“I’m okay,” I said, still smiling as my tears fell. “I was due me period a few days ago, and that’s what has me all teary.”
I was due my period, but it wasn’t what caused my tears. Damien leaned up and kissed my tear-stained cheeks. I closed my eyes, revelling in the sensation of his lips on my skin. I inhaled his scent, basked in his presence, and prayed to God that nothing would ever happen to this man because he was my heart.
“I love ye’,” I said, my soul feeling like it was being crushed. “I love ye’ so much, more than me life.”
“Alannah.” Damien frowned. “Baby, why are you so sad?”
Because I’m terrified of being without you.
“I don’t know.”
“Freckles, look at me.” When I did, Damien leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “I love you, too. Your nightmare has scared you, but it’s not real. I’m right here with you. I’ll always be here to protect you.”
“Ye’ don’t know that,” I whispered. “Ye’ don’t know that ye’ll always be with me.”
Damien stared at me. “Did something happen to me in your nightmare?” When I couldn’t look him in the eye, he came to his own conclusions.
“Sweetheart”—he sighed—“please don’t worry about what might or might not happen to me. You know what worrying about things you can’t control does to your head.”
It made me overthink and worry and stress.
“I know.” I nodded, lifting a hand to wipe my cheeks. “I’m bein’ stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” Damien stated softly. “You’re just tired, and your nightmare is using your exhaustion to scare you.”
I agreed with him.
“I’m sorry for wakin’ ye’,” I said as I glanced at the wall and saw it was only five to two. “Ye’ must think I’m—”
“Beautiful when you’re sleepy?” Damien cut me off. “You bet I do.”
I smiled. “You’re full of it.”
I climbed back into our bed while Damien went to the bathroom. He turned off the light when he returned, cloaking the room in darkness. When the mattress dipped, and he lay back down, I rolled over to snuggle against his side straight away. I felt bad for waking him because I knew how tired he was. He had been working nonstop as of late, and he deserved a full night’s rest even though he couldn’t have that because of me. I kissed his chest just as his arm came around me.
“Do you want to have sex?”
I vibrated with silent laughter at his unexpected question.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Damien gave me a light squeeze. “I’m just checking to see if you want some of this before you go to sleep.”
I heard in his voice how tired he was. If I said yes to having sex, he would fulfil my request, but I knew he didn’t really want to do anything other than close his eyes and go to sleep.
“I’ll have some of ye’ in the mornin’, big man,” I answered with a forced yawn. “Go to sleep.”
He didn’t answer me, and I knew it was because he was already falling asleep. That was Damien’s superpower. He was one of those sickening people who could fall asleep the second their head touched a pillow. I envied him for that, especially at the current moment when sleep was the last thing on my mind. I waited for ten long minutes, just to make sure he was in a deep sleep, before I slipped out of his hold. I tiptoed out of the bedroom and gently closed the door behind me.
I lifted the lid off the basket in the hallway that was full of clean, folded clothes. Taking off my pyjamas, I tossed them into the dirty wash basket in the bathroom and popped on my oversized white plaid shirt. As I buttoned it up and rolled the sleeves up to my elbows, my finger got snagged in a small hole. The shirt had seen better days; the wear and tear showed how old it was. It was a large shirt, long enough to cover my behind, so I didn’t bother searching for leggings to put on. I checked on Barbara, who was asleep in the sitting room and clearly comfortable by the way she was positioned on the settee.
I cleaned out her litter tray and topped up her water before I ventured into my inner sanctum. Glancing around after I flipped on the light, the first thing I thought of was my dream, but I forced myself to push it to the back of my mind. I already had a mini breakdown over it, so I didn’t need to give it any more thought. I couldn’t help that Morgan entered my subconscious when I was asleep, but I’d be damned if he took over my mind while I was awake.
“He is gone,” I told myself. “He has no power over you, Damien, or anyone else.”