Page 17 of Midnight & Memories

Poppy often questioned herself as she dreamed. It was something she’d done in childhood to help herself get through nightmares, and now that she was an adult, it had become a habit. A loud bang rang throughout the ship, and it lunged enough to knock them off their feet. They both went to investigate, and soon she saw herself being ripped from Ridge’s hand and plummeting into the cold water.

Poppy screamed Ridge’s name and bolted from her bed in a cold sweat. Within seconds, Ridge appeared in the doorway and raced to her bedside.

“Poppy, what’s wrong?”

Poppy clutched her chest as she tried to fill her lungs with air to calm her shaking body and racing heart.

“I had a horrible nightmare about drowning on the Titanic.”

She gasped out the words as the still fresh visions replayed in her mind. Her mouth was bone dry, and she swallowed to get some moister back in her mouth to continue talking about what she’d seen. Every fiber of her being wanted to remember all the details because, for some reason, she knew they were important.

Ridge sat on the edge of the bed next to her.

“It seemed so real! I mean, it’s like I lived it all before and with you because you were there, too. We danced and had the time of our lives for one minute. And then the next. I’m ripped from your hands and plummeting into the sea. I just don’t understand why it all seemed so real.”

Ridge stroked her hair while drawing circles on her upper back.

“It’s okay, my darling. I’m here.”

She gazed at him, trying to search for answers he couldn’t give her. After all, it wasn’t like they actually shared a previous life together. Her overactive mind must have been transfixed on the Facebook group. And probably because she felt guilty about not logging in tonight to moderate the comments and accept people into the group.

“I just can’t believe how real it seemed. Ridge, it was so frightening. I’m not sure if I can fall back to sleep. Can you hold me?” She screwed her eyes shut, embarrassed at asking him something so silly. “I’m sorry. I know I wanted to sleep in separate rooms to set some comfortable boundaries between us, but that was the most intense dream I’ve had in a very long time.”

Ridge got up and held out his hand to her.

“Of course, my sweet, you can sleep with me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Come with me to my room.”

He led her into his room and untucked the sheets on the opposite side he slept in.

His bed is enormous, and he only sleeps on one side. There’s only one reason a man would do that. He must be a widow. But that can’t be because he’s so young!

“Why do you only sleep on the left side of the bed?”

The question escaped her lips before she squelched the curious notion. Ridge’s frame tightened, but he’d given her the answer before she could apologize.

“I lost someone long ago, and it still doesn’t seem right to take up the entire bed.”

“I’m sorry. That’s awful.”

Ridge shrugged his shoulders before continuing. “Each day, it gets a little easier. I’ll always miss my Chelsea, but the pain of losing her subsides a little more with each new day. But? I think you have a little to do with my pain subsiding, too.” He said. “Come here.”

He drew her into his arms as he got into the bed on his side.

“That’s sweet of you to say. Honestly, you have helped me get over a few things in my life, too. Specifically, homesickness.” Poppy said. “I don’t know what it is, but being with you makes me feel like I’m home.”

She palmed his bare chest and snuggled up to the length of his body. Ridge kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer to his chest.

“I think that is the nicest compliment anyone has ever given me, Poppy.”

She positioned her head on his shoulder, and they quickly fell asleep entangled in each other’s arms.

Chapter Ten

RIDGE

He held her the entire night, neglecting his urge to feed. If he were a fledgling, he would be in trouble, ignoring his thirst. But he couldn’t tear himself away from her. And all out of sheer selfishness of wanting her by his side. A wishful bliss came over him as he dreamed about staying this way with her for an eternity, but he knew better than to think of such foolish things.

He let out an inaudible sigh and eased his arm from underneath her before he headed to his bathroom to take a shower and change. As he stepped into the shower, he shut his eyes and let the water bead around his shoulders and hair. Thoughts of touching her coursed through him, and heat rushed right to his dick.

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