Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 57: Nightmare

As if Justin’s gentle words reached her sleepy mind, Natalie relaxed, her grip loosening. He carefully lifted her in his arms, repositioning her along the bed. As he adjusted the pillow under her head, her defenses fully melted away, her furrowed brows relaxing.

Without realizing it, she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, her hands instinctively reaching out to hold him, seeking comfort in his presence and scent.

Justin’s body tensed, his breath hitching as he looked down at her. Seeing her so comfortably sleeping, he didn’t want to move away and enjoy that unexpected closeness with her, but...

’She’s unaware of what she’s doing, but I’m wide awake,’ he reminded himself.

Gently, he released her hands from around him and settled her comfortably in the bed. Relieved that her sleep was not disturbed, he moved away and pulled the blanket over her. He moved the other side of the bed to sleep and slid under the same blanket as her, enough to cover them both despite having left a huge space between them.

Justin turned off the lights, leaving only the soft glow of the night lamp illuminating the room. Lying there, he stared up at the ceiling, feeling something strange and new.

It was the first time he had ever shared a bed with someone. He had no such memory with his father or grandmother or even friends. The experience was surprisingly comfortable and there was no sense of loneliness—something he had never realized he felt until now.

He turned to look at Natalie. In the dim light, Natalie’s face appeared serene, even more beautiful in her sleep, urging him to close that gap between them and hold her in his arms, leaving his mind to wonder how good it would feel to fall asleep while holding her soft and delicate body so close.

But as usual those would only remain his thoughts. Looking at her, he whispered softly, "Good Night, Natalie."

closed his eyes, unaware that the next morning new trouble was

-----

"Aiden! Aiden!"

him whole, pulling him deeper. Water rushed through his mouth and nose, filling his lungs, cutting off his air. His vision blurred, the light above the

He was drowning.

"Aiden! Aiden!"

only to be replaced by another.

face hovered above him, her warm hand resting over his. The contact grounded him, reminding him that he wasn’t drowning, that he wasn’t ten years old and fighting for his

gentle, like she was coaxing a frightened child back

in her voice pulled him from the remnants of the nightmare. He sat up, trying to shake off the vulnerability he felt. "I’m alright," he muttered, though

hand, still concerned. "Did you have a nightmare?" She asked, her eyes observing

and then looked back at her. He felt an unexpected need—maybe for more than just her presence, a comforting hug, something to hold onto.

she thought, staring at

Justin stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection. His face was pale, his hair damp with sweat as if he had truly been pulled under those stormy waters. His hands

thought bitterly. It always left him feeling broken, like something inside him had suffered a cruel and terrible

time, there was a difference. In the nightmare, a voice had been calling him Aiden from beyond the water’s surface, as if someone was desperately trying to