Page 21 of Carved in the Shadows

Sometimes I wondered if I would.

Wondered if I’d be cursed with loving him until my dying day and this feeling would never go away.

I peeked over the side of my bed.

He was on his back, and his arm was extended up so he could hold onto mine that dangled a bit over the side.

His only cushion was a throw pillow that was probably only a smidgeon more comfortable than a rock.

My stomach toppled over when I found his espresso-colored eyes staring up at me.

Warm and concerned.

His scruff was thicker this morning. Roughened and making my fingers itch to reach out and touch where he worked his jaw like he didn’t know what to say.

No shadows to hide the tenderness on his vicious, beautiful face.

I swallowed around the reaction and schooled myself into the affable friends we were supposed to be.

“What the heck are you doing on my floor, Trevan Niles?”

He grunted, but he didn’t let go of my hand. He just twisted our fingers a little tighter. “Watching over you the way I promised I always would.”

My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip like it might stop the heat from crawling up my cheeks.

No such luck.

I was burning up.

“The couch wasn’t close enough?”

You know, just me trying to play it cool.

Hesitating, his tongue stroked over his plump, red lips.

No man should have a mouth like that.

So ridiculously sexy it was distracting.

And when I said distracting, I meant wicked. Dangerous to my poor body and mind because I couldn’t help but imagine what he might be able to do with it.

“Thought you might need me,” he finally said, eyeing me in the way that told me he could see right through me. “What were you dreaming about?”

I didn’t want to tell him where I’d been in my sleep. Taken back six months ago when I’d been held by Kent Ellison. The fear. The pain. The scars that had been scored.

I didn’t want Kent to be allowed to inflict that kind of pain anymore.

So instead, I cocked a smirk. “Oh, I was just having a nightmare about the ogre on my couch.”

Trevan glowered, and I couldn’t stop the giggle.

It felt so surreal that he was right here. Caring for me.

I shouldn’t want him to. Not after I’d just asked for space.

But I honestly liked it a whole lot better when there wasn’t any.

It was Trevan who thought an abyss should exist between us.