Page 92 of Love Me

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He kissed the top of my head. “I don’t like you being scared.”

“I hope I’m wrong. I hope I wake up tomorrow feeling stupid.”

“Have you thought about calling your uncle?”

“He accused me of using him.”

“I know, but if you really think X is here, you need to call him, no matter how upset you are with each other.”

I sighed. “I’ll call him tomorrow.”

* * *

“Shiloh.”

I opened my eyes to the dark hotel-room ceiling. Seeing that it was still nighttime, I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

“Shiii…loooh,” a voice whispered.

My eyes shot open and looked in the direction of the voice.

Standing at the foot of the bed was a dark outline of a man.

“I found you,” he whispered.

Quickly, I sat up and began shaking Knox, who was still asleep next to me. “Knox!”

* * *

I jolted upright in the bed, breathing heavily. Knox sat up with me, his hand going right to my back to rub up and down in soothing strokes. I looked around the dark room frantically and found nothing amiss.

“Shh, it’s all right,” he said tiredly. “It was just a nightmare. You’re safe.”

I focused on breathing for a bit, taking air in through my nose and out through my mouth.

“That’s it. Let’s lie down,” he encouraged, and we both lay back. I lay on my side, facing him, unable to close my eyes. He brushed my hair back from my face and behind my shoulder. “You’re safe.”

“I don’t feel safe.” My voice trembled.

Hearing it, Knox ordered, “Roll over.”

I did, giving him my back, and he scooted close until he was pressed all the way against me. He slid one arm under my head, wrapped the other around me tightly, and whispered, “Right now, in my arms, you are safe. I will not let anything get you.”

I took his hand that was near my head in mine and laced our fingers.

“The only way in here is locked and all of us would hear if someone tried to get in. Just focus on the feeling of me around you and close your eyes.”

“Can you tell me about your day at work or something to distract me from my thoughts?” I whispered as I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

In a low voice, he began talking about how he’d started his day with a workout. Then went on to talk about scheduling issues and employee drama. When he was done going over his day, I had successfully relaxed to the sound of his voice, and I could feel sleep beckoning me.

“I love you,” I heard him whisper.

“I love you, too,” I said with a sleepy voice. He stiffened and I smiled. “Thought I was asleep, did ya?”

His body slowly relaxed and he kissed my head. “Go to sleep.”