I dig my fingers into his shoulders as my release tears through me. Blaise removes his hand and pulls the covers up over me. I immediately miss his body heat. Leaning down, he kisses my forehead. “Sweet dreams,” he says tenderly.
“Wait!” I reach for his arm. “Stay,” I say. I have too many emotions running through me, but I know I want him next to me. “Please, B,” I say, my voice quiet, yet pleading.
Blaise climbs back into bed and lifts the covers. He slides his hard body next to me and wraps me in his arms. I settle back against his chest. This feels right. I hear him sigh as my body relaxes into his. I drift off into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in his arms.
The sound of crying startles me awake. Opening my eyes, I adjust to the scenery. I hear the soft whimper again. That’s when it hits me that I’m at Tatum’s in her bed. At first, I thought it was just a dream; when in reality, it’s a dream come true. I’m not sure how she got all the way on the other side of the bed, but she’s too far away. I scoot in next to her and wrap my arms around her. I bury my face in her neck and breathe her in. She releases another whimper. “Shh, baby, I got you,” I whisper in her ear.
“Blaise,” she says my name and my heart cracks at the pain I hear in her voice.
“I’m right here,” I whisper, trying to soothe her with my words. I know she’s asleep, but the last time this happened, she admitted it felt like I was there. I need her to feel me. I need her to know I’m here for her. The loss of her parents still weighs heavy on her. The hurt Josh caused keeps her from moving on. If I ever come face to face with her ex…let’s just say I hope it never happens. His loss is my gain, and I will fight for her, for us, with everything I am.
I feel her body relax and I know she’s now sleeping peacefully. My mind wonders to the nights I’m not here. The nights she has to work through these dreams on her own. I hate it. I hate she’s so close, yet so far away. I need to step up my game. I need to prove to her she’s what I want. This is my last thought as I drift off to sleep with her tight in my arms.
The morning sun shines through the window as Tatum tries to sneak out of the hold I have on her. “I’m not done holding you,” I mumble against her neck.
Her body jolts slightly at the sound of my voice. She obviously thought I was still sleeping. “I have to pee,” she whines.
I kiss her cheek. “What time is it?” I ask.
“Six,” she whispers.
“Fine, but it’s too early to be awake. I’m taking full advantage of this sleep over; you’ve got three minutes,” I tell her as I release my arms, freeing her. Tatum jumps from the bed, grabs my t-shirt from the floor and rushes to the bathroom.
Just as I’m about to go find her to throw her over my shoulder and bring her back to bed, she enters carrying a bottle of water. She takes a small sip and then passes it to me. I’m not really thirsty, but I want my lips where hers have been. If Asher could hear my thoughts, well let’s say he has a lot of payback to dish out.
I hand the bottle back to her and she sits it on the nightstand. I pull back the covers, letting her know I want her next to me. Tatum gets the hint and climbs back into bed. She lays her head against my chest and I engulf her in my arms, holding her tight.
I sigh as she relaxes against me. “Thank you,” she says softly.
“For what?”
“For being you. For last night.” Her hand, which has been resting over my heart, slips around my waist. She embraces me. “I had another dream; you were there.”
“I don’t think you should be thanking me for something I enjoyed as much as I did. Last night was amazing; you’re amazing.” I kiss the top of her head. “As for the dream, all I did was hold you. That is something I also take great pleasure in,” I tell her. “You want to talk about it?”
She’s quiet for several minutes. I can only imagine what she’s thinking. The dreams are visibly upsetting to her. “The dream is my mind’s own twist to what I imagine happened. I have the details from the officers at the scene. Those details swirl in my mind.” She pauses to collect her thoughts. “I’ve had the same dream for months; up until recently, it’s changed. The outcome is still the same, but the scene is different.”
I continue to hold her. I’m gently tracing her spine, letting her know I’m here. I’m glad she’s talking. She can’t keep this bottled inside. My heart swells that she’s opening up to me. My girl’s coming around; at least, I hope she is.
“In my dream, I drive up on an accident. I recognize the car as one that looks like my parents’. I jump out of mine and run for them; I need to know who it is. I get close enough to see them cut my dad out of the car. His body is…” she trails off. “I can’t talk about what I read in the police reports. There are emergency personnel everywhere. Two policemen hold me back. I’m screaming at them to let me through. They won’t. Instead, they hold me back. They ask if there is anyone they can call, and I tell them Josh. Instead of giving them his number, I call him. A girl answers, and I hear him calling her “babe.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m sure you know how the rest plays out.”
“You said it’s changed, that the dream is different? How so?” I ask her.
“It is different. It’s not as painful as it used to be. It’s the same in many ways. I still drive up on the accident. I still run to get to them. I still see them cut my dad from the wreckage.” She lifts her head and rests her chin against my chest so she can see my face. “It’s different because you’re there. Instead of random policemen holding me back, it’s you holding me. You and your team are on the scene of the accident. You are the one who holds me on the side of the road. I don’t fight you like I do them. Instead, I take comfort in your arms.” She lays her head back on my chest. I feels her tears seeping into my skin. “You’re there for me,” she says softly.
Her tears are breaking my f*cking heart and the anger I feel toward her ex is boiling over. I take a minute to compose myself. I need to be strong for her when really I just want to beat the shit out of the a*shole who hurt her. When I think I can speak without sounding like a possessive ass, I say, “I will always be there. There is nothing I want more than to be by your side.” I want to say for the rest of my life, but I know that would freak her out.
“You’re a good man, Blaise Richards.” She places a kiss against my heart.
Her alarm goes off, causing us both to jump. Tatum giggles as I reach over and turn it off. I smack her lightly on the ass. “Get in the shower, woman. I’ll make you some breakfast.”
She squeals and scurries off the bed. I follow her, slipping on my jeans. I watch as she heads to the bathroom; I want to go with her. Instead, I head to the kitchen to make my girl some breakfast.
In the kitchen, I survey the fridge. I gather what I need to make omelets. I’m just placing Tatum’s on her plate and buttering her toast when I hear keys in the door. Ember’s here. Our alone time is officially over.
Ember looks surprised to see me. “Hey. Something smells good,” she says.
“Want one?” I ask, gesturing toward the plate I just made for Tatum.
“No, thanks. Jackson made me a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit.”