Enraptured(47)

We finished up and I walked out to the bed. I debated on sleeping in my sweats but I knew I would overheat and have a hell of a night falling asleep. Considering the fact that I was already bound to have a shitty night as a result of said former movie; I wasn't about to add any more hassle to my night. No thanks!

I'd just kicked off my pants when Dace stepped out of the bathroom. His eyes widened and he swallowed. "Please don't tell me you're taking anything else off?"

I cringed. "Don't worry," I climbed under the sheets. "I don't sleep naked."

He breathed a sigh of relief, but his face was still tight. "That's pretty much naked."

I rolled my eyes. "It's a hell of a lot more than a bathing suit. Get over yourself."

He nodded. "So you won't mind me sleeping in my boxers?"

"Nope." I shook my head. "You're on the couch."

"Seriously?" He stared at me in awe. "You have a huge bed."

"I don't care." I snuggled down. "There's a blanket for you in the closet."

"You amaze me." He sounded stumped as he padded to the closet for a blanket. I heard it land on the couch, but I couldn't see. I had my back facing him so I could face the unprotected side of my body. My skin felt tight and my heart thundered when the zipper on his pants sounded and then his jeans hit the floor. Another article fell and I assumed it was his T-shirt.

I closed my eyes and listened as he settled down on the couch. "Goodnight, Angel."

"Night, Dace."

"Sweet dreams."

"I highly doubt they'll be sweet, thanks to you." I quipped as I forced my eyes to close and remain closed. And then I started counting sheep.





Chapter 13

My eyes popped open and a scream ripped from my throat, tearing through the silence. I kicked out at the hand clasped around my ankle as I flailed frantically into the night. Sweat beaded against my hairline as I reenacted in my mind the horrible scene in the movie where the demon drags the girl from her bed by her ankle and down the hall.

"Dace!" I screamed his name, tears quickly flooding my vision. A low laugh sounded in the night and my terror quickly subsided to raging anger as my eyes adjusted to the darkness enough to see Dace standing in his boxers at the foot of my bed, laughing. "You're an asshole!" My words sounded between a sob and a growl.

"I'm sorry," laughter rocked his words.

"No, you're not." I wiggled up on my pillow. My back was pressed tight to the bed and I'd hooked my feet under the blankets - an illusion to keep them safe. "Why would you do that?"

"I thought it would be funny." He admitted. "I didn't know you would get so scared."

"Well I did."

"You called for me." He said gruffly.

"You're the only one here." I defended. I didn't need to mention I was scared out of my mind. "You're lucky I didn't pee my bed."

"It was pretty funny." He chuckled again.

"Glad to amuse you." I said sarcastically. "Go to bed."

"Think you'll sleep?" He asked seriously.

"Probably not." I muttered. "I'm going to worry about body parts being latched onto and tugged."

Dace bent down and tugged on my blanket, ripping it from my white-knuckled grip. "I'm joining you."

"No you're not!"

"Get over it." He swung my blanket over his shoulders before kneeling on the edge of my bed. His hand found my ankle and with his knee and he pried my ankles apart.

My voice was raspy. "What are you doing?"

"I'm sleeping with you, Angel." He spoke with authority and my heart fluttered into my throat. "Nothing will be grabbing you," he promised as he crawled up the bed between my legs. "I'll be over you." He lowered himself and my stomach tightened as he settled over me.

"This doesn't feel friendly." I whispered unsteadily. "I'm not having sex with you."

"It's friendly, Ella." He argued sounding annoyed at my comment. "I just want to be close to you. Tell me I can be close to you." His breath washed over my face. His lips were only an inch away from mine. My body called to his - throbbing in response to his nearness. I'd never felt anything so powerfully bitter-sweet.

"You can stay." I nodded hesitantly and he lowered his face into the nook of my neck. I felt him settle his lips against the hollow in my throat and I stared up at the roof. I wasn't afraid of body parts being tugged anymore. I was afraid of my reaction to his nearness. It wasn't friendly no matter what he said. This felt intimate.

Dace moved his hand down my body, over my ribs, waist and hips to hook the underside of my leg. He lifted it, wrapping it around his waist and my breath caught in my throat as he wiggled closer. I felt the warmth of his waist against my most intimate, untouched part and gasped.