Stray notes plucked at my heart strings as I drifted, floating in dreamland. Soft words accompanied the gentle plucking. That voice. So firm, so perfect, so soft...

Drifting on feathered wings.

Finally light woke me, real light, light from an unfamiliar doorway. I struggled to open my eyes and felt the way the blankets twisted around me, and knew I was unclothed beneath them. I never slept naked, naked. Had I just passed out?

I heard the familiar consistent reassurance of crashing waves outside. I was home. But where? In my living room? What were those odd shapes above me?

I turned and my vision coalesced into one heart stopping realization. I wasn't--- at--- home. I spasmodically clutched the blankets not remembering. And for one split second I was seized by terror. But then I forced myself to breathe calmly, in and out... assess my surroundings more carefully. I was on a couch. I swung my legs over the side. The door was slightly open, the fog had rolled in, the morning was cool, even cold.

Rafe Stryker was asleep, huddled into a freezing fetal ball on the floor next to his guitar. Dressed in sweats and a t-shirt... I glanced down at the tops of my uncovered breasts...unlike me.

Oh.... I think I must have moaned a little. He twitched, stretched, opened his eyes.

There was this moment of unreality. Dawn mist was just enough to not see every shadow, every hollow. Confusion sapped my strength.

"Morning pretty lady."

My mind struggled with this concept. Bad words... words I never ever say let alone think came to mind. "Morning." I said as if it couldn't possibly be.

He twisted into a sitting position. "Hey, you sleep okay? I didn't quite know what to do with you after you passed out."

"You couldn't have just woken me up?"

"Tried, didn't work. Obviously. You're fine here, I didn't mind. Although I'm kind of cold now." He eyed my blanket meaningfully before scooting over to the couch and backing up next to it. I looked around for more blankets and found one. I had to let go of mine to give him his, and he turned and his arm brushed mine as he reached for it. I scrambled back.

He chuckled as he wrapped himself carefully, and yawned. "Haven't had a real live sleepover for quite a while. In fact, haven't spent the night by myself in quite a while. A Friday night no less. It's five a.m." He pointed out, yawning again. "I have a nice warm bed right around the corner. You want to go back to sleep?"

I struggled to sit up. "I-- thank you for the massage."

"Oh! Haha! I didn't realize you knew it was me. I could tell you were uncomfortable with Virginia, so I just made her go. She was shit faced mad, but she got the message. I finished up on you, and probably did a better job, you floated into deeper sleep almost instantly. I've got the touch."

Beyond mortified.... I didn't know how to respond to that information, even to myself. Seriously? I had let--- allowed--- welcomed--- Rafe Stryker's massage? "Or I was just very, very tired." I answered feeling like an idiot for falling so deeply asleep on a massage table in a stranger's house.

He chuckled again and reached back to pat my leg. "Or that."

"I'm still really tired."

"I've got that room just--- right there."

I didn't know if I could make it that far, and at the same time knew, without a shadow of a doubt, I had to make it all the way across the sand back to my open doors... doors that had been open presumably all night--- and sleep there, and forget this ever happened. Oh my gosh, yes, forget this ever happened.

I was mortified.

He wasn't. "Hey." He turned to look at me. Our eyes met. He didn't mention what he saw, but I knew... bed head... hair a tangled mess, smeared make up all over the place, pale face--- dark circles. Oh my goodness.

Of course, he looked relatively perfect.

He grinned, reading my thoughts. "The bed is right there." He pointed with a covered hand. "Right through that door."

"And you?" I mumbled, clearing my throat. My eyes were watery like they always were in the mornings, I wiped across them, knowing I smeared more make up.

"Sure, I can come with. I'll keep you warm."

"That's not what I meant. Is it your room? Where will you go?"

"With--- you----." He seemed confused.

"Maybe in an alternate reality." I whispered, forcing my unsteady feet to bunch up under me. I eyed the sliding glass doors ahead. If I could just get up without losing the blanket. I dizzily swayed to my feet and stumbled the first few steps.

His strong arms instantly directed me, pushing me, no--- forcing me back toward that room.

"Just stay." He urged. "It's okay."

"I have to go, but thank you." I managed, voice still croaking, brain still on auto fog. I think I tried again for the door.

He didn't take no for an answer. I felt those same rock hard arms scoop me and my blankets up as if we were tangled feathers and then his whiskers brushed my cheek as he foot nudged open the bedroom door. The room was noticeably warmer. I felt the heat as it permeated my shivering body. My feet felt like ice, I clutched the blanket around me.

He had a gentle quality about him... I was deposited on the bed, as he pulled back the blankets and covered me carefully, tucking all the way around me. Almost instantly the warmth from an electric blanket also overwhelmed me. My eyes peeked out at him and he stared at me frankly.

"You're okay, baby girl, go back to sleep. I won't let anything hurt you."

That was a weird thing to say. But his eyes were so--- not rocker crazy. Not punk teenager. Not druggy or pervert. I'd never seen such amazingly gentle eyes. He simply looked at me, like he was trying to figure out if I was comfortable enough. Concern, real live concern was written in every line and every sinew. He wasn't like my image of the guy in the garage, the guy in the tae kwon do room, or the sexy guy on the massage table. In fact, this was a whole new expression, one that had been there underneath it all the whole time, the one that finally revealed the trust I'd allowed myself to feel right from the start.

He looked down. "Stay."

I closed my eyes. Whether he stayed in the room or not, I no longer cared. I drifted back to sleep, warm and cared for and very secure.

*******

Note:

To Carrie, thank you for believing in me and keeping my timelines straight. 

PS. Thanks to anybody who made it through the massive chapter one. Keep reading, it actually does get better!!!!!!

PPS: Thanks to my amazing artistic granddaughter, Cassidee (plus Mom) for the Chapter art---- I didn't even know the color of Rafe's kitty till you showed her to me!