AllFreeNovel
Share Us
For the first time in my life, I felt truly cared for. Beyond that, just being here with Hiro was nice. He was easily becoming a safe space for me.
Exhaustion started to pull me under, and I dreaded sleep after a night like I’d had. Yet Hiro’s touch and warmth was enough to lull me into that darkness anyway.
I was safe, at least for now.
Hiro
Early Thursday Morning
Hiro’s Room
Harlow finally stopped shaking but sleep was the furthest thing from my mind. She’d shown up like a fallen angel, beautiful despite being soaked and covered in dirt as if she’d fallen from the heavens like the rain.
She didn’t seem in the mood to talk, and to my surprise, I didn’t feel Roman take over.
For once I was the protector, holding her like she needed and warming her when she couldn’t warm herself.
It felt amazing.
I was enough for her and that thought filled me with a pride I wasn’t used to feeling.
Yet my mind couldn’t stop conjuring different scenarios that had left her in this state. What had happened to cover her in water and dirt in the early morning?
The sun was just coming up through the barred window of my room. If I had to wager a guess, it was just past five in the morning.
For a brief moment, I wondered if Nurse Drew would find us here, but I pushed it away, shocked at my lack of care.
All that mattered now was Harlow and that she needed me. I was rarely needed by anyone, and it felt nice.
Holding my mate felt even better. One day we’d have to address it, but for now, this was enough.
Out of everyone in her life right now, she came to me when she was in trouble. She knew she needed me. It was strange to find the good in such a startling situation, to not run from it, but I knew I could never run from her.
Harlow was different, and I wanted to protect her with everything I had. Which in reality wasn’t much, but for her, it seemed to be enough.
That was what mattered.
Fuck, she smelled so good. Under the rain and dirt that clung to her was that crisp scent of snow, ice, and berries.
As she breathed evenly beside me, I reached for the journal that rested by my bed, flipping it open and propping it on my bed behind her as I curled around her, writing to Roman about the incident.
He needed to know this, but I would have shared even if he didn’t. We journaled every day we spent as ourselves, keeping it detailed so we missed nothing.
Including our thoughts on Harlow.
He’d told me how she felt, that she worried and downplayed her worth. Even admitted to kissing her on the forehead.
I was jealous of his cool confidence until now.
It was always obvious why Roman handled some situations and I handled others. He was stronger, always had been. I couldn’t imagine life without him, and even the thought had my chest aching.
Sure, life with DID wasn’t easy, but the thought of life alone in my body felt wrong.
I had newfound confidence welling inside me. Not only did she want me, but it was obvious that she needed me for my gentleness and Roman for his own brand of honesty and compassion.
He’d mentioned her and Drake, and that was a whole other complication. I didn’t mind the thought of her finding solace in us all, if they made her happy then I would never deny her that, but with Drake, there was more involved.
He had always intrigued and terrified me. His fierceness was sexy, and I had never admitted to anyone, even Roman, my attraction to the other man.
