âIâ¦â Ariana hesitated.
Holden interjected, âIâve seen you naked before.
Just relax now.
â
As Holdenâs words sank in, Ariana felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks, coloring them crimson.
Memories of their last encounter in the bathroom, clouded by alcohol, rushed back, making her want to disappear beneath the waterâs surface.
She lowered her head, unable to meet Holdenâs gaze.
Holden couldnât help but chuckle at the sight of Arianaâs blushing cheeks, a playful glint in his eyes.
He started to cleanse the paint from her skin.
Ariana pressed her lips together, choosing to remain silent.
She relaxed into the moment, allowing the tranquility of the water and Holdenâs attentive care to wash away any lingering tension.
By using his strength properly, Holden wash the paint off Arianaâs body.
After Ariana finished showering, Holden couldnât contain his smile at the sight of Arianaâs flushed face.
He inquired, âWould you like to stay and sleep with me?â
âNo.
â Ariana snorted, her hand reaching for the doorknob as she prepared to step outside.
However, before she could make her move, Holden took a step forward, blocking her path and fixing his gaze on her.
âYou seemed scared earlier.
What if you canât sleep well on your own?â he said.
Todayâs events had left Ariana with a lingering fear that was hard to shake.
She hesitated visibly, uncertainty clouding her features.
Sensing her unease, Holden spoke softly.
âStay with me.
Iâve been restless lately and just want to hold you close.
â
Holdenâs words seemed to be a plea, yet it was evident he didnât plan to let Ariana leave no matter what.
Ariana sighed in resignation.
With a nod, she conceded and settled onto the bed in Holdenâs bedroom.
Observing Arianaâs acquiescence, Holdenâs face lit up with a gentle smile as he joined her on the bed.
He reached for a storybook on the bedside table and began narrating a tale to help Ariana drift to sleep.
Ariana, worn out from the dayâs events, found solace in the sound of Holdenâs voice.
She gradually succumbed to exhaustion, eventually drifting off to sleep in the warmth of his embrace.
Holden watched Ariana sleep, her breaths steady and peaceful, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Leaning in, he pressed a gentle ki*s to her forehead and whispered, âGood night.
â
Then, with Ariana nestled in his embrace, Holden closed his eyes and fell asleep.
In her dream, Ariana found herself back on the eerie, deserted street, haunted by a horde of grotesque corpses drenched in blood.
They crawled and sprinted after her relentlessly, sending a shiver of terror down her spine.
Ariana ran frantically, her heart pounding, but the nightmarish creatures multiplied, closing in on her until she was engulfed in their menacing presence.
âAh!â Ariana jolted awake with a sharp scream, her body drenched in sweat and her breaths coming in rapid gasps.
She remained in a daze, her heart racing from the intensity of the nightmare.
Holdenâs eyes flickered open as Arianaâs scream pierced the silence.
Concern etched across his face, he sat up and switched on the bedside lamp.
Wrapping his arms around her, he offered gentle comfort.
âWhatâs wrong? Did you have a nightmare?â he asked.
As Holden spoke, he soothingly patted Arianaâs back.
âItâs all right.
Iâm here with you.
Donât be afraid.
â
Nestled in Holdenâs embrace, Ariana remained unsettled by the earlier encounter.
Despite her attempts to relax, she couldnât fall asleep again.
Every rustle outside seemed amplified, keeping her in a state of restlessness as she tossed and turned.
Holding Arianaâs wrist gently, Holden asked, âAre you having trouble falling asleep?â
âYes,â Ariana admitted, tucking herself in closer to Holden in search of a sense of security.
However, despite her efforts, she remained flustered and unable to calm her racing thoughts.