Page 115 of Awakened Desires

He rolls his eyes. “Well, that would be boring. But yes, I suppose you could use the time to sleep.” He stretches. “Seriously, you deserve some alone time together.”

Rory eyes Hendrix up suspiciously. “Why?” He puts a plate of toast in front of me. “What do you get out of it?”

“Good karma?” Hendrix steals a slice of toast and takes a bite. He hooks his leg over his knee. “I’m trying to be nice.”

“Thanks,” I say, nibbling my remaining piece of toast before he can steal that too.

“Well? What do you say?”

I exchange a glance with Rory. Snuggling has been nice and low pressure, but I’m curious to do more. Feathers spring to mind, and I shiver. Rory raises his eyebrow. My face becomes a furnace as I realise Hendrix is watching our silent exchange with interest.

“I would love to know what you’re thinking.” He munches on his stolen toast.

“Feathers,” I whisper to Rory.

“Ooo, kinky,” Hendrix says. “Have fun.” He polishes off the toast, washes his hands, and then takes Aidan from me. “Use Rory’s room, so I can put Aidan down for a nap when he needs one.” He swans out of the kitchen.

Rory puffs his cheeks out. “That boy continues to surprise me.”

“He’s good with Aidan.”

Rory leans across and pecks my lips. “Which is lucky for us.”

“Yes.”

“Do you really want to play with feathers?”

“I need to relax.” I thread my fingers through his. “I enjoy having Aidan, but it’s tiring and stressful. I’m lucky. Niamh doesn’t have the support network I do. She only has me.”

“You say that like you’re not enough.”

“You know what I mean. When I go home at the end of the day, Niamh is alone. She’s got no one to talk to or offload on. No one to take Aidan for a spell so that she can get a longer stretch of sleep. If I’m this tired and wound up with that help, I can only imagine how stressed she’s feeling.”

“Which is why you’ve got Aidan for a few days so she can have a break.”

“I know. But does she have anyone to talk to, or is she sitting alone in her bedsit, with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company?” I shake my head. “Sorry. I’m worried about her.”

“I know you are. But you’re doing everything you can for her. The rest is up to her. You probably know that better than anyone.”

“Aye, I do. My parents took me to therapy, but they couldn’t make me talk until I was ready. I just hope it doesn’t take Niamh as long as it took me to seek help.”

“I hope that too.”

“Sitting here fretting isn’t going to do me or her any good. You’re right. I’m doing everything I can to help.” I stare into Rory’s eyes. “Help me relax?”

“I’d love to.”

We finish our breakfast and then, after checking on Hendrix and Aidan, go upstairs to Rory’s room. He retrieves a box from his wardrobe, puts it on the bedside table, and takes two feathers out. One is long, and the other is smaller and very fluffy. He puts them down and then lifts out a blindfold. He stares at it with his lips pinched together. My breath catches in my throat. I can’t tear my gaze away from the black satin. My chest tightens.

“You don’t have to wear it,” he says softly. “You could just close your eyes. Or not. Whatever you’re most comfortable with.”

I rub my arms. “I wouldn’t be able to cope with being tied or held down.” I glare at the floor, blinking my eyes as unwanted nightmarish memories resurface.

Rory is beside me in an instant. He gathers me in his arms and holds me tight. I breathe through the memories and attempt to replace them with happy ones.

I start with my safe place. Lying on my bed, with Rory beside me, staring at the stars through the skylight.

My breathing eases.