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As I tuckmyself up into the ridiculously large and comfy bed, I push those thoughts from my mind, pulling on the hot memories instead. I replay the moment when Miles was staring at Jake, watching with hunger in his eyes as Jake scooped up Miles’ cum, before bringing his fingers to his lips to lick them clean.

It was quite honestly one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen, and combined with the exhausting evening, and the mentally draining aftermath, sleep finds me much quicker than I was expecting.

Even though Ifell asleep to some very good thoughts, nothing can stop the same old nightmares from invading my dreams. Gregg and The Count have found me, just like I’ve been waiting for them to do.

The horror of it turns my veins to ice as Gregg gets his revenge on me for running away. As he wraps his hand around my neck, reminding me I will always belong to him, panic overwhelms me.

I wake up screaming as Gregg takes the last of my oxygen in my nightmare. I’m dripping in sweat, tears streaming down my face as the unfamiliar dark room adds to my frantic state. I’m still screaming in between sobs, as I can’t seem to do anything else.

The door to the room bursts open, flooding in light from the hallway, showing just enough for me to remember I’m in Jake’s spare room. As someone rushes in, I scream again, my ears ringing as I struggle to breathe.

“It’s only me, Gorgeous Girl. Don’t be scared.”

Miles’ soft, reassuring voice penetrates through my fear, and my screams turn to sobs, as my body trembles uncontrollably. Miles closes the door behind him, taking away the last of the light, and I whimper loudly.

He rushes over and turns on the bedside light, before moving to take a seat on the bed next to me. I turn to look at him, struggling to make him out as the tears blur my vision, but it’s not hard to miss the heartbroken expression on his face.

Before I know what I’m doing, I crawl over to him and throw myself into his lap, letting him wrap his arms around me. As his scent and warmth envelopes me, and he strokes my back in a soothing way, I feel safer than I have in a while.

I cling to him like he’s my lifeline, my tears soaking his bare chest as I claw at his skin, trying desperately to pull him even closer.

I don’t know how long he holds me, I just concentrate on the warm, familiar feeling. Allowing his touch to soothe me, like Miles is helping me battle my demons in any way he can.

When we were together, I never slept over much, but the few times I did, I had the same nightmare then, too. Just like now, Miles would hold me in his arms, reassuring me without even knowing why I was scared.

Afterwards, he’d always tell me that if I ever wanted to talk about my nightmares, he’d listen, but he never pushed me to explain them. At the time, I was grateful for that, but now I wonder if he had pushed me, would he have been able to help me all those years ago?

Once my sobs have died down, and my tears dry, Miles leans down and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. I look up at him, my heart skipping when I see his tight smile.

“Have you been having nightmares like this for the past seven years?” he asks, his voice not giving away any indication of how he’s really feeling.

I shrug noncommittally. “Mostly, it happens when I move to a new, unfamiliar place. I worry it’s not as safe as I think it is. Usually, the reason I’ve moved in the first place is because I’ve heard, or I suspect, Gregg has found me. I’m terrified that I didn’t move quickly enough. That he’s finally caught me,” I admit in a croaky voice, hoarse from all the sobbing.

Miles strokes the hair out of my eyes, tucking it behind my ears before running his fingers through my long, blonde hair. “So, this new room triggered you?”

I nod as best I can with my cheek still resting against his bare chest. “Even though logically I know I’m safe, my brain doesn’t know that.”

“I get that,” he whispers, like he might be able to relate in some way.

We both fall silent, each of us lost to the moment in different ways. I pull my head back slightly, reluctantly removing my face from his hard chest, so I can make eye contact with him. I want him to see how grateful I am.

“Thank you for coming to check on me. For helping me out of my panic. I’m a little surprised Jake isn’t here too.”

Miles starts to chuckle, his eyes sparkling. “Jacob sleeps like the dead. You could have screamed in his ear and he probably still wouldn’t have woken up.”

I laugh along with him, happy to have learnt something new about Jake. Although my tears have stopped, and my breathing has returned to normal, Miles doesn’t stop holding me, and when I lay my head back down on his chest, he doesn’t object.

In fact, he tightens his hold, pulling me even closer, and I daren’t move in case he changes his mind. I want to bask in his warmth for as long as he’ll allow it.

I close my eyes and enjoy the silence, relaxing into his hold in a way that makes me wish for forever like this. After a while, Miles’ low, quiet voice pierces through the quiet.

“When I heard you screaming, it terrified me. I hated seeing you so scared,” he admits, and I can’t stop myself from smiling at his confession.

“Well, you have an incredible ability to make me feel safe…even after all this time.”

I desperately wish I had the courage to look up at him right now, to see what his reaction is, but instead, I keep my eyes on his chest, worried in case I’ve tipped the delicate balance we find ourselves in.

I feel Miles’ breathing stutter beneath me, and that gives me enough strength to pull back slightly to look up at him. I hate seeing how confused he looks, his brows pinched together like he’s doing a complex math problem.