Page 50 of Do It For Me

My cheeks burn, and I quickly look down. “I don’t want to bother you.”

He presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. “You’ll never be a bother. I’d come and lie down with you at six in the evening if you asked me.”

A faint smile tugs at my lips. “You’d lose the whole day.”

“Not if I get to spend it with you.”

I sigh. Someday, I’ll be able to believe him.

Someday, all this storm inside me will come to an end.

I WANT TO BE NORMAL

We’ve been living together for a week, and it’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Although, when I fall asleep, it’s like nothing good has ever happened in my life.

Dante has to wake me from a nightmare every single night. I hate that I can’t let him sleep properly. He told me he struggles with insomnia, and now he’s skipping his pills to stay alert for me. It’s sweet, but I hate it. I want him to sleep well too.

It doesn’t matter if he’s next to me, if he comes to bed late, or whether he’s awake or asleep, those nightmares always come back. And I’m so tired of them.

Will they ever stop?

There’s only one thing I can think of to make it up to him, but I’m not sure if I’m ready—

No! Screw that. I’ll never be ready if I don’t push myself. And I want to do this.

I glance toward the bed from the bathroom door. Dante’s shirtless, already lying on the bed, engrossed in a book.

He. Looks. So. Handsome.

“Could you… close your eyes?”

I’m wearing a slip dress. I’m embarrassed, even though he’s already seen me naked, but I don’t dare let him see me like this.

Dante stares at me with raised eyebrows.

“Please?” My voice is barely a whisper.

He smiles, sets the book aside, and covers his eyes with his hands. I hurry to my side of the bed, slipping under the blankets and pulling them up to my neck.

“Done.”

A soft smile lingers on his lips as he leans over, pressing a kiss to my forehead before picking up his book again.

Not once has he ever tried to initiate anything with me—not even when I’ve felt his…thingnudging my back a few times.

Does he not like me?

“Dante, could you—I want...”

“What do you need?”

You.

“I—could you lie down, just like me?”

He sighs, putting the book aside once more. He shifts closer, wrapping his arms around me, our legs intertwining.

Since I’m almost naked in this tiny slip dress, his warm skin presses against mine, and I melt into the contact. I love this—Him.