Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
She shakes her head and moves her face into the crook of my neck and shoulder. I hold her closer, kissing her cheek and closing my eyes. Sleep takes me once I know she has fallen asleep, and I don’t wake until my alarm sounds. I realize the moment I come to consciousness that Louisa isn’t in my arms. I reach for her, thinking she rolled over, but she’s not there. I open my eyes, and she isn’t in bed like I thought. I sit up and find her at the breakfast nook, her knees against her chest as she sips a cup of coffee.
I blink a few times, taking her in before I ask, “When did you get up?”
She looks up from where she was staring at her coffee. She’s wearing a shirt of mine, and it barely covers her ass the way she’s sitting. She gives me a small smile before answering. “A couple hours ago.”
I push the blankets off me and get up, stretching since I’m sore. I reach for a pair of boxers and pull them on before turning to head toward her. I find her watching me, her eyes moving along my body as I close the distance between us. I take her jaw in my hand, tipping her head back so I can kiss her softly on her plush lips. She grasps my wrists, and I smile down at her. “Good morning, beautiful.”
Her lips curve. “Morning.”
I kiss her nose and then head into the bathroom to do my morning routine and to get dressed for the day. I watch her behind me in the mirror as I brush my teeth, and I can tell something is up. I don’t know if it’s the dream she had or if it’s for another reason, but something isn’t right. I finish up and then walk back to where she is, sitting across from her to pick up the room service menu. “Wanna order food in? Or go out?”
She shrugs. “Don’t you have practice?”
“Yeah, but not for a couple hours. I want to eat with you first.”
Her lips twitch as she nods. “Let’s order in.”
We do, and when the order is placed, I set the room phone on its base before reaching for Louisa’s chair and dragging it beside me. Without asking, she puts her legs in my lap, and I run my hands along them happily. She leans into me, setting her head on my shoulder, and I kiss her temple. “Lou?”
“Ciaran.”
“I love you,” I tell her, and she lets out that sigh that gets me every time.
She sits back, her eyes meeting mine. “I love you.”
I lean down, kissing her knee before setting her with a look. “What’s wrong?” I don’t know what I was expecting, but I sure wasn’t expecting the tears in her eyes. Distress moves across her beautiful face as her eyes search mine. I swallow thickly, emotion suffocating me. “Are you mad at me?”
She shakes her head. “No, not at all.”
“Then what’s going on?” Her lips move, but no sound comes out, and the sight kills me. I hate seeing my confident, gorgeous woman struggle like this. “I want to help. Let me help.”
She looks away, and her shoulders fall with the movement. My stomach clenches, my heart thudding in my chest, because when she looks up, tears sliding down her face, my heart breaks. I almost want to tell her not to tell me, but I can’t stand knowing she’s hurting. So, I sit, hoping my eyes give her the support she needs as she stares into them.
With a shaky breath, she whispers, “I’ve been having really bad dreams.”
“About?” As soon as the words leave my lips, my pulse kicks up in speed. Her eyes are so sad, and I hate that I asked. I don’t ever want her to look this distraught. I only want to bring her happiness.
But then she says, “About the person who put these scars on my back.”
I’m glad I have her legs in my lap, because I need something to anchor me. I’m pretty sure by the way she’s looking at me, this isn’t going to be easy.
On either of us.
CHAPTER 46
Louisa
Words are failing me at the moment.
I watch as Ciaran’s thumb strokes my knee, and I feel so fucking stupid. I had assumed that my dreams would stop the moment I was back in his arms, in a bed we share. But sleeping with him isn’t going to face down these demons. I don’t know why they’re back or even how to make them go away. I just know I need him to know, so that if they continue, he knows why and doesn’t get worried. I swallow, the emotion so thick in my throat, I feel I’ll choke before I can tell him what is wrong.