Page 47 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One
When I reach the bottom, the back of my neck is prickling. It feels like someone—orsomething—is going to snatch me into the darkness.
But I can see a faint light coming from farther in the house, so I take off again. When I finally burst into the room, the music stops immediately.
“Princess?” Oliver stands from the piano bench, stalking toward me when he sees the panic on my face.
I run to him, jumping into his arms with a sob. My legs wrap around his waist as he holds me. “I woke up alone, and everything was so dark. I—I got scared.”
Hisarms tighten around me as he moves to the piano bench and sits back down. One of his hands runs up and down my back while the other holds me securely. “Fuck, Wren. You’re shaking so badly. Is this just from being scared?”
I bury my face in the crook of his neck. “I get nightmares when I’m stressed.”
Embarrassment creeps through me. I’m acting like a kid. And I knew this was going to happen tonight—why did I just magically forget when Elliot asked me to come home with him?
“That’s awful,” Oliver murmurs. “Do you need anything? Water? Food? A blanket?” His fingers skim my bare legs, and I realize I’m in nothing but a T-shirt.
I frown, thinking.DoI need anything? Normally when this happens, I just turn on a light and read to distract my mind until I’m tired again.
But then I remember something, and I gasp, clinging to Oliver. “I heard voices!” I scan the room, looking for Rhett or Elliot. But all I find are a few empty couches and chairs and a lit fireplace.
Oliver just smiles softly, stroking my hair. “Voices? Oravoice? I was on the phone, Wren. There’s no one else here.”
But I can’t stop looking around, peering into every dark corner in the room.
Oliver grabs my face, turning me to look at him.“Wren.You’re safe. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
My body finally relaxes as I look into his eyes, so genuine there’s no way I couldn’t believe him. “You were on the phone,” I murmur.
He nods. “With Elliot. He’s out working with Rhett. They’re on their way home.”
What a short shift. And what an odd time to be at work.
Oliver glances away. “I…can’t really sleep when they’re gone.” He rubs the back of his neck.
So theydolive together. “You don’t work with them?” I run a hand over his hair, letting the feeling ground me.
“No, I do. But we didn’t want to leave you here alone.” He kisses the tip of my nose.
I tilt my head, watching him. It’s sweet—although this conversation is bringing up about ten more questions about what type of relationship these men have with each other.
“You’re still shaking.” He lifts me up and carries me to the couch, where he settles me on his lap with a blanket. “Are you tired?”
I sigh. My heart rate has returned to normal, and the feeling of the darkness chasing me disappeared the second Oliver’s arms wrapped around me. “I think I’m getting there.”
He kisses my forehead, and I quickly move to capture it with my mouth. He smiles against my lips. “Try to relax. I promise you won’t wake up alone again.”
So I do. With my head settled against his chest, I close my eyes. The sound of his steady heartbeat in my ear soothes me, and it’s not long before I’m drifting off to sleep again.
Chapter six
Oliver
After the guys make it home, I’m able to get a few hours of sleep. But when the sun rises, so do I.
I settle into my usual morning spot—a small table in the sunroom, overlooking the front yard—and pull up an article Rhett sent me last night.
The house is quiet. Elliot took Wren back up to bed after he showered, and he won’t wake up until around ten. As for Rhett, he disappeared to one of his usual hiding places, probably to brood. I don’t think he quite knows what to do with the effect Wren is having on him—on all of us.
As if my thoughts conjure her, she steps into the sunroom. She’s still only dressed in Elliot’s T-shirt, with her hair pulled into a bun on the top of her head.
