I answer by laying my hand on top of his, linking our fingers together, and shuffling back even further into his embrace. His chest rises and falls, his breaths caress my neck, his hand quivers against my belly. His warmth envelops me. His strength protects me. He feels safe.
I let my eyelids fall closed, and don’t remember falling asleep.
* * * *
An unknown time later, the rain smattering against the roof wakes me. Or maybe it’s the warm hand on my belly or the powerful thigh rubbing against the back of my legs. I haven’t spent the night in the same bed as anyone in years; I prefer sleeping on my own and having someone cling to me usually makes me too warm and sweaty.
But the weight of his arm around my waist feels like it belongs there. His feet tangled with mine feel right. And desp
