Every Breath She Takes [CURRENTLY ON HOLD]

Chapter 15: Reassurances

Late that night, I woke shaking. Not willing to disturb Jack, I slid out of the bed carefully, and walked to the window. The warm summer breeze teased out my hair, making it fly around my face. Absently, I tucked the loose strands behind my ear, and leant on the windowsill. The moon was full tonight, and bathed the street in a cool pale light. The shadows made everything seem flat, but there was a slight dimension to everything as well. It was a strange light, bright, yet shadowy. I heard movement behind me, so I wasn’t startled when his hands came around my waist.

“Are you alright?”

His voice tickled my ear, and I leant back slightly. “I don’t know,” I replied. “I just needed to think for a while.”

“Come back to bed soon, hey? You’ll get cold otherwise.”

I chuckled gently. “It’s summer,” I reminded him. “I’ll be fine.”

“Hmm.” He didn’t sound satisfied, but he released me, moving back to the bed. I watched him, the flat yet deep shadowy light stretching across his face, leaving the rest of him in darkness. He quickly fell asleep again, the glint of his eyes vanishing as he closed them. Soon, I could hear his breathing deepen, and grow more regular, and I relaxed, taking comfort in the sound. I turned back to the window, again leaning on the sill. I enjoyed the quiet beauty of the night, the trees seeming to reach for the moon even as it dipped to meet the long spindly branches. I sighed, and returned to bed, slipping in next to him. Idly, I played with the ring on my finger, hoping that I wasn’t making a mistake. I knew he loved me, but still, he had paid for me. I couldn’t get that out of my head, not matter how much I tried. Deciding to get it over and done with, I rolled over, and touched his face, startling him awake again.

“Jack.”

“Mm?” He struggled to wake, I could see it. He opened his eyes blearily, and shook his head slightly. “What?”

“Wake up a little more,” I coaxed. “Pease.”

He rubbed his eyes, and lifted himself onto an elbow. “What is it?”

I hesitated, and swallowed. “I have a question for you.”

“It couldn’t wait til morning?”

I shook my head. “No. I won’t be able to do it in the morning.”

He sighed. “What is it, then, Ro?” he asked gently, perhaps sensing how close to flight I really was. He didn’t move, not even to comfort me, and I appreciated that. Any touch would make me collapse, and run.

“How…how much did he ask?” We both knew what I was talking about.

He sighed, and rubbed one hand over his face, thinking. “You really want to know?” His voice was muffled, but resigned. He knew the answer as well as I did. Still, I responded.

“Yes.”

He sighed again, and lay flat on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling for a long time. At last, he spoke, his voice a whisper. “Two thousand.”

I stared at him. I knew it had been a lot, but not that much. “You’re joking.”

“No.” His voice was slightly harsher now, and I edged away. I knew from long experience what it meant. He noticed, and gentled his next words. “I’m not, Ro. But you’re worth it. I would have paid anything to get you out of there.”

Satisfied, I cuddled closer, suddenly cold. He put an arm around me, and I curled up into his side, resting my head on his chest. Closing my eyes, I sighed happily, and drifted off to sleep, content – for the moment.

He stayed awake for a long time, not moving. Her breathing was deep and regular, and she had snuggled in close, seemingly cold. He tightened his arm around her, unconsciously, thinking about what she’d asked. He’d lied to her. She hadn’t been two thousand dollars, she’d been a lot more. He wasn’t going to tell her that, though – she didn’t need to know. In his eyes, she was priceless.