Page 18 of Guarding Glenda

Bruce huffed but settled back onto the bed.

Leigh started to climb off but I finally got up the nerve to say, “Stay.”

He stopped, looking me over.

“I just don’t want to be alone.” That was the truth. Maybe I hated him. Maybe I just wanted to? All I knew for sure was in that moment, whether he’d be dangerous to my heart or not, he was comforting. And after having a nightmare I woke up remembering, I needed that.

Chapter 8

Leigh

I didn’t sleep. I may have dozed off, but my body couldn’t relax. You’d think having her in my arms would bring the best fucking sleep ever. But instead, I kept worrying that I’d hurt her. I also couldn’t stop thinking about how scared she was. It was a bad dream, but she was rambling about Linny and not being able to get to her. She was dreaming about their recent attack.

Lying with her in my bed and not being able to have her was torture. But for her, I’d stay in pain. If it meant her resting, I’d just not sleep. Maybe I could catch a few z’s when Linny came back to hang with her.

Being so close to her, smelling the fruity shampoo all night, and the warmth of her beneath my hands, wasn’t helping my morning wood, either. But I was afraid if I shifted, I’d wake her. Every time I checked on her, she was in a deep sleep, gently purring. Not really snoring, just a light rhythmic sound. She could saw logs and I wouldn’t give a fuck. They sell headphones for that.

I had to keep her in my bed.

I’d gone this long standing on the sidelines, watching from afar. But what the fuck for? I’m a fucking Bastard. I could be soft to her, but not for her. She still had to heal, and I’d give her time for that. But holding her all night made something click: she’s mine.

The realization hit me like a Mack Truck. Which only sent a rush of blood to my already hard cock. She may be mine, but she didn’t know yet, and poking her probably wouldn’t go over well.

But as I tried to carefully pull my arm from under her, she stirred. I’d turned the TV off when I got settled in the bed last night, so the only sound in the room was the rustling of the blankets, the low hum of the ceiling fan, and Bruce’s loud breathing.

She tensed so I pulled away and adjusted my junk. “Sorry about that. Morning thing.”

“Mmm. What time is it?” she asked.

Clearing my throat and climbing over the dog, I looked at the alarm clock. “Not quite seven. I need some coffee.”

She started to move, pushing herself up on her arms. I rushed around the bed to help. “You got it?”

She flinched at my touch. I’d held her all night, but she flinched. What the fuck?

“Yeah. That wasn’t as bad. Guess I really did need some sleep.”

“I’ll go make some coffee and be right back.”

Stomping down the hall, I called for Bruce, and he actually came. He could play favorites, but he couldn’t hold his bladder forever.

Opening the back door, I let him out and left it open so I could fix the coffee. I was going to need it in buckets.

I got the brew going, then poked my head out the back. “Bruce, c’mon boy!”

He was still sniffing around the yard, so I left the door cracked. I went back down the hall, stopping in the hall bath on the way to finally relieve myself before going to check on her.

When I walked to the room, my chest tightened at the empty bed. “Glenda! Glenda!” I started calling out.

Not thinking, I opened the bathroom door. She screamed then shouted, “Get the fuck out!”

Slamming it closed, I yelled through the door. “Sorry! Jesus. I didn’t know where you were.”

I stepped back from the door but waited nearby. She flushed, then water ran for a few seconds.

The door opened and she glared at me.

“What’s your problem?” I asked.