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Jack looked up at him, and Zayn nodded.
“I know snakes, know their scent. I was supposed to be patrolling tonight anyway. You all need to sleep, and I’ll keep an eye out.”
“On your own?” Jack questioned.
“If I need you, I’ll wake you, but you need sleep. All of you.”
Jack nodded. “Come on, Wes. You can sleep in West’s bed for the night. If that’s okay with you, Tory?”
I nodded. “I’ll stay here with West,” I told him. “I can’t really face the idea of going back to my room with... and he shouldn’t be on his own in case something goes wrong.”
“We’ll take care of the cats, my lady,” Zayn murmured, taking my hand and pressing his lips to the back of it. “And I’ll place a guard on the bedroom door, if that’s okay, so nothing can get to you and you can sleep soundly.”
Jack blew me a kiss and headed to the door, carrying the huge vase with him. As he opened the door, a small black shadow darted through and hopped up on the bed. I froze, and the guys spun around in shock, but a familiar miaowing sent a flood of relief through me and I laughed.
“Kitty Cat!” I scooped the black fluff ball up into my arms, pressing my lips to the top of his head. The guys visibly relaxed and began to file out.
“I thought that nasty snake got you too,” I murmured to the little black creature. He miaowed and headbutted my chin, rubbing against me. I smiled and wiped the new tears away, grateful that at least one of my furry companions hadn’t been taken. Sliding into bed next to West, I curled up against him. His body felt chilly, so I pulled the covers over us, trying to warm him with my body heat. I draped my arm over his chest, my hand flat where I could feel his heartbeat. Kitty Cat settled behind me, his small body pressed against the small of my back. His purrs helped me to finally relax. I laid my head on West’s shoulder and closed my eyes, falling quickly into an exhausted sleep.
Eight
TORY
Iwokesometimeinthe early morning. We hadn’t drawn the curtains, and the first light of dawn was creeping through the tall windows. I guessed it was around five in the morning and gave a small prayer of gratitude that I could turn over and go back to sleep for a couple of hours. I felt drained of energy, and the bed was warm and too comfortable to leave. I turned my head slowly, shifting my shoulders around to find West’s face inches from my own, completely oblivious as he slept soundly. There was a pink flush to his skin, and his breathing was steady. I smiled as I realised that sometime in the night, he’d pulled me into his arms. My head lay on his shoulder, and his other arm was wrapped around my waist, pulling me close against him. His body curled around mine, and I could feel him pressed against me from chest to knees. I revelled in the solid feel of his body and the steady beat of his heart against my back.
I turned to face the window, closing my eyes again. The movement must have disturbed him slightly because he shifted, his arm tightening around me. He pressed himself against me, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my neck and a hard pressure against my ass. I sucked in my breath as I felt him press gently against me again. His hand slid up from my waist to cup my breast through my shirt, and I sighed.
I pressed back, rubbing my ass against his growing cock, and I heard a soft moan pass his lips. The sound thrilled me, so I did it again. He pushed against me, meeting my rhythm as we rocked together. My breath was coming faster, and I cursed myself for not having taken off my sweatpants the night before.
He froze abruptly, and his hand dropped quickly from my breast.
“Shit,” I heard him murmur. “Are you awake?”
I didn’t reply, the realisation that he had been asleep falling on me like the best cold shower ever. I fought to keep my breathing steady and felt him slide backwards away from me. He slipped out of the bed and tucked the covers in where he had been laying to keep the warmth in. It was a tender gesture, but the rejection stung. He hadn’t wanted me at all, it had just been a physical reaction while he’d been asleep. I kept really still as he made his way to the door, my eyes closed until I heard the door close behind him.
I lay there alone as the sun rose above the horizon, watching the shadows in the room fade and daylight return the world to normal. I tried not to think, but my mind raced as my emotions ranged from sadness to regret, fear, and anger at myself for daring to hope. When the small grandfather clock on the far wall read seven, I hauled myself out of bed and headed down the hallway to my bedroom.
Zayn had clearly dismissed the guard from outside the bedroom door when the night passed into day, because the hallway was deserted, and when I stuck my head around my bedroom door, I saw that the bed had been stripped and fresh linens had been put on. I tried not to look at it all the same as I walked into the bathroom.
I showered and dressed slowly. No more sweats. I needed armour if I had to face West today. I chose butter soft skinny jeans, a crisp white shirt, and tan, knee-high leather boots. I dried and straightened my hair so it fell in a long, sleek waterfall down my back, and added gold jewellery and slightly more makeup than I’d normally wear during the day. Layered gold chains around my neck fell above and below the Ra medallion. I’d only taken it off to shower. I felt naked without it. I stared at it in the mirror, wondering about that, and made a mental note to ask Wesley about it if he was still around. Feeling more put together and less vulnerable, I stood up, squared my shoulders, and ventured downstairs to find breakfast.
As I got to the bottom of the stairs, a voice called my name from inside the library. I froze then turned and headed through the double door.
“Dad,” I cried, throwing myself at him. He wrapped his arms around me, propriety forgotten as he hugged me close.
“Are you okay, sweetheart? West told me what happened to the cats. I’m so sorry we weren’t here. We should never have gone to London.”
I pulled back, dashing away the tears in my eyes as my mum stepped forward and hugged me too. “It’s fine,” I said. “You weren’t to know.”
“It’s not fine.” My father’s face darkened, but I knew his anger wasn’t directed at me. He looked over at the other side of the room, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw West and Jack in their suits near my father’s desk.
“How the hell did this happen?” my father roared. “I leave you to protect my child and then you wake me at dawn, telling me there’s been an intruder close enough to poison her pets? This is not acceptable. In fact, you’re fired.”
“What?” I spun around to look at him. “You can’t fire them, Dad.”
“They are not doing their job. If you are not safe, that’s on them.”
“I was safe,” I argued. “I was really safe the whole time. Jack—Davenport was even in the room with me the whole time. No one would have got to me, I promise.”
