Page 77 of Princes of Hollywood

“Thank you, little warrior,” he whispers against my hair. “You were amazing.”

Chapter 20

Nightmare

GREER

Something’s definitely different this morning. I’m turned on and practically panting when I wake up. When I open my eyes, the room is dark, and I have no idea what’s happening to me. Hands hold down my thighs and a tongue licks my clit.

I freeze, trapped in a nightmare, knowing he’ll push me over the edge. He always does, and all I feel is shame. I shouldn’t be here, but he’ll punish me if I lock my door. I can’t escape him.

“No.” It comes out guttural as I try to inch away from him, but I run into another body. He’ll ignore my pleas to stop. He always does. My sleep-soaked brain can’t make sense of what’s happening. “No, don’t. Please stop.”

“Fuck.” That’s not his voice.

“Greer?” That’s not his voice either. “What’s wrong?”

The light comes on and I’m huddled against the headboard, staring at Aiden and Roarke. The spidery tendrils of my nightmare unravel, releasing me. I suck in a breath, my lungs starved for air. I’m shaking so badly, my teeth clatter together.

My arms wrap around my legs, making myself as small as possible as I rock back and forth.

“Hey, poppet, I’m sorry.” Roarke reaches out for me, but I don’t want to be touched. I curl into myself. “Fuck,” he mutters. “I didn’t know.”

“Greer.” Aiden’s tone is gentle. “You’re safe. No one’s going to do anything to you. I’m going to hand you a blanket.”

I open my eyes and grab the offered blanket to wrap around myself. I’m so cold. Every inch of me trembles. He’s not here. I count to ten and back down again. I’m not there.

I’m safe. Breathe.

I’m safe. Breathe.

I’m safe. Breathe.

The last bit of the terror that clung to me falls away.

My breathing calms down and I open my eyes. Aiden’s blue eyes are filled with concern, while Roarke’s are sad and ashamed. I want to go to them and tell them it’s my fault, but I’m bare from the waist down.

My reaction will cause problems. It always does.

“Can I have my panties?” My voice shakes, but I ignore that. I’ll feel more comfortable when I’m covered.

Aiden looks around the bed and finds them. He holds them out to me, careful not to invade my space. I quickly slide them on under the blanket, feeling ridiculous after yesterday.

“Thank you,” I whisper, but I can’t meet their eyes. My brain processes what happened. Roarke went down on me while I was asleep. Memories assaulted me until I was back there, trapped in my room with him.

It wasn’t Roarke giving me pleasure, but him taking it.

“I didn’t think…” Roarke shakes his head, looking so lost. “I didn’t know…”

I lift my gaze to meet Roarke’s. I need to reassure him. My insides feel icky right now, but that’s not his fault. “It’s a new place. It brings the nightmares to the surface, and sometimes they bleed into reality.”

“But I knew—” He stops himself and releases his breath. Not saying what I don’t want to acknowledge. Straightening, he moves to the edge of the bed to sit upright. His shoulders hunch as he puts his hands on his knees. “I’m sorry, Greer.”

My insides tighten and a wave of regret hits me. My trauma isn’t his trauma. I can’t let him leave like this after all he’s done for me in the last few days. Fighting off the need to retreat, I jerk forward and wrap my arms around him from behind.

“Don’t say that,” I whisper against his back. My throat closes and I squeeze my eyes shut. Don’t leave me.

His hand falls over mine and his head drops. “Poppet.”

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