ALEX
"No!"
Athena twists and turns.
I'm fucking tired, but | had work to do.
Being on Rayen's camping trip meant days off the grid, no meetings, no calls and no fires to put out, which only
meant more load piling up the second | stepped back into the office.
| have no regrets though. I'd do this anyday. Hell, I'd even stay a year if Athena askedto.
| had asked Ryan to make sure the room we got was spacious enough to fit a working table. Most of our hotels
don't have them because the whole point is for our clients to relax. That way, they get to notice every service we
offer.
They spend more money that way.
Simple business Mathematics.
| sat on the desk with my laptop open, a dozen unread emails staring at me, and yet, my brain refused to
cooperate.
Every t| tried to concentrate, images of her kept bleeding through.
Beautiful long black hair.
Thick thighs and curves to end any man.
Cute kissable lips that drivefucking insane.
Sometimes, | don't blNoah and Zayan. Athena is a type of woman who can bring anyone to their knees
without even trying.
Not that | approve my cousin hitting on my woman. I'm highly possessive and that isn't going to stop now. If
anything, it has increased ten fold.
| thought | wasn't a jealous man, but fuck! Have | been proven wrong. Everytshe toldto get the hell out
while she laughed with another man, | felt like | was taking my last breath.
It's a shock I'm still alive.
I refused the room service to touch the roses. She wanted them clean, | was
going to do it. But | didn't throw them away, | had placed them in a huge basket so she can look at them.
Tomorrow morning when they wither, I'll replace them. I'll do this everyday for the rest of our lives.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIn future, | might not bring 5,674 roses all at once, but I'll make sure she has a flower waiting for her when she
wakes up.
After we took a shower and ate, she finally stopped fightingand agreed to the situation.
She said She'd letstay only if | promised to stay far away from her.
I couldn't even if | tried so | said no.
But between us, | would've slept on nails if it meant being near her.
My laptop lights up, showinganother email. I'm about to open it when another movement catches the side of
my eye,
She is...
Twisting again.
Her brows furrow, her mouth tightens. She kicks the sheets off and then curls into herself like she's trying to hide
from something | can't see.
| know a nightmare when | see one.
"Shit!"
| shut the laptop without a second thought and move to the edge of the bed.
Quiet and careful.
Something inclenches when | see the tears slipping from the corners of her closed eyes.
"Athena," | whisper. "Wake up, baby."
She flinches at my voice, her breath coming out in sharp bursts now. Her hands fist the blanket like she's trying
to hold herself together.
Fuck this.
| sit beside her, gently placing her on my thighs as | wait for her to wake up.
I can't shake her from it because I'm afraid, what if I make it worse?
Shit! | needed to see lan first thing in the morning.
She gasps like she's drowning then bolts upright and then freezes when she sees
me.
I don't move.
Her eyes are wild. Her chest rising and falling in fast, uneven waves.
And for a second, | wonder if she's going to pushaway again. Tellto get
out,
Tellshe hates me.
But she doesn't.
She just whispers, "I crushed my car..... it was so cold."
| shake my head slowly, brushing a strand of hair off her face.
"You're not there anymore," | say softly. "You're okay, you're here. With me."
Her lip quivers, and | hate that | can't pull the fear from her head and crush it with my bare hands.
"It was so dark," she whispers, almost like she's ashamed. "|
couldn't breathe. | thought.. "Hol net
voice crack "I thought | was going
to die.
s
| reach for her hand without thinking and lace our fingers together.
"I'm sorry babe. Fuck | don't know what to do to make you feel better." | admit
defeat, "Tellwhat I can do."
Silence falls between us again.
But she doesn't let go of my hand.
We sit like that for a long minute. The glow from the bedside lamp casting gold
shadows on her skin. Her heartbeat thumping against mine.
She finally pulls away, and looks at me,
"I'm sorry." She whispers making my brows furrow in a deep frown.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." | grab her hand and kiss the inside of her palm.
She shakes her head, "It wasn't a
dream. It was a memory. Why didn't you tellyou were the one who
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savedeven called you ayan She laughs, "You must have been so angry."
s
Her words hitlike a fucking bullet.
She knows.
| stare at her for a long moment, my chest tightening and my throat burning like |
swallowed fire.
"l wasn't
Vardy," | say, leaning
Con ele
forward to kiss her forehead. "I was jealous that fucker got so lucky. But that's about, baby," belongs to swhovels
Her brows pinch together.
"He's my boyfriend and he's a nice guy. Also, stop kissingand calling me
baby!" She tries to move but | hold her in place.
She's getting distracted.
Good.
Anything to keep her from relieving that nightmare is welcto me.
"Your boyfriend, huh? Does he make you feel like | do?" | draw a line on her collarbone, slowly.
She stiffens, but doesn't move my hand. Her breath hitches, just slightly enough forto know she felt that.
"Athena..." | whisper, my voice dropping, smoky and low. "Tellhe makes your heart race like this."
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