Beautifully Damaged(110)

"Good night, Trace."

"Sweet dreams, Ember."

And together we drifted off into sleep.





Chapter Twenty-Six


I woke to the feeling of being squeezed to death. I was having trouble catching a breath because it felt like steel bands were slowly strangling me. It took a moment for my sleepy brain to wake and for me to realize that I was being crushed by Trace who was once again trapped in a nightmare.

I moved my head and pressed my lips to his tattoo, the one over his heart.

"Trace, love, wake up."

I ran my finger across his brow, down his nose, along his jaw and over his lips.

"Wake up, sweetheart."

I moved then as I pried his arms apart so I could sit up. I noticed my sandals were off which meant Trace must have fallen asleep after me and that thought pulled a smile. I pressed kisses all over his face which eventually had him waking from his nightmare.

"...Ember?" His voice was still hoarse with sleep.

"You were having a bad dream."

His eyes opened as he focused on me and smiled. "I like being awakened like that particularly when you are dressed so beautifully while doing so."

I looked down at myself to see that I wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing and I wasn't at all embarrassed by my nakedness. My eyes turned to his before I asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Trace, you know if you ever want to talk about anything that I'm here, right?"

"I do, I know that."

"...any time, anywhere. Even if I'm working and you have the sudden urge to talk, I will leave work for you. I'm pretty tight with the boss man."

His eyes turned hot as he ran his finger over my nipple turning it into a tight peak. The sensation of what he was doing as he watched himself doing it had my stomach clenching hard with desire.

"You are so beautiful." He moved so fast switching our positions as he pinned me to the bed before he lowered his head and pressed his lips to my tattoo. His eyes were wild when his head lifted and then he moved lower down my body before he lifted my legs and draped them over his shoulders. I tried to pull away from him because I was embarrassed but then his lips touched me in the most intimate of kisses which effectively had my eyes rolling up into the back of my head. I lost myself completely to him and his most excellent ministrations.

The following morning, I woke to an empty bed and as I stretched I thought about Trace's nightmare. I wondered what he was dreaming about and I wished that he would talk with me about it. After the nightmare, oh my, I was blushing but oh lordy that had been spectacular. I rolled over as I smiled, closed my eyes and drifted back to sleep.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. Your dad and uncle are going to be here in an hour."

I peeled open my eyes to see Trace standing before me. He had showered because his hair was still wet but he hadn't finished dressing since he had only pulled on a pair of jeans.

"Ember, sweetheart, rise and shine."

"No."

He hunched down next to the bed and grinned. "It looks to me like you need a shower to help wake you up."

And without further adieu, he lifted me up into his arms and carried me to the bathroom.

"Trace, I like sleeping."

"Um," was all he said as he held me in one arm while he worked the shower and tested the water. I took a moment to appreciate the fact that he was holding up all of my weight with only one arm but then he was climbing into the shower with me, jeans and all.

"Trace, what are you doing?"

His grin was so very devilish before he replied, "I'm going to wash your back."

I sat at the kitchen table with a very clean back as a grin pulled at my mouth thinking about Trace's very thorough washing. I could tell from the wicked gleam in his eyes, when he turned to look at me from over his shoulder, that he was thinking about it, too.

"What are you making?"

"A frittata. It's similar to an omelet with meats, vegetables and cheeses blended into the egg mixture."

"That sounds delicious, Trace."

He moved to place the frittata in the oven before he turned to me, leaned over, and pressed a kiss to my neck.

"It is but not as tasty as you, sweet." He licked my neck from my shoulder up to my ear where he nibbled my lobe before he whispered, "Your taste is my most favorite in all the world."

Delicious little chills swept through me and my knees went weak. Luckily, I was already sitting and then the door bell sounded.

"Saved by the bell," he whispered as he pressed a kiss on my neck before he started from the room but my softly spoken declaration stopped him.

"You make me so happy, happier than I ever imagined possible."

He turned and moved back to me before he hunched down and rested his hands on my knees. He spoke with quiet conviction when he said, "...and you are my everything."