On The Border - Marry Him Or Die

2.58

Angelina’s POV

Lucas’s embrace was a whole new level of intimacy.

I wasn’t talking about sexual intimacy. I mean that was there, but it wasn’t the dominating feeling right now.

Feeling his tight arms around my body, resting my head over his chest, and hearing his steady heartbeat, caused a sense of security, safety, and warmth to wash over me at once. Taking all of my pain and agony away.

I’ve never been hugged by a man before, ever.

And it felt so damn good to have him hold on to me snuggly like that. It felt beyond good, it felt amazing.

I don’t know what came over me as I admitted that out loud to him in a vulnerable tone “I’ve never been hugged by a man before” I said against his chest without looking up at him.

His body stiffened a bit as he asked in a low voice “Does it bother you?”

“No, it….” I wanted to say it feels great, but I held myself, because I didn’t want to blur the lines I established this morning with him.

“It doesn’t bother me” I said quietly instead.

“Do you want to get some fresh air in the front yard?” he asked after a while.

“Craving a cigarette?”

“No, I was just coming up from my late night smoking when I heard you. I thought maybe you could use some fresh air” he said gently.

“No, I’m good” I said warmly.

Fact is, I was enjoying the warmth seeping over to me way too damn much for my own good and I just wanted to savor the moment a little bit more. He was being my breath of fresh air right now, his closeness, his comfort, and his soft, gentle voice was better than any late night walk outside.

“Do you want to try to go back to sleep? I can stay here with you until you fall asleep if you want” he said smoothly.

I involuntarily clutched his shirt, looked up at him and said a little shakily “Don’t leave please. I don’t want to see that nightmare again, at least not tonight”

I was surprising even myself by being a little clingy but I couldn’t help it. I was too messed up after that horrid nightmare. If I end up seeing it again without anyone shaking me awake from it, I was afraid I might never wake up again.

He ran his hand through my hair softly and said intensely “I’m not going anywhere, I’m right here Angel. No nightmare is going to dare and get to you as long as I’m with you”

“Thank you Lucas” I said tearfully.

He gave me a soft smile and said lightly “Don’t mention it, Angel”

Gosh I was blurring that damn line again by doing this.

What if he thinks too much of this? What if he starts trying with me again? No, I need to stop whatever this is.

“Actually, I think I feel better now. I can go back to sleep alone” I said determinedly as I started to let go of him and slip out from his tight embrace; against my screaming heart.

He tightened his hold on me and kept me firmly in his arms as he said softly “No you don’t, Angel. Don’t worry, I’m not going to take advantage of this and try to get closer again. You have my word. I’m going to respect your wish and keep my distance. Don’t be scared of me, please. Just let me help you sleep through tonight”

“I’m not scared of you, Lucas. I trust you. I just don’t want to confuse you or give you mixed signals” I said tiredly.

“You’re not, it’s okay. I understand. Let’s try to lay down and get some sleep okay?” he said gently.

I nodded my head and we both laid down on the mattress, with my head resting between his shoulder blade and the side of his chest, my left arm holding onto the middle of his shirt as some sort of assurance that he wasn’t going anywhere. His arms were engulfing me and his left hand was running over my back in a soothing manner.

I closed my eyes, and I couldn’t believe how fast sleep came to me as I laid down in his arms. I fell into a dreamless, deep, peaceful slumber that I would have never been able to get if it wasn’t for his assuring presence by my side.

I woke up to warmth and instantly, a smile claimed my lips as I inhaled his strong muscular scent and felt his arms still around my body, still engulfing me even in his sleep.

He was right, he kept my nightmares away. He was the only reason why I slept through the night without any other scary interruption until this morning.

Even the night before, when he left that searing kiss on my lips and I went to sleep, no nightmares visited me that night. And I was almost sure it was solely because of him. Something about him lets my mind feel completely at rest. He was like a guardian angel, watching over me, protecting me, and keeping my darkness at bay.

Huh! Lucas and angels, it wasn’t a reasonable combination under normal circumstances, but to me it was. Let’s not forget how attached he is to that angel thing he keeps having for me because of my name.

I lifted up my head slowly and looked at his face.

He was completely relaxed in his sleep. I admired his face silently as my eyes fell to his full, pink, lips. My own lips tingled just from the mere sight of them, begging me to have another taste, another high from that delicious mouth.

I shook my head and came back to my senses thankfully, because in the next second, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at me sleepily.

“Morning, Angel” he drawled in an extra thick voice that had my heart racing.

“Morning” I said in a low voice.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

Better than okay, but I’ll go with that.

“Yes, thank you for staying the night with me” I said gratefully.

“Any time you want, you can knock on my door. No matter what time it is. It’s the one right in front of yours” he said softly.

I nodded my head and my eyes; against my better judgement, traveled down to his lips again and lingered there for a bit before I willed them back up, chastising and cursing myself.

I found him looking at my own lips, and there was no hiding that hungry look in his eyes.

“What about a… thank you kiss? It would make my day much more brighter than it already is” he whispered gently.

I bit my lip unconsciously. I was dying for another kiss myself, striving to taste that mouth and feel that erotic tongue invading my mouth and giving me all sorts of feelings that I was starting to like too much for my own good.

What the hell am I going to do about this fatal, involuntary attraction I have to this man?

More pressingly, how the hell did we get this far that we can’t even keep our lips to ourselves whenever we’re alone? How the hell did this happen so damn fast? It was almost like there was something supernatural drawing us to each other, because those feelings cannot possibly fester this fucking fast in a normal situation, right?

Nine more days, Angelina. Nine more days. You have to keep your walls standing solid or they will tumble down from the very next kiss you share with him.

If only my heart could agree with that logic. But dammit, it doesn’t want to listen to common sense right now.

It wants to devour those lips like its next heartbeat which without that, it would stop beating altogether.

Go ahead, tell me I’m over exaggerating, and I’ll tell you to go get yourself a Lucas Snow then come tell me how you would feel around him.