Page 99 of Burn

Just when I think it will be like every other time and I’m waiting for the more dominate side of Caleb, I’m shown something else entirely. Something almost tender underneath the fear inside of him.

One hand moves to cradle my head, his grip never tightening as he threads his fingers in my hair. Tenderly, his lips cover mine, breathing the words, “Don’t leave,” against them.

Don’t leave? Does he really think I could leave him now?

I can’t. Iwon’t.

My muscles tighten as his movements become more urgent, almost frantic, until suddenly every muscle in his body clenchesandhe tenses on top of me and collapses against me.

I don’t know what to say, or do, so I wait to see his reaction.

He places his head at my ear, kissing the lobe and whispers in my ear, “I’m sorry.”

His body hasn’t stopped shaking, but he moves to my side pulling my back to his chest.

“Are you okay?” I finally ask into the darkness.

He doesn’t reply; instead, his body clings to mine as if I’m what he needs.

Sure, I’m a distraction, but we all know distractions aren’t permanent. The memories find their way through the cracks at the most inopportune times.

Like nightmares.

ONCE CALEB’S BACK asleep, I try to fall back asleep but it doesn’t come. I stare at the window for over an hour, trying to occupy my mind with anything but him. I can’t.

I make my way downstairs to the kitchen for some water, unable to shake what just happened between us.

I’m surprised to see Jacey taking her shoes off and setting her purse on the bench beside the door. Glancing at the clock, I smile when I notice it’s late . . . or shall I say early? It’s like three in the morning.

Jacey grabs her chest when she sees me standing in Caleb’s T-shirt in the kitchen. “Holy shit, I wasn’t expecting anyone to be up.”

I set my glass on the counter. “Sorry,” I whisper, not wanting to wake Caleb, despite him being upstairs.

Moving around the living room, she throws a blanket over a man on the floor. I smile and notice it’s Owen, the guy Scarlet slept with that night. “I’ve seen him sleep on the floor before.”

Jacey rolls her eyes and sits down on the couch. “Owen rarely sleeps in a bed. He’s usually on the floor somewhere.” She pats the cushion next to her. “I can’t sleep. Come keep me company.”

I’m not sure what to do so I sit next to her. Maybe she can tell me why Caleb was screaming in his sleep like that or why he was shaking so badly.

“What are you doing up?” Jacey asks, setting her cell phone on the coffee table in front of the couch.

“Caleb had a nightmare.”

In the dark, her eyes roam to mine, but she doesn’t say anything. The look gives it away. This isn’t something new.

“How long has he been having nightmares?”

“All his life,” she whispers, pushing her glasses up her nose. “He’ll never talk about them though, so don’t ask.”

Sighing, I think for a moment. It’s just like me to get involved with someone who’s fucked up. “You know him really well, don’t you?”

“I’ve known him most of my life.” Yawning, Jacey runs her hands through her hair and then ties the jet-black mess up in a ponytail. “I moved in next door to the Ryan family when I was six. My parents died in a fire when I was eight, so we kind of had that in common.”

Had that in common? What’s she talking about? Caleb’s parents are alive? Or so I thought they were. Is Wyatt his family?

I can tell Jacey senses her mishap as she swallows. “Anyway, Caleb and I dated when we were younger. I lost my virginity to him and then slept with his brother, Evan. Ruined that relationship.”

“But you’re friends now?”

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