Page 29 of A Vampire Bewitched
Finally free, Emma shot up in the bed, crying out and shoving the remainder of the blankets aside.
“Shh..shhh…it’s okay, Em. It’s me. It’s Nikulas. It was just a dream, sweetheart. It’s ok. You’re safe.”
Sucking in great gulps of air, Emma blinked rapidly and looked around as she tried to get her bearings. Grabbing the front of her shirt, she looked for the blood she could still feel spurting out of her, but there was nothing. Her bones throbbed with the phantom pain of past injuries, and tears ran down her face.
Raising her head, she sniffed and wiped at her eyes to find Nik on one knee on the bed, his pained eyes frantically searching her face.
She looked around the room to check they were alone, and then gave him a small, watery smile, whispering hoarsely, “Sorry about that. Bad dream. I have them a lot.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Nik looked terrible, almost like he’d been there with her.
Emma just shook her head and looked down at her knotted hands.
He reached out and covered them with his own, stilling her fidgeting.
“Please talk to me,” he said. “Maybe it will help.”
She gave a snort of disgust. “I doubt it.” At his hurt expression, she added, “But thank you.”
“Did they rape you?” he blurted out suddenly. He looked as shocked as she was at the question, even though he’d been the one to ask it.
But then he clenched his jaw with determination. “Emma? Did they rape you?” When she didn’t answer, he demanded, “Answerme, goddamn it.”
“No!” she burst out, and then more calmly, “No. Not for lack of trying, but…no.”
He sagged visibly with relief, and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I just needed to know.”
Turning her hands, he held them in his. “I’m sorry you were hurt, Em, I’m so sorry.” A steely edge came into his voice. “I don’t know what these ‘monsters’ are you told me about, but if we ever see them, rest assured they won’t live to hurt you again.”
Emma had no doubt.
Squeezingher fingers one last time, he stood up to leave, because he wanted to stay. “I’ll let you try to go back to sleep. We should make it to the airport by sunrise, and we’ll hole up there for the day, then fly to Seattle at sunset.”
Emma came up on her knees, grabbing at his hand again with both of hers. “Please, don’t go! Please. Please, stay with me Nikulas. Just for a while?”
Nik paused by the side of the bed. There was nothing he wanted more than to stay with her. He would love to crawl right into that bed with her and touch her until she had nothing on her mind but him.
Glad she didn’t have his night vision, he rubbed the heel of his free hand over the ever-present bulge in his pants, trying to ease the sudden discomfort there. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
She sat back on her heels and let go of his hand. “Of course not. Forget it. I’ll be fine.”
Nik watched her nightshirt flirt around the tops of her thighs as she leaned over to take a sip from her water bottle.
Fuck. Me.
But the pain of his erection became bearable again when he noticed the marks on her smooth legs.
He met her eyes, then looked back down at her legs.
Emma followed his gaze and quickly pulled the blanket over herself, hiding the scars from his view. “Never mind, it’s okay. You can go. I’m going to try to get back to sleep.”
Nik needed to leave. He needed to say goodnight, turn around, and walk out. Instead, he stood there, the image of her ravaged skin seared into his brain.
Without a word, he sat on the side of the bed and bent over to unlace his combat boots, setting them neatly by the nightstand. He straightened the blankets around Emma, and she scooted down without a word as he tucked her in. Crawling in next to her on top of the blankets, he curled himself around her, threw an arm around her, and tugged her into the curve of his body.
He had no words as he lay there holding her, breathing her unique scent and listening to her heartbeat slow as she eventually relaxed and drifted off to sleep. Even when he heard her soft snores, he stayed with her, keeping her close. She shouldn’t wake up alone again if the monsters came back.
The RV finally came to a stop. They must be at the hanger. He heard the steel shutters clang down and Aiden’s footsteps as he headed back to one of the sofa beds. The thought crossed his mind that he should get up and grab a bag out of the fridge, then crash on the other couch, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave the side of the tiny warrior he was protecting.
