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My lashes bat profusely as I stare up at the face of the man they all call Ghost. He doesn’t look like a ghost to me now. He looks and feels human to the touch, as if life has been restored to him somehow. The silver hue in his eyes twinkles like moondust, but when the shade of gray darkens as he keeps staring at me, I see something in them that I never thought I’d ever see—fear.
“Don’t lose yourself in there,” he warns. “Remember you don’t belong to them.”
“No?” I swallow.
He shakes his head. “You belong to me.”
CHAPTER16
Zoey
Ihate weakness, detest it actually.
Yet here I am, unable to sleep in this unfamiliar bed with all the unfamiliar sounds surrounding me. The other girls are snoring while the wind hits the shitty windows with a bang, making me jump every time. There is all this noise where I’m only used to silence, and it’s pissing me off as I twist and turn in the bed, trying to get comfortable.
I know I need to sleep to keep my wits about me.
It’s easy to blame the noises, but I know the truth. Today’s events have unnerved me, and I can’t even explain why. What was that in that office? Could those really have been memories?
They can’t be.
Huffing, I give up and head to the bathroom where I splash water on my face and stare at my puffy, tired eyes.
“You should be asleep, little doe,” the growl says in my ear. I didn’t want to take the earpiece out in case it was found or lost, and now his lazy growl makes me shiver as I stare at myself in the mirror, wishing he were here.
Gray makes everything better, even when he doesn’t realize it. He distracts me from my issues, worries, and fears.
He makes me feel strong, sure, and able to take on anything, and right now, I feel anything but.
“I can’t sleep,” I whine, knowing I sound like a petulant child. “I never could in unfamiliar beds. It takes me weeks to get used to them,” I admit softly.
He sighs down the mic. “Go back to bed, little doe, now.”
Flipping him off, I purposely take my time, making sure to dry my face, relieve myself, and wash my hands before dragging my feet as I head back to the shadowed bedroom. Slumping in the lumpy bed, I’m just about to force my eyes to close when a shadow detaches from the wall and stops above me. My eyes narrow as I reach for a weapon, anything, before a hand covers my mouth and he leans down.
A familiar voice purrs, “It’s me, little doe, scoot over. I’ll hold you until you sleep.”
I shoot him a wide-eyed look, trying to convey my worry about them finding him. His familiar scent wraps around me, settling me like nothing else as his soft lips meet my ear once more, making me shiver in need.
“I won’t get caught. Now move before I drag you out of here and back to my own bed so we can both sleep.”
Unwilling to argue further, I flip onto my side and scoot to the edge of the bunk. The mattress sinks behind me as my shadow curls around my back, wrapping his arms around my waist and tugging me back until we are plastered together. His lips go to my ear once more. “Sleep, little doe,” he orders.
“Goodnight, Gray.” I yawn and snuggle in closer. I feel his lips brush over my temple as he holds me tighter.
“Goodnight, Zoey.”
Within seconds, I fall asleep to his even breathing, his soft touch, and his slow, steady heartbeat.
* * *
When I wake up, Gray is gone and the sun is streaming through the room. I’m disappointed before I remember why he can’t be here. Stretching, I head to the bathroom, showering and dressing just as the alarms go off, waking everyone else up. Happy to miss the crowds, I head downstairs in search of food, ignoring the looks thrown my way.
“Well, good morning, rockstar,” a familiar, jarring voice greets in my ear, making me snigger. I move to the window to disguise my lips moving. “Don’t you look dashing today.”
“Morning, Hale. Where’s Gray?” I murmur.
There’s a fake gasp. “Am I not good enough? And here I thought we had a connection, though I must admit I prefer my women… sweeter,” he purrs and then sighs dramatically. “I relieved him so he could piss, eat, and sleep. He’ll be back soon. Until then, it’s you and me, kid, so behave. I like my brains inside my head, thank you, and I’m much too pretty to die so violently.”
