I was only vaguely aware of being carried up the stairs and into my new room. I was warm and comfortable and safe, that was all I cared about. When I was put down on my feet, I protested and tried to snuggle back into that warmth.
"Kimber, can you just stand there for a second? I need to turn down the bed so I can put you in it."
I mumbled a protest in a sleepy, childlike voice and leaned against Derek. He held me against him with one arm while turning down the bed with the other.
"Okay, into bed you go," and I scooped off my feet and slid into the sheets.
I blinked up at him owlishly, "What'd you call me?"
Derek grinned at me, "Kimber. Kimberly is a mouthful and Kim is too short. You seem like a Kimber to me, sort of unusual and elegant. Is that okay with you?"
It was already too warm in the bed. I pulled the sweats off and tossed them on the floor, leaving me in my t-shirt and panties.
"S'okay. You're weird, but I like it. I'm going to sleep now." My words were slow and sleepy. Talking was too much effort.
Derek reached down and touched my face gently before he turned off the light and left my room. I curled on my side, pulled a pillow down to cuddle, and was sound asleep in seconds.
I don't know how it happened, but I was back in the basement. The smell rolled over me like a fetid cloud and it was all I could do not to gag. Get the invoice and get out, that's all I had to do. Just get the invoice and get out. Then I could go back home, curl up on my sofa, and lose myself in my favorite book. Samuel was coming to see me next week, so this weekend I needed to pick up some stuff at the grocery store and clean the bathroom. But tonight I just needed to get that damn invoice and then I could relax.
Just as I reached for the door, it jerked open and the vampire was standing there waiting for me. "You didn't really think I was dead, did you? You stupid bitch!"
I screamed and screamed and screamed as he reached out and threw me into the wall.
"Kimber! Kimberly, wake up! It's a dream, it's just a dream. Come on, Kimberly, wake up!"
Derek was on the edge of my bed, shaking me awake. I was still screaming as I realized it was Derek and not the vampire sitting there. My brain finally made the connection and I started to shake as I realized I'd been having a nightmare. I couldn't help it, the tears started to slide down my face. Derek scooped me into his lap, rubbing my back and murmuring soft reassurances that I was safe. I wrapped my arms around him, buried my face in the warm curve of his neck and sobbed.
"It's okay. Nothing can hurt you here. I won't let anything ever happen to you again. You're safe. You're safe." I don't know how long he held me, but I cried myself out. Derek loosened his hold enough so he could tip my chin up and wipe my tears away. "Think you can go back to sleep now?"
I shook my head. I was exhausted, but I wasn't sure I could sleep. "I'm afraid to try," I whispered.
He dropped a gentle kiss on my temple, "Here, at least get back under the covers before you freeze." He stood up easily with me in his arms and then neatly tucked me back into bed. He disappeared into my bathroom and came back with some aspirin, a glass of cold water and a damp washcloth.
I watched him walk toward me and tried to ignore the curl in my belly. The only thing Derek had on was a pair of navy boxer briefs that molded to him like a second skin. His body was perfect. Strong shoulders and arms, tight trim waist, fabulous abs, and long, muscled legs. The moonlight played off the curves and lines of him and made me squirm.
Stop it. Stop looking. Don't think about him that way. You just woke him up, cried tears and snot all over him, and the last thing you need is to start lusting after him. I wasn't sure the lecture I was giving myself was doing any good, but at least I wasn't thinking about that damn nightmare.
"Here, that crying jag probably left you with a nice headache." I nodded in agreement and reached out to take the pills and the glass of water. After I swallowed them, he wiped my face with the cool cloth. "There, all better?"
I smiled weakly, "Not quite. But getting there. Here, let me have that a second."
I took the washcloth from him and wiped off all the tears and other stuff I'd left on his neck. He smiled and took the washcloth back into the bathroom. I realized I was still wearing my braid and quickly undid it. Sleeping in a braid always hurt the next morning and wouldn't help the headache I already had. After getting most of it finger-combed out, I slid down into the bed thinking about the nightmare again and dreading going back to sleep.
Derek came over and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out to touch my face, sliding the tips of his fingers gently from my temple to my jaw. "You're safe here, I promise. Try to get some sleep, okay?"
I nodded and he reached over to turn out my light. I felt him stand up and the voice in my head started gibbering in panic. I couldn't face the dark alone.
"Derek? I'm so scared. Please don't go."
I reached up and found his arm, sliding my hand down until I could curl my fingers around his. I felt him squeeze my fingers gently. He didn't say anything when I moved into the center of the big, king-size bed, just slid in next to me and curled up behind me. He tucked me against him so that I was spooned into the curve of his body with his arm wrapped around my waist and my head pillowed on his shoulder. His warm skin against mine and the deep, even rhythm of his breathing helped me to relax. It took a long time, even with Derek there to keep me safe, before I fell asleep again.
The light streaming through the windows woke me. Derek was sprawled on his back, still sound asleep. I was curled up against him, one leg thrown over his, my arm over his chest, using his shoulder as a pillow. His arm was wrapped around my shoulders and he had a handful of my hair. I cuddled closer and thought about trying to go back to sleep. He was so warm and comfortable that going back to sleep shouldn't be too hard. Then again, there was a lot of sunlight coming in. Caught in between, I watched Derek sleep with my own eyes half closed.
He'd stayed all night. He didn't leave me. The nightmares hadn't returned. I couldn't explain why, but Derek was becoming very important to me. I didn't know anything about him, but he'd saved my life, given me a home, and protected me from the nightmares.
Not knowing much about him didn't really seem all that important at the moment. He'd said we were going shopping today. God knows, I needed clothes and everything else. I didn't see how I could go today, though. My documents and my resettlement money wouldn't be here for a few days yet. It looked like I was going to be wearing borrowed sweats for a few more days.
"I can hear you worrying, you know." His raspy voice woke me out of my running internal dialogue with myself. "You don't have to worry, I'll take care of it if you'll just go back to sleep for a while longer."
I smiled a slow, sleepy smile. I didn't bother to look up at him, "You will? But what if I'm worrying about Buffalo not having a shot at the Super Bowl? Can you fix that?"
"Out here, we root for Seattle. Problem solved. Now go back to sleep."
I wiggled against him, "But what if I want pancakes for breakfast? With mashed strawberries and whipped cream?"
"Then I will make you breakfast. Later. Sleep now."
I grinned, teasing Derek was fun. "You're awfully grouchy in the morning, you know that?"
With a swift and sudden move, he rolled me over and pinned me underneath him. His eyes glittered dangerously, blue shot through with gold, when they locked onto mine. I was trying to ignore the hard length of him pressed against me, but it had been a long time since I'd been under a man and Derek made my breath hitch.
"And you are awfully damn chatty at seven a.m. Is it really too much to ask for a little quiet around here?"
His voice was rough with sleep and his words came out in a sexy growl. Was he really irritated with me?