Chapter 40:
I'm uploading what I want in the next chapter. (I didn't take it to M but a very high T.) Roll with it :-)
Larten stepped out of the shower, shaking his hair dry like a dog. He slipped on clean black pants and white button up shirt. Brigid had insisted on getting him pajamas, but Larten had never worn pajamas and did not see the point in starting now.
There was a knock at the bedroom door.
"Larten, are you finished?" Came Erin's muffled voice.
"Yes, I am dressed."
Erin opened the door and walked in; she was dressed in a long-sleeved plaid short night-shirt and black cotton shorts.
"I just need to grab some lotion." She said, brushing past him.
She squirted some into her hands and began rubbing it onto her legs. Larten watched as she stood on one leg, the other on the counter. The smell was a bit much for his senses but following her hands as they caressed up-and-down her smooth, taut, shapely legs he found himself staring.
She finished the other leg and rubbed the rest over her hands.
She smiled at him.
"Thanks. We're out in Brigid's bathroom. It's dawn and I've got to get some sleep. I got called in for a short shift tomorrow afternoon. I'll see you and Brigid tonight."
Erin yawned. Suddenly she felt a large, strong hand in the middle of her back pushing her towards her bed.
"Larten, no. You have now slept in the closet three nights in a row."
"And I am, surprisingly, still perfectly fine." He sniffed.
Erin sat on the edge of her bed looking up at him. She sighed in frustration and threw back the covers slipping under them.
Larten smiled smugly. He was finally getting somewhere with her not arguing with him.
He turned towards the closet when he heard Erin call his name.
He turned his head. The covers on the other side of the bed were pulled back. He looked at the bed and then at Erin. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the fear of rejection.
"You…were with me in bed when I was having those severe night terrors. I-I know I haven't had any lately, only regular nightmares- "
Larten narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of nightmares? What are they showing you?"
She waved a hand dismissively.
"I'll tell you tomorrow. They're rather vague at the moment. But, just sleep on the other side of the bed. It will make me feel better."
Larten swallowed. It would make her feel better if he slept next to her. The night terror was different. This was purposeful.
"If you really don't want to that's fine. I was only trying to- "
Larten rolled up his shirt sleeves, his shirt already unbuttoned to the middle of his chest. He slowly lowered himself into the bed. He glanced over at Erin. There was an almost imperceptible look of relief at not being rejected. Larten understood the feeling for he had felt it himself many times while being with her.
He shuffled his body deeper into the bed to where his head was laying on the pillow.
"Here." Erin poked is shoulder to raise his head up to shove another pillow underneath it.
"Better?" She asked.
Larten kept his composure.
"Yes, much better. Thank you."
Erin pulled the covers over her and moved them up to Larten's stomach. She rolled onto her side.
"I'll have to wake up, but I promise you won't hear a thing or be disturbed."
Larten swallowed and nodded.
"All right. Well, goodnight Larten. Sweet dreams."
Erin flipped over quickly, turned off the lamp, and snuggled down under the blankets, her back to Larten.
Larten laid stiffly, staring at the ceiling. He could hear her breathing slowdown. He rolled onto his side, resettling the pillows, and pulled the covers down to only cover his waist. He listened to her breathe. He could smell her. He could move an inch and he'd be able to hold her.
Larten took a steadying breath. True, they had increased their level of physical intimacy, but it was still fresh.
The minutes passed turning into hours and still Larten could not fall asleep and he was beginning to get very, very cranky.
'Charna's guts.' He growled in his head.
He knew the one thing that would allow him to fall asleep.
He exhaled and rolled over snaking his arms around her. She adjusted to where her ankles were mixed with his instinctively.
His face was still on his own pillow, but she was in his arms and that's all he wanted to feel. Although, he prayed to the vampire gods, his dreams would behave.
He was in for a surprise.