Page 31 of Dismantle & Prevail

“Aries. Wake up. It's just a nightmare.”

He doesn’t budge, keeping his face buried in my neck.

A whimper escapes him, and I run my fingers through his long hair. “Ace. Wake up,” I say, my voice gentle yet stern.

His head pops up, his dark, glassy eyes searching mine.

My hand moves back and forth through his hair as I search his eyes. “You okay?”

Ari stares down at me, a fierce look on his face, and I stop my hands. I expect him to move and kick me out of his room, but he does the exact opposite. He buries his face back in my neck and holds me close, as if he’s trying to make our bodies one.

I feel my entire body freeze.

Aries is consciously holding me to him as if I am his lifeline.

“Please stay. I don’t want to be alone right now.”

His words shatter my heart into a million pieces and I can’t help but wonder what the hell happened in that basement that has this man so disheveled.

Relaxing into his hold, I continue my pattern in his hair, and he melts further into me.

“I’ll stay as long as you need me, Ace. Just tell me what I can do because I’ll do it.”

“Just stay here and don’t leave when the lights turn off.”

“Never.”

I feel him relax fully against me and I curse myself.

What the hell am I doing? And why the hell am I loving being in his arms?

I mentally kick myself at feeling an odd sense of comfort and solace amidst his immense pain.

I should move. I should go get Boone.

But I don’t. I stay right where I am, because somewhere deep down inside, this feels right in a very odd and unexpected way.

Chapter Fourteen

Aries

Boone,Zoro,andIndysit across from me at the booth nestled in the corner of the common area.

I glance around the busy room.

Kids, wives, husbands, and fellow members of Braveheart are scattered throughout, enjoying their evening.

My eyes narrow in on Taylor, who is sitting with Reagan and Tucker on a set of large bean bag chairs. Taylor is deeply focused on her computer when Tucker says something and her head tilts back in laughter. I can’t help but wish I was close enough to hear what elicited that beautiful sound.

Easy Aries. She’s not yours yet. You can’t get all crazed over her yet.

“Aries. You ready to talk, or would you rather keep staring at Taylor?”

Boone’s voice takes me out of the moment, and I glare at him.

Leaning back against the booth, he simply shrugs. “You’ve been in love with that damn girl for years. I knew the moment you came back you wouldn’t be able to hide it. And with her being in your bed every night, I see you are wasting no time in making sure she knows it.”

Scrubbing my hands down my face, I lean forward so just the people in the booth can hear. “That girl is the only thing keeping me from losing my shit and randomly popping off if a prospect looks at me sideways. She chases away the nightmares and if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here. Now, I may be weak and not at my best, but if you don’t lower your voice in the next five seconds, I will take you to the ground and beat your ass in front of everyone in this room. ”