I opened my eyes and scanned the room. Instead of turning on the overhead light, he’d lit candles. If I hadn’t felt so bad, I would say it looked romantic.
“I didn’t want the harsh light to hurt your headache, so I used candles.”
Staring into his deep brown eyes, I tried to say something, but I didn’t have the energy to talk. Instead, I relaxed in the water for a few minutes and let him run a cool washcloth over my body until I started to tremble.
“Are you cold, princess?” Blake asked.
I nodded.
“Let’s get you back to bed then,” he said. Reaching down to help me out of the tub, he wrapped me in a towel. The cold air had me shivering even more, and I had to sit down. Blake helped me to the floor, and I closed my eyes. Next thing I knew, I felt a warm blanket being wrapped around my body. Then the feeling of being rocked had me opening my eyes.
“Blake,” I whispered as he carried me in his arms.
“I’ve got you, princess. I’ve got you.”
When I felt my head hit the pillow, I let out a sigh.
“Don’t leave me, Blake.”
Tingles raced down my spine, and they had nothing to do with the flu. It was Blake’s touch. His lips pressing against my forehead.
“I swear I’ll never leave you.”
Smiling, I felt myself drift off to sleep. My dreams were filled with sunsets and long walks. Blake making love to me on what felt like a cloud floating in the sky. It felt like my dreams went on for days. Then I heard a baby crying. I walked from room to room down a long hallway, opening door after door. The pull of that baby drew me closer and closer. I had to find her. She had the answers I was looking for. The answers I needed. When I got to the last door, Blake stood in front of me.
“Don’t. Let it go, Morgan. Please let it go.”
I smiled and shook my head. “Let what go? Blake, there is a baby crying. She needs me!”
Throwing the door open, I rushed into the room and stopped at the sight before me. My entire body shook, and I covered my mouth to hold back my cries.
Jerking up, I let out a scream. Strong hands were around me in an instant, pulling me to a hard, warm body.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m here. I’m here, Morgan.”
My hand came up to Blake’s chest. The feel of his cool skin and the sound of his voice soothed me at once. I squeezed my eyes shut again before the onslaught of tears hit me full force.
“I’ve got you, Morgan. I’m here.”
I was acutely aware of the fact that being in Blake’s arms and hearing his voice calmed me.
“Bad dream?” he asked, his lips pressing a kiss to my brow.
“Yes.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
His question lingered in my mind for a moment or two. Did I want to talk about it? For someone who made a living attempting to get people to express their feelings, I sucked at following my own advice.
“Maybe you want to paint?” he asked, causing me to pull back and look at him.
“Paint?”
Blake shrugged. “If you can’t talk about it, maybe you should paint it.”
I smiled, flexing my fingers through the small bit of dark hair on his broad chest. How could this man know me so well already? It was like he had a window into my heart and soul. It should scare me, but it made my insides melt with happiness.
“Maybe. Later. My head is pounding.”