Page 67 of A Forbidden Arrangement

“Alright,” I say softly. “Bedtime.”

She stands without a word. I lift the blanket, and she climbs in, obedient and fragile in a way that shreds me.

“Can you stay? Just until I fall asleep?”

Her voice is small, hesitant.

“Yeah,” I say. “Of course.”

I reach for the chair, but she shakes her head and points to the other side of the bed. The corner of her mouth lifts in something almost like a smile.

The giddiness that hits me is ridiculous, but I don’t care. I slide in beside her, keeping a careful distance.

Things have shifted. The wall between us is thinner now, fragile enough that I can see through the cracks. It’ll take time for her to trust me completely, but I’ll spend the rest of my life earning it if I have to.

I turn off her lamp, leaving mine to spill light across her face. She threads her fingers through mine and settles against the pillow like she belongs there. I should leave. A better man would. Someone capable of wanting her without needing to claim every inch. But I’m not that man, and right now, I’m glad for it.

Her breathing falters, then finds a steady rhythm against my chest. I slip my fingers through her hair, slow and steady, until the last bit of tension leaves her body. When she shifts, I trail my thumb along the curve of her ear, down her neck, and she sinks closer, fitting herself against me like she belongs there.

My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I grab it before it wakes her.

Matthias:

Old man skipped town, but it doesn’t look like he knew anything. He’d signed his son up for rehab next week.

Bash:

Pity he won’t make it.

I switch my phone to Do Not Disturb and set it back down. As I move to get up, her hand catches my shirt. She’s still asleep,fingers knotted in the fabric like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go.

My chest tightens. I lie back down. She turns toward me, trembling. I pull her against my chest, wrapping both arms around her.

Her skin is cool against mine. I bury my face in her hair and let the world shrink down to her heartbeat against me, her fingers curling just beneath my ribs.

“You’re safe,” I whisper. “I’ve got you.”

She relaxes slowly, her body molding to mine.

“You’re mine,” I murmur against her temple. “I’ll protect you. I’ll give you everything. I’ll never leave you. I’ll never let you go.”

Her lips move, barely audible. “Promise?”

“I promise, pretty girl,” I whisper. “I’ll be your monster, forever.”

Chapter 31

Dahlia

The phone Xandergave me only has one number programmed,his. No apps. No contacts. Just a single name I’ll never be able to ignore. When I walked into the greenhouse this morning, everything on the list I’d scribbled down the other day was already there. New gloves. Bags of soil. A set of tools I could never have afforded. Even the small Bluetooth speaker that’s now blasting my favorite band loud enough to rattle the glass.

It feels like a statement.

You want something? I’ll give it to you before you ask.

Still, I can’t stop smiling.

The greenhouse smells like sun-warmed earth and lemon balm. Half the windowpanes are cracked. The tables wobble. A spider has built a tiny empire between the mint and basil. I’ve been singing at the top of my lungs, voice ragged and off-key, but I don’t care. The sound fills every corner. For the first time in a while, I feel…normal.