Braden.
His head rested on the pillow and her head was cradled against his chest and shoulder. She’d been really groggy and out of it to not realize a man’s body was wrapped around her like this. Their bodies were pressed together in a far too intimate embrace. Her leg was even slung over his.
Oh my. Oh no. Oh crap. Oh help!
She needed to move away, and quick.
But she didn’t want to. She’d never felt so comfortable, loved, invigorated, and yet at peace.
Comfortable? She felt comfortable around her family. Unless one of them caught something in her gaze or countenance and tried to help her or discover the truth of what she was hiding.
Love? She only loved her family. She didn’t love handsome, tough, captivating men.
Invigorated? Oh yeah. Being this close to Braden was the most invigorating position she’d ever been in.
Peace? She hadn’t felt peace in … four years. Not since she was twenty-one and she’d used the skills all the Delta family were proficient in and had killed a man for the first time. She’d saved a young family from the depraved human trafficker, but it had been little comfort. The nightmares of her killing people had started in her mind that very night. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep or peace inside since that first kill. It wasn’t long after she’d realized her prayers were availing her nothing and were hypocritical and would only condemn her. She’d turned from prayer and relying on heaven for help. Nobody could help her.
Could Braden help her?
Instead of pulling away, punching Braden for holding her, or faking sleep, she cuddled in closer and stared unabashedly at his beautifully sculpted face.
She didn’t know how long passed, but she wanted to kiss him awake. She was picturing Sleeping Beauty in reverse. That had always been one of hers and Jessie’s favorite Disney movies. Alivia had always been too tough for Disney Princesses and had a hammer in her hand before she graduated elementary school. At least Maddie had her younger sister to count on for dressing up and playing Barbies and princesses. Those innocent times were long gone now, and she appreciated the memory.
The thought of Sleeping Beauty and Braden being her handsome prince made her body heat up, and all the spots she and Braden’s bodies touched began to tingle. She imagined all the ways she could wake him up. Most of them involved kissing him. She had no doubt he would kiss her back, based on the intimate and incredible words he’d said to her last night. He’d be more than happy to kiss her for a good, long time. Who needed breakfast or anything but Braden’s lips on hers?
Stop it now! the small part of her brain that was still rational commanded.
She was acting immature and dumb and like a teenage girl. Sleeping Beauty and the Charming Prince? Really? That’s where the tough, impenetrable Maddie Delta had stooped to? Silly, stupid, impossible. She had to stop this. She needed to get away, but she couldn’t make herself. Soon enough she’d be out of Braden’s arms, facing the dark, cold world with only her desire to protect the forgotten, her fighting skills, and the love of her family backing her up from far away.
Right now, she wasn’t ready to let the feeling of Braden so close go without enjoying and savoring the connection for a little longer.
He shifted slightly and then his eyes blinked open. He immediately focused on her face and his blue eyes were full of concern. “Maddie. Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “We’re safe here.”
His lips brushed her forehead and heated her up again. “Ah, Maddie. You had an awful nightmare.”
She bit at her cheek. That’s why he was holding her. She’d cried out and he’d come to her rescue. That made sense. He was a charming prince willing to rescue her, but she was no pure and sweet princess.
“I couldn’t get you to wake up or calm down.”
Her sisters had said they couldn’t get her out of the nightmares either. They’d tried until she’d stopped muttering, then they’d fallen asleep. Braden had somehow succeeded where her own family had failed. It was incredible. What kind of man was he? Impressive and extraordinary for sure. If only he could be her man. But that was her stupid prince and princess thoughts surfacing again. Life was no fairy tale. She’d learned that lesson thoroughly.
She met his gaze bravely. Very bravely. She commended herself. Now that he was awake, she had to break away, not let this continue, but still she was loath to let the peace and incredible feelings Braden created in her disappear.
He studied her as if making sure she would tell him the truth and asked, “Do you have nightmares often?”
She should lie. It was none of his business. She didn’t even know this guy. How was it possible they’d only met last night? It seemed like they’d had a lifetime together in less than twelve hours.
“Every night for almost four years,” she admitted, biting at her lip and wishing she hadn’t been truthful.
“Ah, Maddie.” His grip on her tightened, and he rocked her as if she were a small child.
Maddie loved being close to him. She loved it so much. She and Jessie used to agree with the hype that Disneyland was the “happiest place on earth.” Not for her any longer. Not even close. Braden’s arms around her—thatwas the happiest place on earth.
“That’s awful,” he said. “Always the same dream?”
She shook her head and against all good sense, she told him about it. “Similar. Sometimes I’m in a battle, sometimes in a sketchy and dangerous part of a city, the scene and people change. The only thing similar is …” She shuddered. “There are always people being killed and at some I realize that I’m the one who is killing them and I can’t stop. I can see the blood all over me. After what feels like hours, I wake up in a cold sweat. Most of the time, I can’t go back to sleep or I’ll see it all again.”