look. “Do you believe that you are dangerous to us?”
“I didn’t think so until I had these nightmares,” Selene replied.
“But now you have doubts?”
“I don’t really know what to think,” she said quietly.
Griffin considered her words for some time. “I’ll take my chances,” he eventually said.
“But—”
Griffin held up his hand. “Ellie and I are connected. She’ll know if something is happening.”
Selene folded her arms across her chest. “Not if I’m blocking her.”
“Would you really do that?”
“Not consciously,” Selene admitted. “But what if I don’t know I’m doing it?”
Griffin crossed the room and stood before her. With a gentle finger under her chin, he lifted her face until she met his eyes again. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” She paused, the irony not lost on her. “But you don’t trust me.”
Griffin smirked. “Exactly.”
Chapter 18
Griffin settled in the chair in Selene’s room and prepared to watch over her for the rest of the night. She’d said very little to him as she had gotten ready, only explaining how the others had gone about their watches on previous nights.
“I can sleep through anything,” she’d informed him. “So if you want to read or even watch a movie, it won’t even faze me.”
“Okay.”
Selene climbed into bed and glanced over to Griffin. “Goodnight.”
“‘Night,” he answered and flipped off the light.
Even blinded by the darkness, Griffin knew that she’d lain down with her back to him. He’d also been quite aware that she’d been out almost immediately. She wasn’t kidding about being a good sleeper.
And now here he was, alone in a room with a woman whose very presence twisted his guts and with hours to concentrate on nothing but her. Of course, he’d had a lot to think about lately.
When Selene had spilled her secrets to Griffin’s family, it’d hit him hard. It wasn’t just that she was telling the truth about trying to help him and Ellie. What had moved him was that despite all she’d been through, Selene remained a sweet, innocent, and pure person.
She’d only touched on it, but when she’d showed how she tried to reach out to him via his dreams and how he’d never believed she was real, Griffin had felt sick to his stomach. How had he not known, deep in his soul, that she was real?
When Selene had finished showing them her life, he’d had to get away. He needed some time and space to process everything. It was a lot to absorb.
Once he’d felt as if he was under control, he’d tried to reach out to her and start over, but he’d completely bungled it and had come off as a pompous ass.
His dream girl was flesh and blood, and somehow he’d managed to turn his back on her twice: first when she’d tried to communicate with him through dreams and then when she’d come to Colorado looking for friendship. He wouldn’t turn his back on her again. He was going to show her that he was here for her now. And maybe, eventually, she’d be able to trust him.
But trust felt so far away. Even if this was a good first step. She’d allowed him into her bedroom to watch over her while she slept. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Griffin contented himself with just watching her sleep, periodically checking her thoughts for any dreams. She’d dropped her blocks so that he could follow what was going on. He was tempted to fall asleep himself and see if she met him in their shared dream world. But he knew that would be counterproductive. He was supposed to be watching her…
*****
Selene screamed and sobbed, and Griffin shook her violently.
“Wake up, Selene!” he shouted.
It took a while for her to realize she was no longer in the nightmare, but safe in bed with Griffin’s arms around her. She collapsed back on the pillows and stared vacantly at the ceiling, trying to catch her breath.
“Are you with me?” Griffin’s asked, his eyes creased with concern.
Selene curled up into the fetal position and wept. Griffin crawled into the bed and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. If anything, this made Selene cry harder, but she was warmed by his support. He didn’t rush her to stop or ask what was wrong; he just waited. Eventually, her sobs slowed to hiccups, and still he just held her.
Finally, Selene turned over to face him. She was a little surprised when Griffin didn’t let go but continued to comfort her. He looked at her solemnly and smoothed her