“How do you know that?”
“I parked across the street and there was no black car there.”
With snail movements, I slowly peel the curtains of the balcony back. Sure enough, Aiden’s Ferrari is parked across the street, the lamp causes its red to shine.
No sign of a black car.
I sigh and fall back into a sitting position on the bed, pushing wild strands of hair behind my ears. My eyes feel puffy and swollen.
My nose is stuffed and I feel like hell. This isn’t how I want Aiden to see me.
“What are you doing here, anyway?” I climb under the covers, trying to hide my chaotic look.
A sly grin lifts his lips as he sits beside me. “Why did you think I told you not to sleep?”
For some reason, that makes me smile back. “You climb onto people’s balconies a lot?”
“Just yours. I usually prefer doors”
I bite my lip. “Wait. I had the alarm on.”
“But you left the balcony’s door open.”
“Right.” I was too consumed with the rain that I forgot to close it afterwards.
Some part of my brain thinks I should be mad at Aiden for sneaking into my room, but I’m not. Far from it. I don’t know what would’ve happened if I had a strong episode while being on my own.
“Thank you.” Fresh tears sting my eyes and I swallow them in.
Aiden kicks off his shoes and climbs in beside me. His broad frame and tall legs dwarf my bed.
I pull the sheet to my chin. “What are you doing?”
“Sleeping,” he says ever so casually.
“You… you can’t sleep here.”
“Sure can.”
“But —”
Words die in my throat when Aiden presses his lips to mine in a soft, quick kiss.
He pulls me into his chest, so my head lies against his bicep. My nostrils fill with his clean scent and I can’t help inhaling deeper like an addict.
Strong arms surround me as he murmurs, “Just sleep, sweetheart.”
I never sleep if I can help it after a nightmare because I’m scared it’ll continue if I do.
But in Aiden’s arms, I don’t feel scared or paranoid. I don’t even think about the double nightmares I had.
I feel... safe.
I curl my fingers into his shirt and place my ear over his soothing heartbeat — a normal heartbeat.
I close my eyes and surrender to the pull of sleep.
Safe.