Page 84 of Restored

He collapses atop me, my head in the crook of his neck. We lay there a moment, him still warm inside of me.

“Now that I have found you, I am certain I will search for you in every life.” I feel the words like an ache in my chest. He grabs my hand, the one I cut when I offered his father my blood.

He places a kiss on each fingertip before his thumb slides over the scar on my palm. He brings it to his mouth and places another full-mouthed kiss there, making my stomach flip.

I tug my fingers from his grasp and run them over the scars that trail his chest. Both scars tell our story, the story of us.

That moment, those memories weaving into a tangible bond. He picks me off the bed and walks us over to the bathroom, placing me on the counter to turn on the shower.

Warm steam fills the space and Ledger stands in between my thighs kissing me fervently. My legs wrap around him as he maneuvers us into the warmth.

Hot water flows down my back as he lowers us into the spray. He removes the bandage from my shoulder revealing freshly healed pink bite marks. He kisses the skin running the soap over my chest and down my abdomen.

He continues gliding it over the stained skin of my body with care. I lean into his touch, my knees going weak when he kneels in front of me running the bar of soap over my calves and up my thighs.

My toes curl as the soap coasts between my legs and a wicked smile crosses Ledger’s face. His beautiful dimple makes an appearance stealing my breath.

“My turn, Prince.” I stop his hand grabbing the soap as he stands. I run the earthy scented bar over his broad chest, skate it across his collar bones and down his strong arms, revealing his olive skin under the dirt and gore.

Ledger watches me intently, his smile gone, replaced with a look I can’t quite place. His hand finds my neck and I lean into it as his thumb swipes over my jaw.

The moment goes from sexual and playful to intimate, and I’m not sure what to do with it. Exhaustion creeps back into my consciousness, and I sway on my feet.

The full weight of the day settles on my shoulders. Ledger must notice because he leans over, placing a soft kiss to my lips, before turning off the water.

We dry off, Ledger disappearing briefly, coming back dressed and with another shirt in his hand. He brings it over my head and helps my arms through the holes as it swallows me. The earthy scent of him fills my nostrils and I bring the collar to my nose and inhale. He watches the movement and his lip ticks up.

His fingers interlace with mine leading me to his bed. The lines between us blur as Ledger pulls me down next to him. My legs rub against the soft silk sheets before tangling with his. His arms band around me and I allow myself to take comfort in them, his nearness.

My body and mind are spent, fatigue sinking into my very bones. Sleep is no longer an option as I melt into Ledger, blackness claiming me almost instantly.

I startle awakewhat feels like only seconds later in a cold sweat. My heart races and I struggle to catch my breath. Ledger is there, his voice a calm breeze cutting through my raging emotions.

“You were having a nightmare.” His hand strokes over my back making my skin pebble. I fist the sheets to ground myself.

Flashes of Kerolu, blood, Holt’s blank stare fill my mind. My mother’s piercing screams, my father bleeding out in front of me. I squeeze my eyes shut and reach blindly for Ledger.

He finds my hand and guides it to his chest to feel his steady heartbeat and even breathing. “I know it is hard right now. My sister’s death, knowing how brutal and terrifying her last moment must have been is a livingnightmare. Having to relive it every night, a torment I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.” His brow furrows.

My heart squeezes for him. I am mourning a boy I barely knew, and it is unbearable. The guilt and pain of losing a sibling and not being able to stop it must have been shattering.

“The nightmares never stop completely, but for me, they became less frequent. I used to view them as my punishment, a constant reminder of my biggest failure. I’m supposed to be able to protect the ones I love, and if I can’t do that then…” He trails off, and I lower my head so our foreheads brush. My hands find the back of his head, and I bury my fingers in his hair while trailing my lips over his cheek.

“Thank you,” he whispers and brings his lips to my forehead. “All she wanted was to see my father live again. He meant a great deal to her. Now that he is healed, her death doesn’t feel like it was for nothing. Your father would have been proud.”

Our lips meet, and my power tingles the skin there as it rages inside of me. I kiss him fiercely as if I have the power to heal all the atrocities he’s experienced.

His power rushes to meet mine, soothing me, consuming me until I can’t decipher where I end, and he begins. I wonder for a moment if this is normal, if everyone’s magic reacts so strongly to someone they care about.

“I want this life, Ledger,” I whisper, and he stills. “I want you; I want Archie, Mia, and Cam. I want it all so much it terrifies me.” I can’t remember a time I let myself wantsomething or someone, and I fear it will be ripped away from me and I’ll never recover.

He draws a sharp breath. “Time has reserved a place for us, where the world doesn’t seem so against the idea of us. I’m sure of it.” My eyes well as we lay back down, and I press my back against the hard plains of his body. His arm slips around me, strong and reassuring.

The morning light rouses me from my deep slumber. I crack my eyes, turning to see Ledger slumbering next to me. His arm is banded tightly around me, and I want to nestle further into his warmth.

I stop myself from doing that, instead allowing myself another minute in his arms before untangling from him. I throw my discarded, dirty pants back on my bare legs, a reminder of how much of myself I gave last night. I feel vulnerable, laid out, and completely raw.

I don’t regret a single moment, but waking up with him and having to face how deeply I feel for this man isn’t something I am capable of doing at the moment.

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