Page 69 of Abyss

She’s crying. But beyond that, she sounds like she’s in pain, wincing and whining.

Is she still awake? What’s she crying about? My stomach rolls at the thought of it being because of me.

But then I hear her mumble some incoherent words that have me thinking she’s dreaming.

Not giving myself a chance to change my mind, I shuffle back to her room, gently swinging the door open and stepping inside.

Like fireflies twinkling under a summer sky, her room is bathed in a multitude of soft glowing colors, ranging from orange to yellow to blue from her nightlights, casting comforting shadows over the walls.

Curled into a fetal position on her bed, Kavi’s arms arewrapped around her knees and tucked into her stomach. Her restless movements have pulled her blanket off her body, leaving her vulnerable and uncovered. Even in this dim lighting, the furrow on her forehead, the way her eyes squeeze shut, gives a sense for the demons she’s fighting.

“Let me out!” she pleads, kicking off more of her blanket violently. “Please. Someone let me out!”

Without hesitation, I rush to her side. My instinct to comfort her outweighs any warning bells inside my head, telling me to leave her be. Perching on the edge of her bed, I run a gentle palm over her exposed arm, sweeping her tear-soaked hair off her face.

Even in the throes of her nightmare, with her skin cool and damp and her hair disheveled, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

A knot forms inside my throat as I gently shake her. “Kav,” I murmur. “Baby, wake up.”

Her furrowed brows deepen as she shakes her head, hands fisting beneath her chin. “You can’t do this!” She kicks the mattress, her knee knocking my hip. “Please . . . don’t hurt him. I won’t tell anyone. I won't . . . I won’t . . .”

My chest constricts as I lower my lips to her temple, kissing it gently. Memories flood back as I recall doing the same when Maddy had nightmares as a kid. It broke me to see her be so scared, as if she felt truly alone in whatever she was facing. I loathed that feeling for her, the same as I despise it for Kavi.

“Kav, please, sweetheart.” I squeeze her hip, gently jostling her. “Wake up. It’s just a dream.”

Her body coils under me, eyelids fluttering before blinking awake. At first she still appears to be trapped in the clutches of her nightmare—confused and withdrawn—but a gasp escapes through her lips as her eyes drag up to mine.

“Hudson?” she rasps, almost like she’s wondering if she’s really awake.

I shift, preparing to get up and give her more room now that I’ve successfully awakened her, when Kavi throws her arms around me. Before I know it, she’s sliding onto my lap, burying her nose into the crook of my neck.

I’m frozen for a moment, my hands halted in the air unsurely. But slowly, as if by instinct or this innate need to protect her, I wrap my arms around her trembling form. I cradle the back of her head, brushing my lips over her temple.

Kavi’s chest heaves with sobs, her fingernails biting into my bare back. “Hudson.”

This time, my chest catches on fire at the desperate, yet relieved sound of my name on her lips. Wrapping her thighs around my torso, I climb to my feet, and nestle my nose into her hair. “You’re okay, baby. You’re safe.”

She nods, keeping her tight hold on me, not objecting as I guide us out of her room.

“You’re sleeping in my bed tonight,” I declare to my own surprise, leading us toward her bathroom sink and unplugging the two nightlights there to take with me.

I trail a few kisses on the side of her neck as I carry her down the hall to my bedroom, holding her against my chest as if my heart is beating outside of it.

Fucking hell, what am I saying?

What am I even doing?

I don’t know, but right now isn’t the time to analyze it.

Flipping the comforter on my bed, I gently lay her on her back. She only loosens her arms around my neck enough for me to lift up but not detach completely. With her arms still crossed behind my neck, I gaze into those beautiful golden pools of honey.

Lifting my fingers to her face, I dab the corner of her eyes with my thumb, wiping away her lingering tears. Ifthere is something I never wanted to witness again, it’s her fucking tears. They’re like spears stabbing an empty cavity inside my chest, threatening to lodge themselves there.

“I’m going to plug in your nightlights and come right back,” I whisper, closer to her lips than I should be.

A moment’s hesitation passes before she nods, dropping her arms to her sides.

I slide into bed a minute later, switching off the lamp on my nightstand. I only linger on the thought of what to do next for a second before my hands reach for her. Before I can stop myself, I’m pulling her to me—her chest to mine, her head tucked under my neck, and her arms crossed behind my back—combing my fingers down the strands of her silky hair. I listen to her soft breaths against the dark silence of my room.

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