“She also has been taking her medicine like she should. Her neck seems to be healing,” I pointed out. “I think she has about four days left on the antibiotics.”
“We should fill her prescriptions a second time just in case, at least for the pain medicine,” Yates suggested. “I’ll do that tomorrow.”
With that we eased back into normal conversation, not wanting Dahlia to wake to us talking about how hurt she was. King walked back into the room at some point, and the others were still up when I finally put my sketch pad down and walked towards the bed, kicking off my shoes and crawling into bed behind her. I let out a small groan as she turned into me, her face was buried against my t-shirt-covered chest, making me wish I was shirtless.
Then again… I didn’t trust myself, especially now that I knew what it felt like to be inside of her.
My eyes had closed for what felt like only a moment when a whimper escaped Dahlia’s lips that had me looking down in concern. Her brow dipped, and her face twisted into one of fear and pain.
Fuck. I immediately knew she was having a nightmare.
Looking around, I realized that everyone was spread out and sleeping, my brother on her other side. How late or how early was it? Dahlia whimpered again, and I drew her more firmly into my arms and spoke softly in her ear, not wanting to startle her awake.
“Dahlia, honey.” Her body tensed as a shiver went over her skin, making me worry that she was somehow deeper into this nightmare than I’d assumed. I didn’t want her to get scared and think I was someone who meant her harm.
“Dahlia,” I tried again, “I need you to open your eyes. It’s just me.”
Her breathing went rough as her body tensed up… Before she finally seemed to melt into the bed.
I had no idea where her mind had been, but it hadn’t been anywhere good at all, and I was thankful when her heavy eyes finally opened.
“Sterling?” Her voice was soft.
“I got you,” I whispered.
Her face was pale, and her breathing was uneven. “Can you tell me something to distract me?”
I could tell she wasn’t fully out of her nightmare-induced state, her panicked pulse making me worry that she would work herself up to the point of passing out or something equally as scary.
“I drew you tonight,” I admitted.
She stilled and looked up at me with soft affection. “Can I see?” she asked quietly.
I reached over and grabbed the sketch pad as she propped herself up on an elbow, leaning into me as I gave her the entire book. I pointed towards the bookmarked page, which she opened and made a pleased noise. It wasn’t my best one of her, but the way she lit up, offering me a smile, had me wanting her to know just how often I drew her.
“That entire book is just you.” I felt my ears heat as her eyes went round.
When she began to flip through them, she offered me a shy smile, the moonlight bouncing off her pretty skin. “You make me look so beautiful, Sterling.”
“You are beautiful, and the drawings don’t do you justice,” I whispered. “I’m glad you like them because I was worried about you seeing my new collection of paintings I’ve been working on.”
“What are they?” Her brow dipped.
“You. All of them are based on sketches of you,” I said easily.
“Can I see them soon?” Her hands tightened on the notebook. “I love your art. You are ridiculously talented… I just had no idea you had ever drawn or painted me. I mean, that feels so special, Sterling. Holy crap.”
“Sure, sugar.” I rubbed my nose against hers. “Tomorrow we can go to the studio.”
“I love you,” she whispered, looking excited.
“I love you more.”
“Promise?” I could see she was teasing.
“Always.”
It was a vow I fully intended to keep.