Her eyes widened in doubt.
“Rabbit, it’s a king size bed. I’ll stay on my side. Bear will be in the middle and you’ll be on your side. You’re perfectly safe. Then neither of us will be on the couch or trying to sleep in a freezing cold room.”
I watched her face as she mulled it over. She bit her lip as she processed the idea and then sighed in relief as she nodded in agreement. Leaning over Bear, I ignored his chuffs of disapproval of being disturbed as I pulled the covers back in silent invitation. She crawled in bed wordlessly, although I noticed the winces of pain as she tried to make herself comfortable. “Do you want some painkillers?”
She hesitated before saying yes. I got her a couple of tablets and some water and watched her take them. After she settled down, I made sure she was warm enough, and then I returned to my side of the bed and blew out the gas light. The reflections of the flames from the fireplace danced on the darkened walls and the soothing crackle of the wood popping was the only sound in the room. Outside, the snow and wind was still pounding against the house.
“How long do you think the storm will last?” Her voice was a quiet whisper in the dark.
“Another day, maybe more.” I shrugged in the darkness. “I don’t know.”
Quiet filled the room and I lay there listening to the fire, feeling remarkably calm considering I hadn’t shared a bed with another person in years.
“I’m sorry.” Her quiet words startled me. I leaned up on my elbow and looked across Bear at her. She was curled into a ball, her back to me, hugging her pillow and I found myself wanting to reach across and touch her, comfort her. Instead, I simply asked, “Sorry for what, Rabbit?”
“For causing you so much trouble. For disrupting your life.”
I could hear the emotion in her voice. I stared at her in the dark. I was shocked at the words that I spoke.
“I’m not sorry, Rabbit. You’re here and you’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
I lay back down, surprised at what I had just said.
When she had appeared twenty-four hours ago, I was angry she had disrupted my life.
Now, I meant exactly what I said.
She was safe. That was all that did matter.
For the first time she had arrived, both my mind and I were in agreement.
Chapter Six
Joshua
I woke up slowly, knowing something was different. My senses picked up that the storm was still blowing outside. I felt the weight and warmth of Bear as he slept, stretched out across my feet, as usual. I buried my head deeper into the pillow and my arms tightened around the warm body that was curved into mine. Smiling, I leaned down and nuzzled the soft hair … and my eyes flew open as my body suddenly realized what was different.
Rabbit.
Rabbit was sound asleep, burrowed into my chest, my arms around her. The large body that had separated us last night was now snoring away at the foot of the bed, draped across our legs which were tangled up together under the blankets.
I blinked in confusion. I remember falling asleep. Bear was between us. A protective wall for Rabbit. When had that changed? I searched my brain and remembered. Rabbit had cried out in the night having a nightmare, and Bear had jumped up, growling, ready to attack whatever was frightening her. I had pushed him out of the way and reached over to wake her, only to have her roll into my chest and burrow herself into me, shaking and sobbing. I had held her and whispered soothingly into her ear, stroking her hair until she stilled and slept again. Not wanting to disturb her, I had laid there trying to figure out how to separate myself from her without waking her, yet not really wanting to separate myself from her.
Obviously, I fell asleep. Now, I was faced with the same dilemma. I didn’t think she would be very happy waking up to find herself this close to me. Looking down on her face, I paused. Her long dark lashes were resting on her pale cheeks as she slumbered. Her hands were both clasped against my chest holding onto my shirt and her dark hair was spread across the pillows and down her back. I couldn’t help but raise my hand and gently stroke away the few wisps that were lying across her face. The bruises were out in full color today and looked dark and angry against her skin. I frowned looking at them, wondering again how and why anyone would strike this small person with that much maliciousness. I was tracing over one bruise on her cheek with a fingertip, fighting the sudden intense desire to follow its trail with my lips, when her eyes suddenly opened. She stared at me for a moment and I waited with baited breath for the screaming and accusations to begin.
Instead, she smiled a shy, tremulous smile. I smiled back at her warily.
She spoke, her voice quiet in the dim light. “I had a nightmare.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“You comforted me.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve held me all night?”