Dragon's Key--Complete

Chapter Ten

Aaron still hadn't noticed anyone following us or trying to get on the ferry with us when it came time to board.  We both acknowledged, however that it would have been almost impossible to tell.  This was not the sort of ferry I was expecting.  It was more small ocean liner than little ferry.

We had to book a two bunk berth, required for the overnight trip and I know that Aaron wasn't comfortable with the idea.  Neither of us had gotten much sleep the night before and so I suggested that we take two shifts, halving the ten hour trip so that we each got some sleep.

When we got into the little room, however, Aaron wouldn't even walk into the room, peering inside from the doorway to ensure that it was truly as empty as it seemed.  It was quite small and the only real checking he had to do was into the tiny bathroom and then he was right back in the hallway again.

“Get some sleep,” he instructed me and I glanced from the upper bunk to him and back.

“You're not staying in here?” I questioned.  I wasn't really comfortable sharing a room with him, but he'd already promised that he wasn't going to let me out of his sight.

“I'll be right out here, just yell or open the door if you need something,” he leaned back to close the door but I stopped him before he got that far.

“You should get something to eat, watch a movie.  Lock the door and I'll be fine.  You don't have to linger in the hallway,” I felt like I was pushing him out of the room, even if he was the one who'd suggested it.

“Sofia,” he said softly, glancing around behind him before he spoke again.  “In my heart, you're my wife.  In my soul, you are the only woman meant for me.  I'd love to be in there with you.  But I'm not your husband and it isn't proper for us to share a room.  I respect you too much to put you in that position.  You aren't anymore comfortable with the idea of sharing sleeping space anymore than I am.”

He was getting so good at reading me.  I had never allowed anyone near me while I slept other than my father.  I felt too vulnerable.  Aaron might be the first I'd allow to do that, but it felt so intimate, far more so than our current relationship required.

“You don't need to sit outside my door all night, though,” I didn't want him lingering in the hallway like we'd had a big fight and I'd kicked him out.

“I won't leave you,” he said quietly and then smiled at me quietly.  “But get some sleep, it will be time to get up again far too soon.”

I looked at him suddenly at the new tone in his voice and my eyes narrowed in suspicion.  “You have no intention of waking me, do you?”

The smile faded from his face as I caught him in his prevarication.  He hadn't lied to me outright, just didn't correct me when I'd offered to take shifts.  He sighed and nodded.

“You didn't get any sleep last night at all before the break-in.  You need your rest, Sofia.” He sounded so reasonable, but I wasn't one to give in easily.

“You got less sleep than I did, so stop trying to be noble about it.  I'll set the alarm.  Five hours and then we'll switch,” I insisted, walking over to the alarm and setting it quietly.

He reached out to stop me with a hand on mine.  “There's no use doing that, Sofia-love.  I can't share a room with you and I'll not let you stand watch outside the door where I can't keep you safe, either.”

I growled at him under my breath, a low threatening sound that surprised me.  He blinked and then threw back his head and laughed.

“Not shy about making your feelings known, are you, my love?” he leaned over to kiss me on the cheek.  “If you sleep six hours, I'll promise to wake you.  We can go to the dining car, have some breakfast and I'll try to nap at the table there.  Will that work for you?”