Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 132649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“You should be more careful. Why did you do that?”
“At the time I was a little preoccupied with trying to get you warm.”
“Oh God,” she whispered in horror and humiliation as the events of last night finally came flooding back. “Oh my God, Trystan. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You weren’t thinking, sweet,” he said, his voice achingly gentle, no reprimand in those words. His chest heaved as he sighed again, and he turned her around with tender hands until she was facing him, her breasts brushing again his hard chest. His erection prodding against her thigh.
But he was ignoring that and so would she. Despite her screaming awareness of the impudent damned thing.
“I put us both in so much danger,” she moaned, covering her face with her hands. “All three of us. Luna was there too, wasn’t she?”
“She’s the one who found you.”
Iris sobbed, the sound despairing and broken. Another one followed.
“No, Iris, sweetheart, please don’t cry.”
But she couldn’t help it. The floodgates opened and she wept. Days of ever-increasing fear, followed by the illogical terror that had shut down the rational parts of her brain until all that was left was an overpowering need to escape, to flee…
In her mind, self-preservation had meant getting out of that room, despite the fact that it was the absolute worst thing she could have done. There had been no rhyme or reason to her fear. Her overwhelming instinct was to get out and she’d stared out into the cold, black night and had convinced herself that—because it wasn’t raining or windy--it was safe and she would be fine.
And once she was out, she’d kept going… no thought in her mind other than, if she could just get to town, everything would be fine. She’d be safe.
“I don’t know why I did that,” she said, her voice muffled against his chest. “I was so scared. I can’t even explain it, I just know that I’ve never felt such terror in my life before.”
“It was cold and wet and dark, nobody can blame you for being scared, Iris. I was pretty fucking terrified too. When I saw you standing there. Right next to that river. Jesus.”
He shuddered at the recollection.
“No,” she shook her head in denial, aware that his beautiful chest was slick with her tears. “That’s not what I meant. Being in that room. Locked in. Trapped. That’s what scared me. I wanted out so desperately, I didn’t even consider the consequences of leaving through that window. And that’s what really scares me now. I had no thought of self-preservation. I nearly killed myself—and you—because of what I know is a stupid, irrational fear.”
“It’s not stupid and irrational to you, Iris. And I don’t blame you for what happened. Phobias aren’t rational. You tried to tell me that, and I refused to listen. Worse, I refused to believe you. That’s my fault, okay?”
She nodded, and swiped at her face.
“I got your chest all wet,” she pointed out mournfully.
“It’ll dry.”
He was stroking her back and Iris was once again reminded of their nudity. And now, after the initial storm of regret, fear and despair had passed, it was all she could think about.
“I’m naked,” she blurted the obvious fact without preamble. His hand paused its stroking for a moment before he continued.
“I needed to get you warmed up as fast as possible. That meant a hot shower.”
“You’re nearly naked too.” Gosh she sounded like a complete idiot, but her brain seemed to have malfunctioned and she wasn’t entirely sure what to do with this information, or about the situation right now.
“Skin on skin is the quick and dirty method of getting, and staying, warm.”
“Oh, I’m sure it was completely necessary, only… it’s a little weird now, no?”
“Are you uncomfortable?”
God, no… she was so comfortable and relaxed, she felt like she was on the verge of melting into a pool of gooey liquid. But there was the other matter to consider.
She tried to find a delicate way of phrasing it, but in the end her candidness won out, as always.
“You have an erection.”
“Yes. Can’t really help that, though. Hashtag-woke-up-like-this. But don’t worry, it’s over here, minding its own business. And not worthy of your concern, or your attention.”
His words startled a delighted laugh out of her and she looked up to see his lips curve into a smile.
“You’ve had a traumatic, draining experience, Iris. Get some more sleep. I’ll be here if you need me.”
She felt like she should protest, like she should at least insist on going to her own bed, but she felt so warm and snug and safe that she really didn’t want to. Instead, she snuggled closer, trying not to notice how that extremely persistent hard-on of his briefly slid between her thighs as she wriggled against him.