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I wasn’t born into the family I dreamed of, but maybe I can make one for myself someday.

I’ve never fallen asleep next to a man, but my eyes grow heavier and heavier, making it impossible for me to drag myself away.

The storm passes, along with the last bit of reluctance in my heart.

Ash is the real thing, and he’s mine.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ash

As soon as consciousness rouses me, I realize I’m pressed against something warm and soft … a groan escapes me before I can reign it in. Lexie stirs, shushing me without opening her eyes.

“You’re okay. You’re here with me,” she mumbles quietly before going still again.

I lift my head from her chest, confused as to how we ended up on the couch together. Maybe the storm scared her last night. I faintly remember hearing a rumble of thunder as I fell asleep.

Rain still patters softly against the windows as the soft light from the sunrise begins to illuminate the forest outside. So much for our hike.

Her hand moves up my back as if searching for something. When her fingers find the back of my head, her nails trail over my scalp lightly. My eyes fall closed. It’s heavenly. Slowly, I lower myself back to her chest, letting her comfort me in her slumber.

“Shh,” she whispers again. “It’s okay, Ash. You’re here with me.”

As I lie with her, listening to her words of reassurance, it gradually begins to make sense. Bits and pieces of my nightmares begin to integrate into my current awareness. I take a deep breath, calming myself. This is something I’ve prepared myself for.

My time in the service is woven into my very being. If I’m going to let her into my life, I can’t hide it from her. If I do, it will build into a monster that neither she nor I deserve.

I smile because she didn’t run, she didn’t hide, and she didn’t even try to wake me. She handled it the best she knew how, and it was exactly what I needed. It makes me give her a tight squeeze.

Her breathing changes, and she tenses. Shit, I woke her up with my little bout of love aggression.

My thumb rubs over her stomach. “Thank you for last night,” I say quietly, not looking at her.

“Oh, it was nothing. I heard you …” She pauses. I hear the embarrassment on my behalf in the tone of her voice.

I’m not ashamed, and I don’t want her to be either. I lift my head and look at her. Her attention turns away from my embarrassment to her own. She begins to smooth her hair with her hands.

“Stop. You’re beautiful in the morning.”

She releases a little puff of air, not believing me.

I sit up, pulling her with me. She tries to stand, but I drag her to my lap, wrapping my arms around her. My chin rests on her shoulder as I wait for her to accept that she’s not going anywhere. Eventually she does.

“I’m sorry if I scared you last night,” I tell her.

“You didn’t scare me.” Her fingertip begins to trace the tattoos on my forearm. “I … I just didn’t want you to feel alone.”

Her words punch me in the gut, because I know it comes from a place of her own loneliness.

“We’re never alone,” I tell her, knowing she doesn’t share my faith.

She doesn’t argue, and her gaze goes to the windows. “It’s still raining.” She doesn’t hide her disappointment, her mouth turning down in a frown. “I was looking forward to our hike.”

“Me too, but now we get to stay inside and cuddle all day.”

Lexie giggles, turning in my arms. “Always so optimistic.”

It’s not lost on me that she doesn’t disagree with my suggestion for today. “Why don’t I get the fire going again? Then we’ll wrestle up some breakfast.”