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There’s no reason to be panicking. So far, the guys have saved me from a snowstorm, carried in my luggage, given me a check-up, and fed me. They even towed my car. If they wanted to hurt me, they would’ve done it by now. They’re more than big enough to force me to do anything they want, and they’ve had plenty of opportunities.
I need to calm down.
There’s a light tap on the door. “Are you okay in there?” Eli calls. “Are you trying to escape out of the window? The latch is a bit fiddly, you have to jiggle it.”
I stand shakily and open the door. I’m immediately hit with the mouthwatering scent of warm sugar and cinnamon. Eli takes a step back, giving me space, and offers me a plate. “I made you a cinnamon bun to say sorry?” He tries.
I look down at the pastry. It looks delicious. “You made it?”
“Well. I put it in the microwave. But I did it very apologetically.” He gives me a hopeful smile. “Look, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I promise mine and Riv’s intentions were honourable, but you’re right, it was shitty.” He ruffles a hand through his hair. “If you want to be alone, you can spend the night in my room, and I’ll take the couch, or—” He frowns. “Maybe… is that creepy, too? Um. We have a spare room I can drag a guest bed into, if you want to wait in the lounge? We don’t get a whole lot of guests, we’re kinda unprepared.”
He looks so earnest, and so genuinely upset that he’s scared me, that embarrassment blooms through me.
I hate that I’ve become this sensitive. A few months ago, if a man this hot had demanded I take my shirt off tocheck me for injuries,I would have whipped it off in seconds, and probably purred while he did it. I hate that I’ve gotten so scared of people. Ihateit. It’s notme.I feel like a little rabbit, jumping at every sudden noise, looking at everybody like they’re a potential predator.
“No. No. It’s okay. Thanks. I… don’t want to be alone.” I take the plate, heading back to the lounge. “Sorry for snapping. It’s kind of a touchy subject for me, I guess.” I curl back into my spot on the sofa, nestling into the pillows.
He plops down next to me, concern crossing his face. “What? Why?” When I don’t say anything, his jaw goes tight. “Why?” He says again, his voice sharpening. “Did someone hurt you?”
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
He straightens. All of the lazy charm falls off him, and suddenly, he doesn’t look quite so harmless. I don’t doubt that this man could fuck someone up in a fight.
“No,” I say hurriedly. “No. Nothing like—whatever you’re thinking. I shouldn’t have said that.” I rub my eyes. “I’m just tired. I’m talking too much.”
He studies me for a few seconds, his face serious. I force myself to smile at him. For a second, I think he’s going to push it, but instead, his expression softens. He opens his arms. “Want a hug?”
I blink, surprised. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. I feel an odd tugging in my chest. Idowant a hug, I realise. I kind of need one very, very badly. I’ve just had the most Hellish week of my life. I put down my plate. “I—um. Yeah. Okay.”
He shuffles forward and wraps his strong arms around me. I don’t even think before I bury my face in his shoulder, breathing in the scent of cinnamon sugar and pine trees. His t-shirt is soft and warm, and I can feel his heart beating steadily against my cheek. I melt into him.
I don’t remember the last time I had a hug. Everyone who used to care about me hates me, now. Even my own parents wouldn’t touch me with a bargepole.
Tears suddenly spring to my eyes. I try to swallow them down, but I can’t. One tear drips down my nose, and then another. Soon I’m crying softly into his shirt. I can’t stop.
Eli makes a sad noise. “Oh, sweetheart.” He pulls me closer. “Shh. It’s okay. It’s okay.” He starts rubbing my back soothingly. “You’re okay.”
I don’t know how long I cry for. It feels like forever. He holds me the whole time, murmuring softly into my hair. Eventually, I run out of tears and pull away, hiccuping. “G-god.” I wipe my face, embarrassed. “Sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”
He actuallylaughs,brushing a strand of hair away from my wet cheek. “Christ, what would it normally take you? A death in the family?”
“What?”
“You’re lost in a foreign country, you were just in acar crash, you’re injured, you barely missed freezing to death in a storm, and now you’re trapped in an unfamiliar place with no way to contact the outside world. Trust me. Most people would cry at any one of those things.” He squeezes me. “You’re just exhausted, babe. Don’t sweat it.”
“Thanks.” I snuffle. “It’s BS, but I appreciate it.”
“It’s not BS.” He wipes a tear off my cheek with his thumb. “I know you have no reason to trust me,” he says sincerely. “But youaresafe here. I promise.”
I meet his gaze. The firelight flickers in his green eyes. His face is completely open and earnest. I can’t help but believe him. Slowly, I nod.
He strokes another tear-track away, and I realise he hasn’t let go of my face. I don’t actually mind. It’s nice to have his warm hands on me. His thumbs move up to my temples, and he starts rubbing circles, easing my headache.
“This okay?” He asks, his low voice rasping.
I nod, tipping into the touch. The fire crackles in the hearth. Outside, I can hear the muffled sounds of the storm. My breath gives a little hitch, still shaky from the crying, and he cups my cheek.
“You’re okay,” he says again, his voice low. I lean into his palm. I’m so tired. I let my eyes flutter shut, exhaustion slowly weighing down my body. I just want to curl up against him and disappear. Just for a bit.
