The Lonely Widow (Completed) (Editing)

Chapter 20

        Daisy awoke to the sun beaming down through the curtains, hitting her eyes. Rolling over, she pulled the quilt up over her eyes and sighed. Now she was awake, she wouldn’t be able to sleep again. With a groan, she pushed the quilt off and sat up in bed causing it to make a loud squeak. In the corner of the room, Lee was slumped down in a chair covered in a blue and cream woolly blanket.

        The rise and fall of his chest mesmerised Daisy as she cocked her head to the side, taking in the sight of the man in front of her. He looked so strong and handsome yet vulnerable as his body jerked, evidently fighting something in his dream. With the sweat dripping from his brow, the tear in his eye and the pale colour of his cheeks, Daisy couldn’t help but wonder what was tormenting him so. 

        Climbing slowly off the bed, she crept her way across the room and knelt beside the chair on which Lee was sat, placing a hand on his lap. Her other hand came up to caress his face in a bid to soothe away the lurid images running through his mind. Her thumb wiped away a stray tear as another jerk wracked his body, startling her, causing her to gasp and retreat back a little.

        Lee’s knees came up as he attempted to curl into the foetal position and turn sideways in the chair, shying away from the dangers of his dream. A moan escaped his lips, “No, leave her alone. Not Daisy, no!” he half shouted as his arms came up, trying to reach up for anything to take hold of, anything to grasp onto.

        Daisy retreated back in shock; watching him struggle with his dreams, fight with his demons. She could only wonder why he was dreaming about her, and why he was shouting for her to be left alone. Moving back to him, she placed her hand back on his cheek and whispered, “Hey, it’s okay, I’m fine.”

        His hand came up to rest on hers and his eyes snapped open, Daisy pulled her hand away and Lee bolted upright, looking around the room in a panic. Only when his eyes rested on Daisy next to him did he relax and slump back into his seat. “Morning.” He mumbled, forcing a weak smile. “Did you sleep well?”

        “I did.” She nodded. “But you didn’t.”

        Lee rubbed his face as though working out the kinks and Daisy couldn’t help the feeling of guilt for whatever he was dreaming about. It may not have been her fault, but if it was about her, then she felt she was to blame. “Just a bad dream,” he told her.

        Pulling himself up to sit up straight, he sighed and leant over to rest his elbows on his knees. As he took hold of her hand, he pulled her up off the floor, sat her on the bed and moved to sit next to her. “How’s your head this morning?” He asked whilst reaching up to softly check her wound.

        She flinched at the pain of his touch on her sore head. “Pounding.” She told him. “But at least the dizziness has gone.” Lee moved his hand down to her jawline and caressed it with his thumb, tracing it inch by inch. His eyes caught her lips and noticing a slight smile, he leant in closer, his breath fanning her face. Daisy’s breath caught in her throat and her heart was pounding ten to the dozen as she leant forward, pushing all thoughts of the pounding headache to the back of her mind. In an instant, Lee’s lips brushed against hers and he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him.

        He hesitated slightly, pulling back, making sure that she was okay and when she moaned at the loss of contact, his lips crashed back to hers, the heat between them taking over. Her arms moved from her side up to his shoulders, snaking around his neck, running her hands through his soft blonde hair.

        “Whoa, too much too early.” A voice from behind them broke the kiss and Daisy jumped, pulling back, creating distance between them. Lee jumped up and launched a pillow at his brother, narrowly missing when it hit the floor behind where Jay was stood seconds ago.