Page 13 of Dismantle & Prevail (Resilience #1)

Taylor

My eyes flutter open, the sun from somewhere in the room casting onto my face.

I try to stretch my arms over my head, but I’m stuck.

What the hell?

Blinking a few times, I begin to look around the room and freeze.

I’m not in my room. I’m in Aries‘. In his bed…

Aries is hugging me to him like a teddy bear, his beard tickling my neck as he nuzzles in, burying his face in further.

My eyes go wide and I lay there frozen.

What is happening? And why am I liking the feeling of this man, who is almost a decade older than me, pressed against my back?

Despite his very unhealthy state, I can still feel his dense muscles and powerful body against me.

Even before Aries disappeared, I knew he was gorgeous. You’d be blind to think otherwise. Who wouldn’t think a six foot two, tattooed, Greek god of man isn’t attractive?

And now, said Greek god is pressing his body against my back and my mind is wandering to places far beyond where a person should about the president of their job.

I need to get out of here. Now.

I’m about to slither out of his arms when a cry escapes him. “No. Leave her alone.”

I turn my head as far as I can and try to get a glance at his face, but it’s buried in my neck. His arms tighten around me and he mutters, “Take me. Leave her alone. Please.”

“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.