Page 1 of A Little More Love

Chapter One

Tyler

Fire explodes around me, covering my body. The screams of my unit fills my ears as the pain of being burned engulfs me.

“Tyler, baby. Wake up for us, you’re having a nightmare.”

I have to help them! Their screams penetrate me to my core.

“Tyler, baby, you’re okay.”

I woke with a start and jerked backwards from the figure hovering over me. My hands balled into fists; I would protect my men no matter the cost.

“Hey, you were having a nightmare,” my partner Elliot soothed. His large hands rubbed up and down my chest. “It was just a nightmare.”

My skin burned and the smell of smoke still hung heavy in my memories, but he was correct. I was at home in our bed. I wasn’t overseas. Instead I was home, in our bed, safe and sound. Taking in a deep breath, I cleared my lungs of the imaginary smoke and breathed in his scent instead.

“I’m sorry,” I rambled, ashamed of my night terror. They’d been more frequent since I’d agreed to travel back home and host a fundraiser for another veteran. He’d been injured overseas too. He was younger than me, with a wife and a daughter. I had so much difficulty navigating life after my injuries and I couldn’t imagine trying to deal with all the changes and explain them to my child. My heart hurt for him.

The upcoming trip had brought back some terrible memories.

“You don’t have to be sorry, Tyler. It’s okay. You’re okay,” Elliot assured me, bending and pressing a kiss to my lips. “We’re leaving in the morning and it’s totally normal you had a night terror tonight.” Elliot’s presence soothed me. He’d been my rock for a long time.

“Papa, you okay?” Our Little one, Tinsley, asked from the corner of the room. Probably where Elliot had moved her for safety.

“I’m okay, Teenie. Are you okay? Did Papa scare you?”

“No, I wasn’t ascared,” she said, climbing back into the bed. I opened my arms and she snuggled up against my side. Her slight tremble told me that she’d been a little ‘ascared’. “I’m sorry, sweet girl.”

“Do you want your meds?” Elliot asked.

My psychiatrist had written me a new prescription for sleeping pills once I’d told him about the nightmares resurfacing. I was familiar with them since I’d also had them when I was recovering in the burn unit and then in the rehab facility that had so graciously helped me adjust to life after my injuries.

“No, I’m okay,” I assured him. I hadn’t taken the first pill since we’d picked them up from the pharmacy and I hoped to keep it that way.

“There’s nothing wrong with needing them, baby,” Elliot said, bending again, this time kissing my forehead.

“I know,” I answered. I just wasn’t ready yet.

“I think I can go back to sleep,” I said, turning to look at the illuminated clock on the dresser.

Two AM.

“Come snuggle us?” I asked. I hated how pinched his face was. Causing him to worry was my least favorite thing to do.

“Are you okay if I turn the light back off or do you want it on?” he asked. God bless him for being so thoughtful.

“Off. I’m okay.” My heart still pounded in my chest and my scars felt tight, but mentally I was okay.

Elliot flipped the light off and climbed back in bed with us. Tinsley had already fallen asleep again, thankfully, and I shifted her to lie on top of me.

“Thank you,” I whispered over her even breathing. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“I’ll always be here for you, baby.” He put his leg over mine and we interlocked our hands to lay over Tinsley’s back.

I waited until his leg fully relaxed against mine before I let sleep take me back under.

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