35. I Need You

"I'm not going anywhere," Antonio said firmly, and Valerie released a sigh of relief. Thank god this man was as stubborn as he was kind.

Kind. It was such a strange word to describe Antonio. A few weeks ago, she would have never thought to use that word for him.

"You will stay?" she asked weakly.

He shifted beside her, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from her face with a tenderness that belied the harshness she had come to associate with him. "Yes, my love. I thought you said Julian never hurt you," he said softly, though she could hear the anger in his voice.

"He didn't," she lied.

"Then care to tell me who you were pushing away in your nightmare? Who had you terrified like a little girl?" Antonio asked, pulling her onto his lap.

"I...no one," she said. She didn't want to talk about Julian or anyone with Antonio right now.

"Valerie," he started.

Valerie's voice rose in desperation. "I don't want to talk about it with you, okay?" she nearly screamed. Hot tears started to flo