Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
The huge windows on the far wall right behind the bed offered just as awesome a view as the ones in the main room, though this side overlooked the woods beyond. Moonlight fell through the panes and lit her in a milky incandescence.
That smooth, soft skin aglow where she was in the middle of my bed.
Would have stared at the vision for my whole goddamned life if it wouldn’t have been for the fact that she wasn’t shrouded in the peace I’d always prayed she’d have.
No.
She was writhing, her head thrashing from side to side as she flailed her legs, so hard that the blankets and sheets had been pushed to the floor.
Raven’s gorgeous face was pinched and twisted in distress. Like she was fighting off a demon wherever she was lost to the night.
I wanted to chalk it up to a simple nightmare.
But I couldn’t do that when I knew firsthand that Raven’s demons had been real.
When I knew the way those demons haunted her. Ones she kept hidden behind those teasing smiles and that bright, shining belief.
I crept across the floor, knowing I wasn’t anything but a demon, too.
It didn’t matter.
There wasn’t one fuckin’ thing in this world that could have kept me away from her right then.
Coming up to the side of the bed, I leaned over and murmured her name. “Raven.”
I kept it soft, praying she would be comforted by the sound. Praying it would be enough to draw her out of the dark, dark place she had gone.
Only she thrashed harder, and a long cry rolled up her throat. The sound was so fucking devastating that it nearly dropped me to my knees.
I wavered, standing there wearing only my briefs, sure that I was crossing so many lines that it was going to come back and bite me in the ass.
But the only thing that mattered right then was her.
Comforting her.
Letting her know she wasn’t alone in her suffering.
So I gave, helpless but to climb all the way onto the bed.
Carefully, I reached out and I brushed my fingertips down her cheek. “Raven, wake up, it’s me.”
“Please, no, stop,” she begged from the depths of her misery.
My spirit screamed and my pulse careened. My arms trembled like a bitch when I snaked them under her back and pulled her to my bare chest.
A flashfire ripped through my body at the contact.
“I’ve got you, Raven. I’ve got you. You’re safe. You don’t have to be afraid.” I muttered the promises to the top of her head.
“Otto.” Nails raked down my back as she clawed at me.
I wasn’t sure if she issued it within her dreams, but I let my lips drift down her head to her temple where I whispered across her soft skin, “I’m right here, Raven. I’m right here.”
I felt it the moment she came to coherency, and she gasped as she pulled back an inch. Enough that those inky eyes were blinking up at me. Saturated with surprise and uncertainty before they softened with this gutting relief that tore through me like a knife.
Moonlight danced within the endless pools, dragging me right down to their depths.
I could fucking drown in this woman. Float in who she was for eternity.
“Otto.” It was a quiet, haggard whimper.
I brushed my fingers through her hair. “I’m right here. Right here.”
A shuddering breath left her, and I could physically feel the tension drain from her as she shifted to curl herself around me.
Nearly came apart when she climbed right onto my lap.
Long, luscious legs wrapped around my waist.
Like as if on instinct, she knew that was exactly where she belonged.
I became painfully aware that my white tee she’d gone to sleep in had ridden up around her waist, and her lace-covered pussy was pressed up tight to my cock that I was trying to will into submission.
I could not fuckin’ get hard right then. Not when she needed my comfort. Not when she needed to feel safe.
Wasn’t sure that I was that strong, though, so I shifted us, unwinding her legs from my waist and lying us down so we were facing each other.
Keeping her close.
But not that fuckin’ close.
I stared at her, fingers gentling through her hair as if it could chase away her fear, soothe the sting of wherever her mind had forced her to go. Those eyes were on me.
Fierce.
Wounded.
Bright and still so fucking sad.
“It’s okay,” I muttered, trying to tamp the rage that blistered through me.
Unsure which bastard she’d been taken back to.
Wishing I’d been the one to wipe out every single one of them.
“Nightmares are still plaguing you?” I finally asked once she seemed to have caught her breath. I kept brushing my fingers through her hair. Unable to stop touching her. Hoping it would be enough to pull her all the way back to the here and now.