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“Honestly?” I ask, teasing her.
“Fine. I’m not dead inside, of course I cried. Who doesn’t cry atThe Lion King?”
“Hey,” I hold a hand up even though she can’t see me, “I was only going to say you were a monster if you didn’t.”
I keep her distracted for the rest of the ride to her place, right up until I knock on her door and take her into my arms.
She sobs into my chest, her delicate hands grabbing onto the front of my t-shirt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know who else to call,” she hiccups.
I lean away from her, my hands rub up her arms as I look at her face. “What are you sorry for?”
“For disturbing you at work when all I’ve had is a bad dream.”
My thumb wipes at her wet cheeks before I tuck her under my arm and walk us into her apartment.
“Don’t ever apologize for calling me, princess. Come on…” I step away from her, shrugging out of my jacket, my body sluggish with fatigue. “Let's go and get into bed. I’m tired.”
I grab her hand and lead her down the hallway to her bedroom. The room is lit with a soft glow from the bedside lamp she has on. Pulling back the sheet, I guide her into the bed, brushing back a strand of hair as I stand over her.
Emotions course through me and for the first time in a long time I’m not afraid of them. I just don’t know what they mean or how to channel them.
Her gaze follows me as I move to the armchair in the corner of the room and sit down to pull off my shoes. Next go my black jeans, then white t-shirt, until finally I’m standing in just my black boxer briefs.
When I stand to walk to the bed, I don’t miss the very obvious appraisal of my body that Alex does. I fight the urge to flex for her.
When I move past the dresser, I pause as my gaze lands on the ring I told her not to take off. It doesn’t seem like she listened to me. Swiping it up as covertly as I can, I turn to walk back to the bed and climb under the cover with her.
I pull her into my arms, my lips finding her hair, as I band one of my arms around her waist, anchoring her to me. Being wrapped around her feels like a warm blanket on a cold winter's day. It just feels right. She’s starting to mean more to me than a friend or a casual hookup.
Alex’s head rests on my shoulder as I hold her in my arms. Picking up her left hand with my free hand, I rub my finger over the bare skin before I slip the ring back where it belongs.
On her finger.
My ring.
Lifting her hand, the ring glints in the dim light of the room.
“You’re testing me, princess. I’ll have to think of a punishment if you take this ring off again,” I whisper, my lips brushing the shell of her ear.
I can see all the questions in her eyes as she looks up at me. They’re questions I don’t have the answers to because I’m asking them of myself.
Why am I so adamant about her wearing the ring?
What is this?We don’t have to pretend for anyone anymore and yet I want to make her happy, to comfort her when she needs it.
“Get some sleep, princess.”
I breathe in her scent; all the tension that was holding my body taunt since I left her earlier, easing out.
“Why do you keep calling me princess?” she asks, her voice laden with sleep.
I’m not sure she meant to ask me, but the answer that comes to my mind is damn near instant. When her breathing is steady and labored, I check to make sure she’s asleep, calling out her name.
It’s only when I’m certain she’s asleep that I say why. My voice a hushed whisper, “I call you princess because you’re like royalty and too damn good for me.”
TWENTY-TWO
Sebastian
