TheHealers Read Free

in hard gasps. Air dried over my lips as I attempted to pierce the quiet, but no shriek came. I was frozen. The heels of my feet dug into the bed with fervor as my back collided with the headboard.
    Nowhere to escape.
    Did the nightmare come from my head or the snakes? Their power spoke to mine. These were not ordinary snakes. That much, I knew. I couldn’t face them, I wasn’t ready. My magic healed. How would I battle something that hurt? They called to me like a dare, but, I knew better. Like a child with a nightmare, I buried my head under the sheets and kicked until it all went away.
    Leo’s arms wrapped around me until the kicks and shivers stilled. A nightmare.
    “Shhh. I’m here, nothing will hurt you.” His body locked over mine in a protective hold.
    My eyes opened to sunlight peeking through the windows. Our eyes met. Embarrassment shadowed over my cheeks. At my age, nightmares made me feel juvenile.
    “I’m sorry. It’s just that sometimes I have crazy dreams.” No need to go into details. I didn’t want to scare him off the first night we had sex. I did want him to get me naked again. The lust warmed over my body. The love would come later. It had to. This man that loomed over me right now melted my heart with his gaze. The blue in his eyes shone with fire as he regarded my body covered only in his sheet.
    “Do you want to tell me about the nightmares?” I hadn’t said anything about nightmares had I? Although, I guess the trembles gave me away. I couldn’t share these with anyone.
    “No.” A quiet word, but unwilling to bend.
    “Layna.” A soft sigh escaped his mouth. “Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.”
    “I’m glad you’re here.” Leo had always been my rock. I placed a hand on his chest. It flexed from my touch.
    “Wow.” His voice lingered in my ears and the adoration in his eyes spread heat throughout the bed. He had a fair to tan complexion that balanced well with the dirty blond locks on his head. They were scattered now and his hand instinctively went up to his head to comb them out.
    I brought my body closer to his and wrapped myself around him and the sheets as best as I could. My soft ivory skin looked like a reflector next to his tan skin.
    “I can’t believe we finally did this,” he said with a mischievous grin on his face. I saw the excitement grow as the crinkles in his eyes grew deeper.
    “I’m the happiest guy on the planet right now. Do you even realize how trapped you are for life? I’m addicted now.” His words paused as his hands grabbed at my ass. “Are you going to say anything? Is this okay? I mean, you feel good, right?” The nervous questions started to spill out of his lips so I decided to save him. I didn’t think I’d ever seen this much emotion so blatantly on his face. Leo’s good looks gave him a confident air. I took a little guilty pleasure as I watched him squirm.
    “I’m just savoring this moment.” It was so simple. Really it was. Something held me back. I had told him last night that I trusted him, because, I knew everything about him. Belatedly, it occurred to me that Leo probably thought he knew everything about me too.
    He didn’t. Some things I couldn’t tell anyone.
    His gaze hovered over me expectantly while waiting for me to continue.
    “How does a girl get so lucky?” I breathed in his ear. Then I saw the joy come to his face, first in his lips as they quirked up in a smile and then in his eyes as they grew wide and serious and then got crinkles in the corners as they smiled, too. Could I ever have someone that knew everything about me?
    Our lips joined in a kiss that had guarantees of a lot more than that when my phone rang. Because of my job, I usually had to answer the phone. I never knew when a mental breakdown would require my services with the hospital or the police. A quick glance at the phone told me it was Cameron.
    “I guess you’re going to answer it,” Leo surmised, but did have a tinge of regret in his