Starlet Teaser

Gently, he tugged me up and we made our way up to our bedroom. When I saw our bed, I ran, quite pathetically, to the California king-sized mattress. Flopping down, I buried my nose in the white duvet cover. “This bed never looked so good,” I sang, coughing quietly.

“You’re telling me,” Edward snickered, removing his sling. “Staying in that hospital bed and then that uncomfortable chair? Ugh!”

“Edward, I told you to sleep in the hotel,” I chided gently.

“And I couldn’t be away from you,” he argued. He carefully but awkwardly crawled onto the mattress, cradling his arm to his body. “My nightmares came with a vengeance when I wasn’t glued to your side, Bella.” He gave me a sheepish look before laying down on his side of the bed. “I needed to know that you were safe. I knew that Jacob and Royce were dead and that James was never going to hurt us again since he was paralyzed and in custody, but I had to see you. If I didn’t, I got nervous and those nerves translated into nightmares and panic attacks.” His hand reached for mine and he threaded our fingers together. “It will probably be awhile before I feel comfortable not being by your side twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Separation anxiety?”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I murmured, curling up against his warm body. “All of this has made my night terrors reemerge from before and those feelings of dirtiness…” I shook off my thoughts. I was much better than I was from my first ordeal. I had moments of panic and fear, but I was able to talk myself down. It was when I was away from Edward that I struggled. So, I understood the separation anxiety.

“We’re one fucked up pair,” Edward snorted humorlessly.

“We are,” I groaned, coughing. The dry air of southern California was aggravating my chest. I missed the humidity of New York, but definitely not the cold. “But, I think that…that we’re going to be okay.”

“I don’t think. I know,” Edward said, rolling on his side and cupping my face. “It may be rough, but I’ll be with you. Every step of the way, love.”

“As I’ll be with you,” I smiled, kissing his soft mouth.