Beneath Dark Skies (Rolling Hills Ranch #1)

49. Farron

FORTY-NINE

FARRON

EARLY MORNINGS & CINNAMON HOODIES

Day 444

As I rouse from the grip of a forgotten nightmare, the darkness of the early morning envelops me, casting shadows across the room. I can sense the remnants of last night's turmoil lingering in the corners of my mind, but I push them aside.

With a heavy sigh, I rise from the warmth of the bed, my movements sluggish with sleep. The sight of the discarded clothes on the floor in the bathroom serves as a stark reminder of the events that transpired just hours ago. My mind immediately takes me to Jay, and I feel the spike of anxiety that I knew would come. I don’t know how I’m going to face him in the daylight after what I did or how he’ll be able to forgive me. I quickly avert my gaze, unwilling to dwell on the memories that threaten to resurface, wanting to sleep just a few more hours.

Slipping back under the covers, Magnum curls up beside me, his comforting presence a welcome distraction, his chest's steady rise and fall a soothing lullaby in the darkness. Gently, I stroke down his back, my fingers trailing over his fur in a silent gesture of reassurance. As I nuzzle my chin against the fabric of Kenji's hoodie, I'm enveloped in the lingering scent of warm cinnamon—a tangible reminder of his presence earlier, even in his absence now .

Memories of last night flood my mind, fragments of moments of intimacy. My thoughts drift to the tattoos that adorned his chest and shoulders, tattoos I didn’t know he had. Then there was the way he held me—the warmth of his embrace, the gentle strength of his arms encircling me. In that moment, I felt safe and protected, as if nothing in the world could harm me. The memory of his touch lingers, an echo of comfort that I never imagined I would feel from Satan.

But it's not just his words or his touch that haunt me—it's the feel of his body beneath mine, the way our souls seemed to intertwine in the darkness. I can still recall the heat of his skin against mine, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoing in the silence. It was a moment of connection, of shared vulnerability, as he apologized to me and told me stories of his life.

As sleep claims me once more, I drift into a haze of daydreams, my thoughts consumed by the memory of Kenji's touch. I ache for his presence again, but I resign to my imagination, pretending that he’s still here, watching over me while I sleep.

Even as I surrender to my exhaustion, I know that the sun's rise will also bring reality—a reality I'll have to confront, whether I'm ready or not.