𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝙰𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗

Chapter 36: Hold Me Closer

(Angela's P.O.V.)

My eyes opened groggily. The room was still dark, curtains open as usual and the moon still hanging high in the air. The bedsheets were tossed all around the mattress from our previous night-time activities. My legs were tangled in the fabric, but at least my bare upper body was covered. The bed is also warm from James' body next to me. Or was warm. Blinking tiredly I rub my eyes and glance around with confusion. I'd been woken up from a dip in the bed. James was also still bare as well, his skin lightly being projected by the moon through the window. He was glancing back at me, his back facing the bed since he'd just stood up.

"It's okay, babe," He whispered huskily to me. "Go back to sleep." He proceeded walking around the bed and to the bathroom, the door closing about halfway after the dim light in the bathroom flickered on. My eyes slowly closed shut again and my head lowered onto the soft pillow. I'd almost fallen back asleep until I heard the shower turn on. My eyes opened immediately then flickered to the bedside clock. Three in the morning. Why was he taking a shower so early? Then it dawned on me and a sigh released from my lips. With all the strength I could muster I flipped the bedsheets off of me and untangled my legs. My entire body was screaming at me to go back to sleep, but I couldn't. I wouldn't let myself. I followed in James' footsteps, striding over to the bathroom door, the carpet of the floor like a soft blanket to my sleepy senses. The door was silent as I squeezed through the doorframe and replaced it back to where it was. The sliding doors to the walk-in shower were clear, but due to the steam of the warm water, the glass was foggy. I could still see the outline of his body though; he was leaning over, his hand holding himself up against the tiled wall.

I cautiously reached for the handle then slid the screen open just enough for me to get through. Even though James couldn't see me I knew he'd heard the door open. The stream of water from the showerhead was beating down on his shoulders, his hair matted and dripping with small water droplets. My eyes traced the scar lines on his back. Each scratch had a story behind it, some sort of meaning. They were scattered all over him, some of them big and some of them barely noticeable. They never bothered me, maybe because I was in a similar position when it came to things like this. James and I had our differences, but sometimes those differences were what brought us together even more. My fingers reached his skin first, caressing his back softly as the water spread around my hands. Then my arms wrapped around his torso in a hug, our bodies becoming one as I held him close to me. The streams of water running along his back began dampening my hair and face. My lips planted delicate kissed along his skin. Finally, James sighed, his body stretching and deflating beneath me.

"I thought I told you everything was alright."

"You were never the best at lying," I state bluntly. "Even so, can I not join you for a shower?" This makes him turn to me. One of his hands pulls his hair back so it's not falling in his face anymore. My hands move to his chest as his rest on my cheeks.

"You know I'll never say no to you showering with me." I flash a small smile before it falls a second later. Our eyes are glued to each other, never leaving even though we both know we want to gaze elsewhere.

"You had another nightmare, didn't you?" His next breath intake is long and sharp, almost like he's not able to breathe, but his expression never changes. James doesn't answer either, simply just rests his forehead against mine and strokes my cheeks. It must have been a way to comfort himself, me being there and him taking his time in savoring every moment. The water flowed onto the top of us, each individual stream free-falling down our bodies and into the drain. We didn't speak for a while. I'd figured the company was what really mattered to him at this point and I wasn't about to cut it short. I'd deal with Tony and his complaints about the water bill later.

"Ange," He finally said. My eyes snapped to him and studied his expressions. His face was serious yet his eyes were sad. "I'll always protect you no matter what, I promise."

"I know, love." Our lips connect and time takes a toll, the clock slowing as we know it. For another thirty minutes, we talked to each other, comforted each other and held one another. It may not have been spent on sleep, but I knew I wouldn't regret it in the future. Eventually, we dried off and made our way back to bed, this time straightening out the sheets a little and rearranging the pillows. I didn't even get the chance to cover myself before James was tugging me against him, the heat of his body an instant call to sleep. He rested his chin on top of my head as my face comfortingly pressed against his chest.

"I love you, Doll." His words made me smile. I could feel him wrap his arms around me protectively while he also pulled the covers over both of us.

"I love you too, James."

Song that inspired this chapter:

I Scare Myself - Beth Crowley