Page 91 of What Comes Around

When we reached my house, Nathan parked and stepped out to open the door. Knox helped me out, his arm wrapping around my waist again, holding me close as we walked inside.

Before Nathan left, Knox turned to him. “Bring me some clothes.”

Nathan nodded. “I will be back as soon as I can.”

The moment the door closed behind us, the exhaustion hit me like a wave. My head throbbed, my body ached, and all I wanted was to lie down.

Knox guided me to the bedroom, his hand steady at my back. “Let’s get you ready for bed.”

I did not argue. I barely had the strength to stand.

He helped me change into my nightgown, moving slowly, carefully, making sure he did not jostle my bruised face or my aching head. When I swayed, he caught me instantly, one arm around my waist, the other steadying my shoulder.

“Easy,” he murmured. “I have you.”

He even helped me brush my teeth, holding the cup for me when my hands trembled too much.

It should have been embarrassing.

It wasn’t.

When he finally eased me onto the bed and pulled the blanket over me, I felt myself sinking into the mattress, heavy and exhausted.

“Sleep,” he said softly. “I will be right outside.”

I closed my eyes, too tired to do anything else.

I drifted in and out, the room quiet except for the faint sounds of Knox moving around the house. At some point, I heard a knock.

Nathan must have returned.

A moment later, Knox returned to the bedroom. I felt the mattress dip as he sat beside me. His hand brushed my hair back from my forehead, slow and gentle.

“Your car will be brought here tomorrow,” he said quietly. “Everything is arranged.”

I nodded weakly, eyes still closed.

I heard the soft rustle of fabric as he changed, the zipper of the duffel, the quiet thump of his clothes being folded or dropped somewhere out of the way. When I opened my eyes for a moment, he was standing at the edge of the bed in nothing but his boxers, the room dim around him.

He climbed in carefully, moving slowly so he would not jostle me. He stayed still for a moment, giving me space, waiting to see if I would come to him.

I did.

Or maybe my body did on its own.

I shifted toward him, and he wrapped an arm around me instantly, pulling me gently against his chest. His warmth seeped into me, steady and grounding, his hand resting at my waist, his thumb brushing slow circles against my skin through the fabric.

Only then did I feel safe enough to sleep.

I drifted somewhere between sleep and waking, the pain in my head pulsing slowly behind my eyes. At some point my phone vibrated on the nightstand.

Once. Then again.

Knox shifted beside me. I felt the mattress move as he reached across me and picked it up. He glanced at the screen, then slid out of bed carefully, trying not to wake me, and stepped into the hallway before answering.

I heard his voice faintly through the doorway.

“Yes, Amy.”