Page 21 of Unexpected Heroine

“All night.”

“Do you promise?”

“Cross my heart.”

“If you break your promise, I’ll spank you tomorrow.”

“Paddle or no paddle?” I ask through a yawn.

“Neither. A whip.”

A chuckle subtly shakes my chest. “Good night, sugar bear. I swear I won’t leave your side.”

I kiss her on the top of her head, intending to keep that promise. If I do anything other than hold her tonight, it’ll be web searches to learn how to care for someone overcoming sexual trauma. And that will be done right here in bed on my phone.

Although I’d love to get started on identifying everyone involved with this mess, she needs me to hold her right now even more.

And I need that too.

Chapter 5

Fuzzy thoughts, but not the warm kind

LETTIE

My stomach clenches with hunger pangs. I attempt to block it out to allow a few more moments of sleep.

Suddenly, I’m jolted awake as a surge of panic floods my veins. My muscles tense, flinging me upright. Shards of pain course through my entire body from the jerky movement.

Blinking, I take in my surroundings. Relief flows over me in soothing waves.

The rescue was real. I’m with James.

I wonder how long it’ll be before I can wake up peacefully again. Will I ever just turn over and flutter my eyelids open to greet the day like I did before?

Maybe I should cut myself some slack. Waking in a tizzy is probably a reflex when the only sleep you’ve gotten in days was stolen in dark corners of dirty rooms.

Last night, I was terrified of falling asleep, afraid I’d wake up back at that place. Exhaustion won out, though. Especially after James rubbed that wonder cream on my back and legs.

Fortunately, my mind wasn’t tricking me. I’m truly here.

With James.

He must have felt me wake, because he grabs his eyeglasses off the bedside table. “Hey, sugar bear. Good morning. How are you feeling?” Rolling over to his side, he reaches out to hold me, stopping himself before he touches my waist.

The bruises.

“I’m okay. At least, I think I am.”

“You seemed to sleep well.” He checks the time. “Got about seven hours. I expected you to be up most of the night.”

“I don’t think I even dreamed, which is definitely for the best.”

“Good.” He scoots closer, kissing my forehead. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? How’s your pain?”

“I need to go to the bathroom, and I’m starving.”

“Same here. Are you ready to get up?”

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