At first, he didn’t know where he was.
Then he remembered.
The Chambers house. Addison’s house now. Her bedroom, gray in the soft wash of early morning light.
He was on the floor, the top sheet and comforter twisted around his legs. The night-table lamp lay smashed beside him.
“Addison,” he said hoarsely. “Addison? Dear God, Addison—”
“I’m here, Jacob.”
He fought free of the bed linens. She was crouched behind him, face white, eyes enormous. He reached for her, gathered her into his arms.
“Did I hurt you, honey? Did I—”
“No. No, I’m fine.”
She wasn’t. She was shaking. Her teeth were chattering. He grabbed the comforter, wrapped it around her. “Sweetheart. I’m so sorry….”
Jake drew her tightly against him. That this should have happened, that she should have seen him like this …
“You sure I didn’t hurt you? Did I—did I hit you? I know I hit something ”
“The lamp. Not me.”
Thank God, he thought, and held her another few seconds. Then he held her from him and looked into her face.
His heart turned over.
Her eyes were wide with shock. Her lips were trembling. She looked as if she had seen all the demons of hell, and she had.
She had seen his demons, and look what they had done to her!
He drew her close again, rocked her in his arms.
“Forgive me, baby.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. You had a dream, that’s all. Just a dream.”
Jake felt his muscles tighten.
“It’s not just a dream, it’s the dream. I have it over and over, night after goddammed night.”
“You haven’t had it since we’ve been together.”
She was right. He hadn’t. And based on that one fact, he’d tried to tell himself he was okay.
Well, he wasn’t okay. He was the same cowardly mess he’d been for almost two years. The only difference was that a dream was no longer simply a dream when it put someone else in danger.
And if that person was a woman you loved …
“I’ll make some coffee. Or tea.”
She was talking fast; he knew she was upset, although that probably wasn’t half the word to describe it. He wanted to hold her closer, tell her how much he loved her….
And because he wanted that more than anything, he let go of her and got to his feet.
Quickly, because he didn’t want too much time to think, he grabbed for his clothes and put them on. Shorts. Socks. Jeans.