my chest, I felt the need to do what I did best. Deny the seriousness of the conversation and the relationship in general. I huffed a laugh. "You won't even sleep in a bed with me, Enzo."
He winced, looking sheepish for a moment before he cupped my cheek and ran his fingertips over my jaw. "I have nightmares. It's been a long time since I slept with anyone in the same room as me, but I used to get violent in my sleep back in the barracks. I've hurt people because they hesitated to hurt me since they know I'm not seeing them. I'm back in combat, someone I love bleeding out in my arms, but the face always changes. I want to sleep next to you more than anything, but I can't risk hurting you."
"I'm not so fragile, Enzo. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but whether you're dreaming or not, I won't hesitate to put you on your ass if you come at me. I know you well enough to know you'd rather nurse an injury than deal with the guilt of hurting me," I said sternly.
"One day we'll try it, but this thing with Murphy has me more on edge than usual. I'm dreaming more often. I just want to wait until we can hope for success rather than setting us up to fail. Can you give me that?" he asked. I snuggled back into his chest, enjoying the view as I nodded.
Knowing that he didn't avoid sleeping with me because of some lack of emotion helped, but I still couldn't bring myself to return the words just yet. He didn't acknowledge my lack of them or push me to supply something I wasn't ready for, instead turning his attention to the cooler and pulling out containers filled with food with a tender look on his face.
I wasn't naïve enough to think he'd wait for long before he started pushing, but I was grateful for the brief reprieve to gather my thoughts, regardless.
I'd never told a man I loved him, and it scared me because I felt like I'd never be the same once I did.
Going back to Indulgence for the first time after Enzo fucked me in his office made my thighs clench the moment we walked into the front doors. Dom glared as we passed through, one of his eyes swollen damn near shut and his jaw bruised a fading mottled green. I winced, suspecting it had been part of his punishment for letting me sneak out, but didn’t bother to ask. I’d never left Enzo’s side, so I knew without a doubt he hadn’t been the one to give the beating nearly a week ago.
“He’s lucky he still has ten fingers and toes,” Enzo admitted, answering the question I didn’t dare ask. “If I hadn’t been unwilling to let you out of my sight, he might not be so lucky.” He brought me over to the bar where Ash dried glasses, depositing me on a stool. “I need to talk to Seb to make sure he’s aware Sean was in the Underground. Wait here,” he ordered, getting in my face pointedly, though a playful smirk crossed his face. “If you move, I’ll belt your ass this time.”
“Enzo!” I gasped, swatting at him. Fairly confident in his words being an exaggeration, I shrugged it off with a laugh as he smiled at me darkly and went to have words with Seb at the base of the stairs.
At least, I hoped he was kidding.
I figured I’d stay put for once just to be safe.
The sight of the woman with the slinky black dress coming towards me nearly made me roll my eyes, but I plastered an overly fake, bright smile on my face as I spun to face her. “Sadie, right?” she asked, setting her box full of liquor on the bar counter. Ash glared at her for a minute, rolling his eyes when she returned the look with a sultry smile meant to seduce him into a puddle of compliance.
“She sneaks out again after talking to you, and Enzo might put it together and fire you, Vanessa,” he warned, shaking his head as he moved to the other end of the bar. He gave the distinct impression that he dealt with her drama more often than was normal, and my already dismal impression of her sank even lower.
“That’s me,” I agreed, smiling up at her brightly. “You’re the girl who wishes