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“That’s–”
“Enough.” Her honey-coloured eyes snap open to lock onto mine. “Please, Herc. I don’t want to talk about it. I got away. That’s enough for me.”
“But–”
“I like it here. For the first time in my life, I feel safe. Can we just leave it at that?”
I stare her down, but her gaze doesn’t waver. “Fine,” I finally concede. I’m not happy about it, but I won’t push her too much for now. “But if you’re ever worried about anything–anything at all–I want you to come to me, okay?”
Her throat bobs as she swallows. “Okay.”
I nod and push up off the desk. “I mean what I said: Tom and I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe here, and you’re welcome to stay as long as you need.” I cross the room, hesitating at the door when she calls out to me.
“You’re too good to me, Herc. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you both.”
“No need, Kitten,” I say with a wink.
Her eyes widen. “Kitten?”
Fuck me. My length hardens against my jeans at the sight of her flushed cheeks and her bottom lip captured between her teeth. This feels more like flirting than comforting. What the hell is wrong with me?
“You’re not the only one who can come up with a nickname,” I smirk. “And you don’t need anyone saving you. You’ve survived a hell of a lot more than any other nineteen-year-old girl I know. Although, I am starting to wonder how many of your nine lives you have left.”
Before I can say anything else to get myself in trouble, I leave, heading straight for my own bedroom. I close the door, leaning back against it and slipping my hand down my pants to squeeze the base of my shaft. Christ, something must be really wrong with me if I’m thinking about jerkingmyself off to my housemate who’s basically hiding out here after being abused by her fiancé. Ex-fiancé. Thereisa distinction – even if he doesn’t know it yet.
This is wrong.I release my throbbing dick with a groan. What am I thinking? I can’t disrespect Lily like that.Fuck. She’s in the next room, all vulnerable after practically being forced to tell us why she’s run away, and I’m thinking about rubbing one out over the way her pupils dilated when I called herKitten. I can’t deny how much it turns me on every time she calls me Herc. Not that I believe I’m in any way, shape, or form anything remotely close to a God, but it’s like a fucking dopamine hit. She’s still keeping secrets, but she’s already got me twisted up in knots about her safety, and as crazy as it sounds, if she’s looking for a protector, I’d go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe.
In an attempt to keep my mind off the damn siren next door, I stalk over to my backpack next to my desk and grab out my sketchbook. I rifle through my pencils until I find the one I want. It’s late, so rather than turn on my stereo, I take out my air pods and let the sounds of Jack Gray wash over me as I open up a fresh page. I tap my finger in time with the beat, thinking about where I’m going to start.
I JOLT AWAKE, my heart racing and sweat drenching my shirt. I sit up, my pencil rolling off the bed as my sketchbook slips off my chest. I dig my palms into my eyes, trying toerase the image of Lily laying limp on the floor of her bedroom, her face beaten beyond recognition. Bile rises up the back of my throat, and I stumble out of my room to the bathroom, barely making it inside and dropping to my knees in front of the porcelain bowl before vomiting.
I heave until there’s nothing left and settle back against the edge of the bath, drawing my legs up and resting my head against them. My damp skin causes me to shiver in the frigid night air.
When the churning in my stomach settles, I drag myself up and splash cool water over my face. My hands shake as the remnants of the nightmare linger. I push my hair back and take a few deep breaths. My heart rate slows, and as I make my way back to my bedroom, stripping out of my sweat-soaked t-shirt and dropping it in my hamper just inside my door. I’m about to close it when I hear a whimper coming from Lily’s room.
I only hesitate for a moment before crossing the hallway to pause outside, my hand on the doorknob. Another whimper followed by a choked-out sob has me pushing open the door.
It’s dark, but I can see the small figure thrashing around in the sheets. Looks like I’m not the only person having a nightmare.
“No, please,” she cries out softly. “Please don’t hurt me. I’m sorry.”
“Lily?” I whisper.
“Don’t touch me. I don’t want this. Please.”
Fuck.“Lily,” I say, louder this time. I close the door so she doesn’t wake up Tom and creep across to her bed. Her eyes are closed, but her face is twisted in fear.
“Stop. Please, stop. No.”
“Lily, wake up,” I say, dropping to my knees and placing my hand on her shoulder, giving her a small shake. “It’s just a dream.”
Her eyes flash open, and she shrieks. I quickly place my hand over her mouth, bringing my face close to hers so she can see it’s me.
“It’s okay,” I reassure her, removing my hand when I’m confident she’s not going to scream again. “You’re okay. I won’t hurt you.”
“Herc?” Her voice cracks, and I nod, reaching out to brush her hair from her face.
Relief washes over me when she doesn’t flinch away from my touch, and I rest my hand on her cheek. “I’m here, Kitten. You’re safe.”
