Page 65 of Promises in the Dark

“No, please don’t,” she sobs, her head thrashing from side to side. “Please stop.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and something inside me snaps.

I lower myself onto the edge of the bed beside her and grip her shoulders, gently shaking her.

“Charlotte, wake up.”

The command comes out rougher than I meant it to.

Her body suddenly stills beneath my touch, her lashes fluttering weakly before tear-filled eyes finally meet mine.

“You were having a nightmare.” I brush the damp strands of hair back from her forehead as she blinks at me, disoriented, tears still spilling down her cheeks. “You’re safe. I’m here.” Carefully, I untangle the sheets twisted around her legs. “I won’t let—”

My words die as she abruptly sits up and wraps her arms around me, her head buried against my bare chest.

“H-he found me,” she sobs. “He wanted to p-punish me for what I did. I was trapped in the cabin and I couldn’t… I couldn’t escape. It felt s-so real.”

“Shhh.” I slide one hand over the back of her head, the other moving slowly up and down her spine in steady, soothing strokes. “He’s not going to find you,” I murmur. “You’re safe here. It was just a nightmare.” Her tears soak into my skin as her fingers clutch tighter at me, like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go.

Without thinking, which is something I never do, I lean forward and press my lips to the top of her head. Her scent envelops me, immersing me in a floral haze of calmness.

Gradually, her breathing evens out. The trembling in her body eases until she’s curled against me, exhausted and fragile in my arms.

I pull back slightly to look down at her.

“I should let you get some sleep—”

“I don’t want to be alone,” she whispers. “Can I…” She glances down, nervously pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. “Can I stay in your room tonight?”

My lips part, every instinct inside me screaming at me to say no because this is clearly a bad idea. A line we shouldn’t cross. Because once I let her this close, I already know it won’t be enough. I’ll want more.

But when I look at her, trembling beneath the moonlight, I can’t force the word out.

Swallowing hard, I give a single nod and rise to my feet beside the bed.

She shifts hesitantly, swinging her bare legs over the side. The dark blue silk of her nightgown rides higher along her thighs as her toes brush against the floor.

For a second, she tries to stand.

Then her knees buckle, and she drops back onto the mattress with a shaky breath.

Her brows pinch together, embarrassment flickering across her face. “Sometimes this happens,” she murmurs. “My muscles lock up and go weak after…” She trails off, inhaling slowly. “I just need a minute. I’ll be okay.”

Something sharp twists in my chest.

How often does she have these nightmares?

I crouch down in front of her, lowering myself until we’re eye level. “Would it be okay if I carried you?”

Her eyes instantly gloss with fresh tears, like no one’s ever asked her permission before.

She nods weakly.

“Wrap your arms around my neck,” I tell her.

She does so, sliding her arms around my neck and holding on tightly. Her head rests against my shoulder as my hands slip beneath her thighs, the warmth of her skin burning straight through me.

I lift her easily, and her legs instinctively wrap around my waist, her body fitting against mine like it was made to be there.