CLOVE

nineteen

☘︎ clover ☘︎

The last month had passed in a bit of a haze for me. Brennan had been a constant, steady presence in my life, offering support and understanding at every turn. But guilt still weighed heavily on my shoulders, a constant, nagging presence in my thoughts.

No matter what Brennan said, no matter how much he tried to assure me that it wasn't my fault, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that I was somehow responsible for my family's deaths.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw their faces - my brother's lopsided grin, my dad's warm smile. I remembered the way they had always supported me, had always been there for me. And I was filled with a deep sense of guilt and shame.

But since being with Brennan, the nightmares had lessened in frequency. His presence next to me, his arms around me, offering comfort and reassurance. I hadn't had a nightmare since staying with him, and for that, I was deeply grateful.

I stand in front of the full-length mirror in Brennan's bedroom, adjusting my dress and smoothing down my hair. Brennan had asked me out to dinner, a nice restaurant that he knows I love. I'm excited to spend time with him, to forget my worries for a few hours.

As I step out of the bedroom, the heels of my shoes muffled by the carpet, I see Brennan standing in the hall, waiting for me. When he turns and sees me, his eyes widen slightly and his mouth drops open.

"You look..." He trails off, his gaze roaming over me, taking in the dress that hugs my curves and the way I've done my hair.

"You look absolutely gorgeous," he finishes, his voice slightly hoarse. He takes a few steps towards me, his eyes still roaming over me appreciatively.

I feel a flutter in my stomach at his words, and a small smile curls at the corners of my mouth. "Thanks," I say softly, smoothing down my dress again. "You clean up pretty nice yourself."

Brennan grins at my words, straightening his tie and running a hand through his hair. "Well, I do try," he says, a hint of cocky humor in his voice. "But you're the real star here."

I blush slightly at his compliment, feeling a spark of self-consciousness. It's been a while since I've felt this confident, this attractive. Brennan has a way of making me feel beautiful, even on my worst days.

Brennan steps closer to me, his footsteps silent on the carpet. He reaches out and gently takes my hand, lifting it to his mouth and pressing a light kiss to my knuckles."Seriously," he whispers, his eyes fixed on mine. "You look stunning. I'm the luckiest man alive."

My heart flutters at his words, and I can feel my cheeks heating up under his gaze. "Flirt," I manage to tease, but my voice is a little breathless.

Brennan grins, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. "Can you blame me?" he asks, his voice low and sultry. "I mean, look at you." He takes a step closer, his body almost flush against mine.

I can feel the heat radiating off him, and I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. His eyes are darkened with desire, and I can feel my pulse quicken in response.

He lifts his free hand and gently trails his fingers along the exposed skin of my collarbone, a soft caress that sends shivers down my spine. "This dress," he murmurs, his voice rough. "It's driving me crazy."

I let out a shaky breath, my eyes drifting closed for a moment. His touch is like electricity, setting my nerves on fire. "You like it?" I manage to say, opening my eyes again to find him watching me intently.

"I more than like it," he replies, his fingers continuing to trace patterns on my skin. "It's taking all my self-control not to rip it off you right now."