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His shoulders quivered. “Maman… Lisette…”
My heart shuddered.
Who’s Lisette?
Insecurity lured me across the room. I hugged my shoulders while hovering over him, waiting for more information. Was he married? Did he have someone before me? Was I a lover in a string of lovers he slung around?
I frowned.
No, he would have said something.
My lips trembled.
Right?
“No, please…stop.”
Matéo shot up from the bed and hugged my waist, burying his face into my stomach. His heartbeat was furious, pumping so hard that I felt it in his mouth that sought to bury as deep into my belly as possible. My arms instinctively wrapped around him and kept him close, unable to release him, unwilling to even acknowledge the thoughts I was having before this moment.
He needed me. And I wanted to be present for him.
“Please, please, please,” he begged, the chant on his lips saying so much more than that simple word. “Don’t make me go back to sleep. Not again.”
I cupped his face and tilted his head, looking deep into his eyes. “I won’t.”
“Promise.”
“I swear, Matéo. I won’t leave your side. Let’s get you water. You’re burning up.”
He shook his head, a thousand regrets ablaze in his eyes. “Don’t let me go.”
Heavens, he was shaking. My hands didn’t move, my body already giving him exactly what he wanted. How could I say no or pull away? He was frightened, downrightterrifiedof me releasing him—and I didn’t want to be his pain.
I wanted to be hispeace.
His breathing slowed as he looked at me, eyes reducing their intensity until they were back to their usual glow. It took a moment to get him to relax his grip, but once he did, I was able to check his wounds, satisfied that they had fully healed with the help of the salve Charlotte and Sasha had applied. Once the bandages were removed, I nodded toward the bathroom.
“We should get you cleaned up,” I offered gently. “I can help.”
Irritation flooded his features. “I’m not a child.”
“No, you’re just tired and you had a night terror so awful that you’ve soaked the bed with sweat.” I laced my fingers with his and tugged him from the bed. “Will you just let me help you already?Please?”
The pout that broke out on his lips made me cackle so hard that I nearly fell over. He caught my waist, burying his face into my stomach again. His grumbles were muffled by my top.
“Heavens,” I groaned through my remaining chuckles. “I didn’t think you were capable of pouting.”
He grunted and then grumbled, “Hush.”
“I didn’t think you were capable of anything aside from being rotten.”
“Shut up, Rose. I’m warning you.”
I grinned mischievously. “Warning me about what?”
“I won’t have to do anything if you just be quiet.”
“Make me.”
