“I think Tiger might have been why I couldn’t move in the dream,” Yasmine said, reaching out her hand to pet the dog’s head. She leaned into Zeus’ shoulder at the same time, not wanting to give up the sense of safety she felt with him holding her. Even if it had just been a dream. “I’m not used to something weighing down the sheets on top of me.”
As if to punctuate her statement, Tiger gave a happy little huff as she pet him and settled down right next to her legs, curling his body and leaning against them, basically trapping her under the covers.
“Yeah, he’ll do that.” There was a tinge of amusement in Zeus’ voice. “You’re okay, though.”
“I’m okay.” She let out a shuddering breath. “I’ll be okay.” She felt him shift, not as though he was letting go, but it was still a change in movement, and she dug her fingers into him. “Can you stay? Just until I fall asleep again?”
Which wasn’t going to be easy. Her heart was still racing, her breathing still felt weird, and she was flushed all over. Sleep wasn’t going to come quickly, but it might be faster with him there rather than being alone in the dark. Even with Tiger by her side.
She felt him hesitate a moment, then his muscles relaxed.
“Sure. I can stay.”
Yasmine scooted to the side so he could have more room on the bed. Tiger gleefully took the opportunity to shove his body between them.
“Damn dog,” Zeus muttered, pushing Tiger aside so he could get under the covers.
The sound Tiger made was so close to Zeus’ tone, it was all Yasmine could do not to giggle. Owner and dog were annoyed with each other.
Huffing, Tiger jumped off the bed.
“Oh, Tiger…” Yasmine started to sit up, but Zeus pulled her back down.
“He’ll be fine, trust me,” he said. “He’ll be back up here in less than a minute, so make sure you’re comfortable now before he returns and you have to fight him for where you want the covers or your legs.”
That made sense. Yasmine lay back down. Zeus wasn’t close enough to be touching her… but almost. She was hyperaware of his presence beside her, between her and the door. And also aware of how much more relaxed she was, just knowing he was there. Even if he was mad at her.
“Do you think they’ll catch him?” she asked in a quiet voice, barely above a whisper.
Tiger hopped back up onto the bed, just as Zeus had predicted, and settled in at their feet with another long, huffy sigh that made Yasmine smile despite her anxiety.
“I don’t know. He’s got some connections that have kept him out of trouble in the past,” Zeus said, his voice just as low. “He’s escalating now, though. I’m going to check in with Claudia and Drew in the morning. He’s shown up at Drew and Naomi’s house, too.”
All of Yasmine’s muscles tensed.
“Shit, I should have reached out to her.” Yasmine covered her face with her hands. “I’m a terrible friend.”
“You’re not. You’ve just been going through it. She didn’t reach out to you, right?”
“Well, no,” Yasmine said reluctantly, rolling onto her back and letting her hands drop back down. “But I’m just someone who occasionally teaches classes at the shelter. I’m not one of the main workers, and I’m definitely not the face of the shelter. I guess… I guess I thought that since I hadn’t heard anything about him harassing the actual shelter, that maybe I was the only one who he knew where they were.”
Plus, Naomi had Drew. And, if Yasmine was being completely honest with herself, she hadn’t wanted to tell Naomi about Zeus. Especially after hearing the difficulties Zeus had been having with Drew. If Naomi had been at that game night… but she hadn’t been, and it had been easier to let it all slip to the back of Yasmine’s mind afterward. Especially since Claudia had said to keep it from the rest of the Black Fox team.
It had just been easier not to say anything to Naomi.
Which still made her feel like a shitty friend, no matter what Zeus said. She was going to call Naomi tomorrow and tell her everything.
“There’s been a lot going on,” Zeus murmured after a long moment. “And you didn’t know she was in any danger. From what Drew said, they weren’t. I’ll find out tomorrow if he’s been back, but since you’re a woman living alone, you’re the more attractive target.”
“Oh, good, now I feel so much better.” Strangely, snarking at him did make her feel a little better. Just for a moment.
Especially when he chuckled, and for just a second, it felt like things were back to normal between them.
Except that he wasn’t touching her.
“Get some sleep, Yas. We’ll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow.”
She let out a long sigh, but she knew he was right. Obediently, she closed her eyes. She thought she was too wound up to fall back asleep, but the sound of his even breathing and Tiger’s little snores slowly lulled her back down.
