Chapter Sixteen: Insomnia
It was three o'clock in the morning when Simon heard the knock on his door. He shook himself awake, dragging, unable to fathom exactly where he was or what he was doing. He had a vague memory of a plane trip and several thousand insane New Yorkers, but that was where his sleep-fogged mind gave out as he grabbed his pajama top and threw it on, unbuttoned, to answer the door.
It was Tracy, dressed in a robe and gown, her eyes wide, her hair messy, standing in his doorway. It came rushing back to him—the fire, the red-eye flight, the Quartermaines. It came rushing back to him, this woman who wasn't exactly who she was, who was more scarred, more brave than he'd ever dreamed.
"Insomnia?" he asked.
She nodded, and he gave her his hand, bringing her into his room.
"Nightmares?" he continued when she didn't start speaking. He pulled her into his arms as she nodded, holding her shivering body tightly, brushing her hair smooth.
It seemed like a lifetime since they'd left Seattle. It seemed like the world was a different place, so far removed from his little reality that he'd never look at it or anything in it in quite the same way again. He kissed the top of Tracy's head and did something he never thought he'd do. "Do you want to stay the night?" he asked, and felt her arms tighten around him, felt her head nodding silently against his chest.
When he led her to the bed, he knew this night would be platonic. He was too tired, and she was too fragile. He knew when he lay her down, pulled the cover over her, slid in behind her to cradle her in his arms, that he would have to be the knight in shining armor.
It was a role he didn't mind.
As they lay there, there were kisses, sweet and soft against cheeks and temples and jaws. There were whispers of encouragement, and whispers of apology. There were hands touching, cautiously exploring the lines of faces, the strength of shoulders, the expanse of the back. And when they fell asleep in each others arms, safe, connected, Simon knew he would never feel anything like this for any other woman in his life.
Coming in Chapter Seventeen: Sugar-free, Low-fat Recipes