Chapter 152: Let Me Hold You
*If a man wants to hold you at night, don’t be an idiot, let him. – Evie*
Knuckles led them to his room where he unlocked the door and guided her in. Nessie continued to hold onto him as he closed and locked the door. Without turning on the lights, he walked them to the bed.
He stepped out of his boots just before he shifted her and sat on the edge of the bed with her on his lap. Her canvas slip on shoes joined his boots and he rolled them over to lay on the bed.
Pulling her into his arms, he spooned up against her, holding her to him. Resting her head on his upper arm and her hands clinging to his forearms.
“Knuckles…”
“Shhhh…. Just let me hold you for a while.” He whispered in her ear.
Nessie did just that. She lay in the protective warmth of his arms. Slowly she relaxed and her breathing evened out. Knuckles knew when she slipped into sleep. He himself continued to lay in the dark with her until he also fell asleep.
At some point, they shifted in their sleep. He was laying on his back with her tucked into his side, her head on his shoulder.
A knock on the door woke them up. He brushed a kiss on her head. “Stay here, babe.” Knuckles said as he rolled out of bed.
The bright light from the hall had both of them cringing. Sledge stood in the hall and motioned for Knuckles to step out of the room.
“Always stay in your clothes with a woman in your bed?” Sledge whispered with a grin.
“Shut up.” was the only response that Knuckles gave.
“There’s an issue at one of the safe houses.” Sledge told him. “Werewolf is doubling the guards, you’re on at seven.”
“Which one?” Knuckles asked glancing at his watch.
“Jones Street.” Sledge answered. “Cowboy is going with you.”
Knuckles nodded and turned back to his door. This time, he stripped down to his boxers before getting back into bed.
“Come here.” He said gently pulling her back to him. She curled up against him and laid her head on his chest. “I have to go to work in a few hours.”
“At the club?” She asked confused.
“No, issue at a safe house. Woman and her kids hiding from an abusive husband.” He said. “You’d be surprised how many of those we have.”
“No, I wouldn’t.” She leaned up on her elbow. “I was one. When Werewolf found me, I had a broken arm and more bruises than not. Because I told him no. If I -"
“Shhhh….” He cupped her face. “You’re a survivor. You could have done everything that he wanted and he would have found a reason or excuse. It was him, not you.”
“I felt like I did everything wrong.”
“You lived. You got out. You did everything right.”
“He’s still looking for me.”
“I know. And we’re going to keep you safe.”
“Who’s gonna keep yeh safe?”
Knuckles smiled at her. “My brothers will. Dom will. Your ghosts will.”
She smiled back at him. “My ghosts?”
“I’ve been reading up on them. They become protective of the place they haunt.”
“They do. Not so much the ones in the basement. And the one in the bar needs to have his tongue tied. But the two outside, Sinner and Coon, they are very protective.”
“Coon?”
“That’s what he says. He watches his boys. And Sinner is so proud of Taz.”
“You really do see them?”
“More like feel. And hear them in my head. There’s a young man that goes all over the place. He doesn’t seem bound to one area. He doesn’t talk much, very quiet, solemn. But he always seems to know when I need advice.”
“Is he here now?”
“No, but earlier he told me not to waste my time. It’s precious and limited.”
“What’s his name?”
“He always says that he’s no one.” Nessie laid back down on his chest. “Everybody is someone.”
Burying his hand in her hair, he kissed the top of her head.
“Knuckles, I’m not ready-"
“I know.” He held her against his side. “Go back to sleep, babe.”
