Torn (Torn Series) Page 0,31

screaming as the images of my nightmare followed me into consciousness. I sat straight up in bed as I tried to control the sobs racking through my body. I had relived it all again, only this time I had been running from him. Suddenly, I felt arms around me and I screamed again, thinking Nick really was here.

“Shhh, it’s just me, you’re safe Chloe, I won’t ever let him touch you, I promise,” Drake mumbled into my ear as he rocked me in his arms.

At the sound of his voice, I relaxed. I owed so much to him, he had kept me safe before, and here he was again, protecting me.

“Thank you, I mean it. If you hadn’t been there… If you hadn’t been here now…” I trailed off, unable to continue.

He hugged me tighter and kissed the top of my head, “Don’t worry about it Chloe, I’m here for you. Lay back down, I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

My distrust from earlier was gone, and instead of being afraid to have him in the bed with me, it made me feel better, safe. I snuggled down into the covers beside him and laid my head on his chest, wrapping my arm around him.

“Will you stay with me tonight? I don’t even want to think about waking up alone again.”

He hugged me tight, “Of course I will, just close your eyes and get some sleep sweetheart. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

I smiled at him and closed my eyes, snuggling into him as tightly as possible. Within a few minutes, I had a new fear. Being this close to him, smelling him, being wrapped around him, had me going insane. The thoughts running through my head weren’t helping either. I had never been so comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time in my life. I slid my hand down his chest to his stomach, trying to get comfortable, and I felt him stiffen.

I pulled my hand back suddenly, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable Drake. All you had to do was tell me, I’ll roll over.”

He grabbed my arm as I started to roll away from him. “No it’s not that Chloe, it’s just, I have this beautiful girl in my bed wearing my clothes, snuggled up against me, and I can’t touch you, no matter how much I want to. I would never do that to you after what happened.”

My heart did a nervous flop. He wanted me? I couldn’t see how he would even notice me when he had all of those women following him around. He had to be joking with me; there was no other explanation for his words. I scooted up and looked at him grinning.

“Yeah right, I bet you say that to all the girls lying in your bed.”

Instead of laughing at me, he frowned, “I wasn’t kidding Chloe. I’ve wanted you from the minute I saw you that first day in class. I have never seen someone as beautiful as you.”

My face burned and I looked away from him before he could see how much his words bothered me. He laughed as he put his fingers under my chin and pulled my face up to look at him.

“And I’ve never seen any other woman blush as much as you do.”

I felt my face grow hotter at his words but he still held my face up to his, so that I couldn’t turn away.

“Drake…”

“No, it’s alright. I wouldn’t ever try anything on you, especially now. Just go back to sleep Chloe, I’ll be here when you wake up.”

He let go of my chin but I couldn’t look away. He was being so kind to me, and making me feel so special. I scooted up a little so I could lay my forehead against his.

“Thank you Drake, for everything.”

He gave me a tiny smile as he stared into my eyes. Without thinking, I leaned in just a few more inches and brushed my lips gently against his. He gasped as I pulled away and grabbed my face, pulling me back in. His lips found mine and he kissed me like I had never been kissed before. There was so much force behind it that it scared me, but not in a bad way. The feeling of having his lips pressed against mine sent thrills throughout my body.

I leaned closer, hungry for more as I deepened the kiss and felt his lip piercing bite into my lip. It was