What Do You Mean?

Chapter 16

What're you doing, babe?" I rasp, trying to find my voice. I had been sleeping soundly and can't figure out why I'm awake. Maybe I sensed the nervousness that radiates from her.

She sighs deeply but continues to stare up at the ceiling "Just thinking."

"C'mere..." I yawn, tucking her in close beside me. "What time is it anyway?" It's got to be early, the room is bathed in the muted purple light of night giving way to morning.

Her face nuzzles into my chest "I think it's like four."

"Why are you up thinking at four in the morning, B?" I ask, stroking my fingers through her hair.

"Couldn't sleep." She draws in even closer, pressing against me until it borders on being uncomfortable.

"Hey..." I wrap my arms around her tighter "Relax, baby...everything's gonna be okay. I'd never let anything happen to my girls. And anyway, baby girl is safe and sound."

I feel the tension in her body ease a little "I know."

"So quit. Just let me and security handle this shit...you don't even need to worry." I end by changing the subject "I've got some shit going on later, but we could go have breakfast and fuck around before...maybe do some shopping? Want me to buy you something pretty?"

"Yeah..." she laughs softly "Maybe. You should go back to sleep, though. There's really no reason for both of us to be awake this early."

"You gotta promise to stop stressing over this mother fucker and go back to sleep with me, or no deal."

"Do you think Lyric is okay with your dad? I mean, I know him and Chelsea are taking excellent care of her, but should we send her somewhere no one would ever think to look for her?" Her fingers trail nervously over the crown on my chest, proving there is zero chance she'll be going back to sleep with me.

"Are you even serious? No...she's fine. We're fine. If you think for a second that we're gonna let this fucking Mark..." I spit his name with disdain "fuck our lives up like that, you're crazy."

"Okay, okay...I'm sorry." Her voice sounds so small and sad, as if I've hurt her feelings. It's completely unlike her. Normally she'd just come back at me over and over until I saw things from her point of view.

"Well don't apologize..." I place a soft kiss on her forehead "You're just concerned about Lyric, that's your job. But my job is to keep you two safe, and that's what I'm going to do, so just calm down."

She rolls over and takes a deep breath of relief when I curl myself around her, as if the few seconds of broken contact has been horrible for her.

"Baby..." I whisper "fuckin' stop it." My words are harshly chosen, but soothingly delivered.

"I don't feel safe anymore..." her voice is also a whisper "the only time I do, is when you're holding me. I'm sorry, I know it's probably annoying."