Page 60 of Her Arranged Alpha
"It's amazing," he said, walking towards me. "And I'm grateful to have someone like you doing it."
I blushed, feeling my heart skip a beat. Over the past few days, I've felt like we were a real couple. Not someone that were forced together, but two people who wanted to be together.
"Thanks."
He reached an arm around, wrapping me in a hug. I sank against it and smiled, looking around the yard.
"How about I get the grill going and we eat dinner out here and take in all your hard work?"
I nodded, loving the idea.
Maddox made steak and potatoes. We had dinner out on the back porch, where I told Maddox about each of the plants that I put into the ground. I told him about how the flowers will look once some of them bloom and how lush and green the yard will look in a few years, more than it looks right now.
Maddox listened and smiled, taking everything in. It wasn't until I finished my plate that I realized I had been talking the entire meal.
"I'm sorry," I said, feeling embarrassed. "I spoke for the entire meal."
He smiled at me. "That's okay. I like listening to you talk."
I felt my entire body go hot seeing how softly he was looking at me, and I knew he meant it. I could tell from otherdays that our relationship was different. It was better than it was before.
After eating, we headed to bed. I fell asleep easily, finding that having Maddox's arms wrapped around me was comforting.
I was having a peaceful sleep until I found myself in the middle of the woods with Maddox. I could hear voices all around me, yet I couldn't figure out where they were coming from. I turned and twisted, trying to find the voice until my eyes landed on Maddox.
He stood in front of me. I could tell it was him, but it wasn't. His eyes weren't the same. They were lacking this cheerfulness. And his smile was off. Like he was in pain, he was pale as he stared at me, and then suddenly he fell over.
My eyes widened as I noticed a knife was sticking out of his back. I screamed.
"Jillian!" I was shaken awake, snapping my eyes open, and Maddox hovered over me. His hands were on my shoulders, and his eyes were wide with fear as he stared at me. I searched for him, feeling my entire body shaking.
But I watched him die.
"Jillian, it was a nightmare."
My lower lip quivered as I started to cry. "You died. I saw you die."
He frowned, pulling me tightly. "I'm alive. I'm right here, Jillian. I'm right here."
I sobbed into his shirt, clinging to him tightly. The thought of losing him felt so real, and I felt a sharpness in my chest.
"I thought I lost you," I whispered.
"No, I'm right here. I'm real. I'm holding you and I'm not going anywhere."
I inhaled his scent, realizing that I felt something more for Maddox than just caring, and it scared me a little. Our future was uncharted waters, and neither of us knew what was coming.
Chapter 19 - Maddox
I found Jillian sitting in the kitchen with all the lights on. I frowned, hating how I could tell her emotions without having to even look at her. It was only a little after six in the morning, and all the lights were on, which told me that Jillian didn't feel safe, which I understood considering her nightmare last night.
"How are you feeling?" I asked as I rounded the island. Jillian looked exhausted, and I knew she hadn't fallen back to sleep after her dream.
She shrugged, rubbing her fingers along the rim of the mug. "I'm tired."
"You can go back to bed."
She offered a sad smile. "I'll be okay."
