Page 69 of Dearest Protector
Something was eating at him, and I was determined to get to the source of his quietness and broodiness.
Ben had started going into the headquarters now that I was able to get around on my own, but I was pretty sure his issues weren’t about work.
Work had never gotten to him like this previously.
“Ariel!”
My body stilled as I heard the strangled shout coming from Ben’s room.
He sounds like he’s in some kind of pain!
His bedroom was right next door to mine, which had been something he’d done on purpose so he could be close to me after my surgery.
He’d wanted to be within shouting distance for me, just in case I needed something at night when I’d been unable to bear any weight on my foot.
I scrambled out of bed, my heart racing.
“Ben,” I said breathlessly.
Something was wrong.
I didn’t stop to worry about the fact that I was in my pajamas, which consisted of a skimpy, thin pair of black sleep shorts with a matching scooped neck tank.
My only thought was to make sure that Ben was okay.
His tone when he’d called out my name had been urgent and tormented.
I flew to his bedroom as quickly as my healing foot would take me there, and then pushed the door completely open that he’d left ajar.
The lights were all off in his room, but his shutters were open. When I turned on the light in the hallway, it completely flooded his bedroom. I could see him lying in the middle of his enormous king-size bed, fighting with his covers like they were his enemy.
“Ariel! No! Don’t!” he cried out urgently.
“Ben?” I questioned softly as I approached the bed, suddenly realizing that he was dreaming.
Or was it a nightmare?
Apparently, whatever he was dreaming about wasn’t pleasant, and it obviously involved…me.
I turned on a soft light on the bedside table and climbed into his bed without a second thought. I touched his shoulder gently as I said a little louder voice, “Ben! Wake up.”
I couldn’t possibly leave him like this.
When he didn’t wake, I stroked a hand through his hair, like I could calm him down that way.
God, even in his tortured dreams, he was gorgeous. His ripped upper body was completely bare.
He tossed onto his side, his face far from serene in sleep.
Stop gawking and wake his ass up, Ariel! Whatever he’s dreaming about isn’t pleasant.
I stopped all attempts at being gentle as I shook his shoulder roughly. “Ben!” I said in a more demanding tone. “Wake up!”
He suddenly sat up in the bed and took a heaving breath, “Fuck! Ariel?”
I watched as confusion flooded his expression, and then finally…relief.
“I’m here,” I told him as I wrapped my arm around his massive shoulders. “Everything is fine. I think you were having a nightmare.”