Clarrisa's POV

"What are you saying?" He finally breaks the awkward silence with a question. "Why will you be staying here instead of in your room?"

I bite my lip as I fidget with my hands. "I want to spend the night with you."

"Clarissa." He groans. "Do you hear what you’re asking me? I’m supposed to be your protector. You’re my adopted sister. How can I let you stay in the same bed with me?"

My eyes widen. "I know it sounds crazy, but I only want to sleep next to you tonight."

"Why?" He asks. "Why are you suddenly asking me for that? If anyone sees you here in bed with me, they will get the wrong idea. Especially Anya."

Where was Anya anyway? Was she even still at the party? I saw her when she ran after Damon. Why wasn’t she in here with him? How did he get her to leave him alone? She wasn’t someone to get rid of easily.

"I’ve had these nightmares recently," I lie. I’m using any excuse I can think of to get him to listen to me. A nightmare seemed like the best excuse for now. Damon usually listened to every word I said to him, and I hoped that he did the same tonight.

He straightens his back and stares at me with a worried look. It was working. My plan was working.

"Nightmares?" He asks.

I nod. Since when did I become this good at lying to him? I was this close to getting him to agree, I could feel it.

"It’s so bad. I wake up terrified almost every night with no one next to me. Tonight, I don’t want to be alone. Just for tonight, I’d like to be next to someone," I whisper. "And if I must choose, I choose you. No one else. Besides, everyone else is at the party, and I don’t want to disturb them."

And I also want to kiss you and hug you. That’s also what I wanted to say, but I’d already said too much for the night. I didn’t want to push my luck.

He runs a hand down his face. "Why didn’t you tell anyone about these nightmares before?" He demands. "How long have you been suffering by yourself?"

"I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone," I lie once more. I didn’t like lying to him, but I didn’t see any other way to get him to agree. Even I knew that I was asking for something quite insane. It would take a miracle for him actually to agree to this.

He sighs, "Clarissa, you know you can always come to me with any problems. I’ve always protected you from harm. At least I always try to protect you. I hate that you didn’t feel comfortable enough to tell me about this."

His words made me feel guilty about lying to him. He had no clue that I was making all of this up to get him to agree to sleep in the same bed as me.

"I know I can tell you anything," I promised him. Everything except my true feelings for him. And it turns out that’s the one thing I wish I could be open to him about.

My breath gets stuck in my throat when he gets up from the bed. My hands are shaking when he walks over to the door. Was he planning on leaving me inside here all alone? Was he that upset with what I was asking him to do?

I was shocked when I heard the lock on the door click.

He just locked the door with me inside. I turn to him in surprise.

"I had to lock the door," He explains. "If you’re staying the night in my bed, I can’t let anyone barge into my room and get the wrong impression. That could mess up your reputation and cause unnecessary trouble for the both of us."

I bite my lip and nod; I’m happy he’s even considering doing this for me.

"Does anyone know that you left the dance?" He asks me.

I nod, "I told Autumn. She thinks I’m in my room."

"That’s good," He says. "At least someone knows where you went; that means no one will come looking for you. They will think you’re sleeping. Besides, they should be preoccupied with the party."

Everything about this screamed wrong, but it also felt right.

"I’m going to spread some pillows in the middle of the bed. You can take one half, and I’ll take the other. That way, if you get one of those nightmares, I’ll be right next to you."

Pillows? Was he separating us with pillows? I didn’t want to be separated. I wanted to sleep in his arms.

I couldn’t come right out and ask him for that, however. I had to be smart about the entire thing.

I suddenly got a bright idea. I could pretend to be getting a nightmare. He’ll have no choice but to take me into his arms and remove the pillows between us. I didn’t think a nightmare could become so useful to me until now.

"Okay," I agree, pretending I was okay with his decision to separate us by pillows. I never thought I would dislike a pillow as much as I do now. He was so close to me yet still so far. Too far. I didn’t make up this lie and went through all of this just so that we would be sleeping so far apart. I had to fix this before this night ended.

"Are you comfortable?" He asks me as I settle into his bed. It felt incredible being in the same bed with him but at the same time, it wasn’t enough for me.

"Yes," I answer him. "But, can you turn off the lights?"

With the lights off, it can set the mood for us. I knew Damon would never do anything inappropriate with me but I was still doing everything I could think of.

He pauses, "wouldn’t the darkness make you feel more scared?"

I shook my head. "I actually can’t sleep with the light on."

He nods, "lights off."

The room immediately turns into darkness. I can’t see a single thing. But I could hear everything from the sound of his mini fridge right next to the bed to the wild beating of my heart.

I pretend to fall asleep next, waiting for the right opportunity to use the nightmare to my advantage.

I know Damon isn’t asleep. I can only hope that he doesn’t know I’m awake, also. I groan softly and thrash under the sheets. I’m trying to make this as believable as possible.

"Clarissa?" Damon whispers. I could hear the panic in his voice, and even though it made me feel guiltier, I continued.

I cry out, and he shoves the pillow away from us to pull me into his arms. I breathe in his scent as he runs a hand down my hair gently. "Shh," he tries to soothe me. "I’m here. I’m here, Clarissa. Nothing is going to hurt you. Not while I’m around."

"Damon?" I whisper.

"Yes." He answers me. "What’s wrong?"

"Can you hold me tighter, please?" I ask him.

He doesn’t say anything, but his arms tighten around me. I inwardly smiled in triumph. I finally had him the closest we’ve ever been, making me so happy.

"Your heart is racing," I whisper as I place my ear to his chest.

He swallows, "so is yours."

"I just had a nightmare," I lie.

"And I just had to witness you having one," he says.

I leaned closer to him and placed my nose at the base of his neck. He freezes at the contact.

"What are you doing?" He asks. His voice was strained, and he seems anxious as he waits for my response.

I inhaled deeply and almost fainted with happiness and contentment. "I’m smelling you," I say like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

"Why?" He croaks.

"Because you smell good," I answer without any hesitation. Damon inhales sharply at my words, but he doesn’t ask another question after that. I’m happy when he lets me smell him and doesn’t try to push me away. I always knew his scent was addictive, but tonight it was even stronger than in the past. Maybe it’s because I’m in his bed, where he always sleeps.

"Can I ask you a question?" I ask. I wasn’t sure where I was going with this, but I knew what I wanted.

"Anytime," he answers me.

"Did it upset you when you saw me with Ares tonight?" I blurt out. I knew I shouldn’t bring it up to him after we were having such a good time, but I still wanted to know the truth.

There’s a long pause as I wait for his response.

I think he stops breathing, but so do I. Should I have kept my mouth shut?