Beautifully Damaged(31)

When we reached his apartment he led me down the hall and opened a door to a bedroom with a large oak bed situated in the middle of the room. The walls were painted the same gray as the living room and, again, I was surprised, and pleased, with the quiet elegance.

"Thank you, Trace, for letting me stay here."

"My room's across the hall and the bathroom, as you know, is the last door on the left. I'll get you a t-shirt and some boxers to sleep in."

He returned with my sleepwear and I turned to him as he stood there filling the doorway. I wanted him and the intensity of my desire for him was startling. Though he was still watching me, I offered him a smile before I said, "Goodnight."

Sleep wouldn't come as I tossed and turned for over an hour. I gave up and climbed from bed thinking that a cup of warm milk or tea might help. I reached the living room and my feet just stopped because Trace was there sitting on the sofa. He looked at me and smiled before he asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. I just can't seem to sleep."

"Can I get you something?" He grinned before he added, "I have tea."

A warmth burned all the way down to my toes in response before I said, "That would be great."

He stood and as he walked past me he reached for my hand and pulled me down the hall to the kitchen. Once I was settled at a stool at the bar, he moved through the kitchen to make my tea.

"Couldn't you sleep either?"

"I don't sleep much."

"Really?"

He was silent for a minute before he offered, "It's habit."

I tilted my head as I held his gaze before I said, "...and you don't want to talk about it."

There was the slightest of grins on his face when he replied, "No."

"Okay."

He turned from me to add water to the kettle. "Thank you for earlier, Trace."

I saw as his shoulders tensed before he all but growled, "Dane's an asshole."

"Agreed."

I watched as he lit the gas under the kettle before he turned and leaned up against the counter as his eyes sought and found mine. "Is that why you can't sleep?"

The thought of what could have happened left a chill going down my spine and Trace noticed.

"That fucker won't touch you."

I smiled in response at the protective tone in Trace's voice. "I'm not worried about that but I was lucky that you were at Sapphire."

Trace's reaction was slight but definite and I wondered what exactly brought him to Sapphire in the first place. My heart leaped thinking he was there for me but even before the thought was fully formed I dismissed it as ridiculous. He clearly wasn't going to offer any insight so I moved on.

"I couldn't sleep because I found myself wondering if Lena knew what Todd and Dane were planning. I can't imagine that she didn't and how could she sit back and do nothing? I realize she isn't the person I thought she was but her staying silent is as depraved as Todd and Dane's behavior."

"I agree."

"It's a bit hard to believe that I was so blind to her real nature."

"You're in the situation, Ember, it's harder to see clearly when you're involved."

"That sounds like something my dad would say."

His smile was charming in response. I didn't want to think about Lena any more so I changed the subject.

"If you rarely sleep then what do you do in the evenings?" And then I blushed when I realized what I asked and what the most likely answer was for his nocturnal activities. He was clearly a mind reader when a grin cracked over his face.

"Lately, I find myself reading or playing video games."

Lately, like how lately? Oh, man, I so wanted to ask that but I chickened out. Instead I gestured towards the living room. "So you don't generally sit in the dark and stare at the wall?"

He laughed at that. "No, I was thinking."

"...about?"

His eyes flashed hot before he offered very softly, "You."

I almost swooned right there in his kitchen as I held his heated gaze. He leaned toward me as his eyes moved to my lips and my heart immediately went into my throat. I almost crawled onto the counter to get to him but the sound of the kettle pulled us from the moment. Trace turned and busied himself with making my tea and I just watched completely unrepentant at the play on his muscles as he did so. When he turned back to me I was staring and I didn't care that he knew it.

"Would you like company, Trace?"

"Yes."

I smiled as I stood and reached for his free hand. "Cool."

We walked down the hall to the living room. Trace turned on the light before we settled on the sofa. He handed me my tea and when I took a sip my heart flipped over in my chest because it was Earl Grey with lavender honey. I lifted my eyes to him as I smiled.