “Everything okay?”

“Nightmare,” I choke.

“Must have been a bad one. You’re sweating.” His hand smooths my hair flat.

“What time is it?” I look for a clock or something.

“Four.”

Four?“In the afternoon?”

“You slept all day, babe. A few of the guys are starting to arrive. Uncle Ronnie’s throwing us a little get-together.”

I could almost go back to sleep. The last thing I want to do is socialise with anyone. But I don’t want a repeat of that dream either.

“Right. I’ll get up then.” A yawn escapes me as I say it.

“You sure you’re, okay?” VP’s eyes search my face.

I can’t tell him I had a nightmare about Rocco taking me away from him. Instead, I kiss him.

His hands move lightly into my messy hair as I stroke the back of his neck through his clean, wet locks. Gentle fingers then trickle down my spine to where they eventually cup my bum. He squeezes, rocking me gently against him.

---