Chapter 97
636 Words
Two hours later, Dallas carefully sat up, trying to not disturb Olivia. He wanted to stay right where he was, with her warm body curled up against his, but he was worried that he’d fall asleep. And no way he was going to do that – not with that fucker still out there somewhere.
He slid out of his bed, retrieved his boxers and jeans. He picked up the gun, and settled back into the chair again; he watched Olivia sleeping, and a sense of contentment and completeness washed over him, amazing him with its sweetness. She was just so gorgeous, inside and out, and he was sure he’d never stop being grateful that she wanted him too. Dallas simply couldn’t believe that she had let him inside – in every sense of the word – and that she trusted him, looked to him to keep her safe.
Dallas got to his feet quietly and left the room. He checked every window, peered out to see if anyone was watching his house. He stood totally still for several minutes, just listening to the street outside, trying to see if anything grabbed his attention as odd. So much of what he did was based on pure intuition, and he’d learned to trust his implicitly.
All was silent and still, so he went back to the bedroom and looked out that window, too. Olivia stirred in the bed and moaned, and he turned and focused on her again. Her face wasn’t relaxed anymore, and his hands clenched. He wouldn’t be surprised at all if she had some bad dreams tonight.
He sat in the chair and watched her closely. She twisted suddenly, her fingers tightening on the sheets. Before he could do more than get to his feet, she sat straight up with a gasp, her eyes flying open. She gave a sharp cry.
“Hey,” Dallas said softly. “Hey, baby. I’m right here… it’s OK.”
Her eyes turned to him, wide and frightened.
He sat on the bed and held her. “Olivia? You awake, sweetheart?”
She nodded, clutching his upper arms. “I dreamed about him… that he was watching me.”
Dallas thought about his and Mark’s suspicions, and he dreaded the moment when he would have them confirmed. If and once they were, he knew he’d have to be the one to tell Olivia that her stalker had been hiding out in her home for what – days? weeks? months? – and watching her.
The f*****g violation would be huge, and her imagination was going to run wild: had the sick f**k watched her shower? Had he gone through her underwear? Had he slept in her bed when she was travelling? He had probably done all those things and more, Dallas knew. He didn’t even want to think about what those other things might include.
He stroked her hair. “Shhhh, Olivia. He’s not here, he’s not anywhere close to you. You’re safe.”
She took a deep breath, willed her body to relax. “I know.”
They sat like that for several minutes, until she started to feel drowsy again. He felt her body slump a bit and he gently laid Olivia down, then stretched out next to her. She sighed, her eyelids getting heavier, and she burrowed into his naked chest.
“I’m so tired,” she whispered.
He kissed the top of her head. “Sleep, baby, just let yourself give over. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to take care of you.”
“Promise?” she said.
“Promise.” He touched her cheek. “Sleep, Olivia.”
And she did. Dallas stayed awake for the whole rest of the night, holding her against him, just holding her close. Keeping her safe.
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