Chapter 37 #2
He sighs faintly, almost like he’s aware of the effect he has and is uncomfortable with it, but the longer I hold his gaze, the more a glint of amusement shows itself.
Fingers brush against my wrist, encircling it, and then he pulls me to him. There’s a pause as if he’s giving me one more chance to change my mind, but my resolve must show because the next thing I feel is a light tap on my forehead.
“Sleep, Little Thief.”
The word sinks into me, threading through my mind like a whisper of silk. My eyelids flutter shut, and I drift in the in-between, tethered to the world by the pulse of his presence.
“All of your fear, all the anxiety, it’s dissolving. It has no place here,” he explains quietly. “Because… you’re safe. Completely at ease. Being in a car feels natural, comforting, even. It’s your favorite place to be.”
With each word, a soothing calm spreads through me, slowly replacing jagged fear and anxiety. His voice seems to be rewriting the fear, replacing it with something soft, something I can sink into.
“Every time you ride in a car, you feel free,” he continues, the gentle rhythm of his words weaving a cocoon around me.
“There’s nothing to fear. The car is your escape, a place where you feel at peace, in control, and completely safe.
You love the feeling of the road beneath you, the hum of the engine.
Riding in a car is freeing, something you look forward to. ”
His words sink in, and I feel myself leaning into the suggestion, accepting it, letting it settle deep.
“Whenever you step into a car, you feel that same ease,” he whispers. “It’s like slipping into a favorite place. Safe, familiar, calm. Wake up.”
His hand is still holding my chin, and I open my eyes, finding his gaze focused on me. There’s a softness in his eyes, something tender and unexpected, and it’s impossible to look away.
“How do you feel?” he quietly asks as if he’s afraid the spell he’s woven around me might be too fragile, and it might break.
I take a deep breath, assessing the newfound sense of calm inside me. “Better.”
Koen’s mouth curves into a small smile, something proud flickering in his eyes as he watches me.
“Just remember this feeling. Tomorrow, if you start to feel panicked, you’ll come back to this.
I’ll be there with you in your head, keeping you safe.
” I nod, and Koen finally releases me, stepping away as he teases, “Well, that was easy.” He crosses his arms as he raises an eyebrow at me.
“A little suggestion and look at you… calm as anything.”
His smugness makes me laugh. “Yeah, well, maybe you’re just as easy. Has anyone ever tried to hypnotize you?”
“Never. But I showed you how it’s done, didn’t I?” He steps back into my space. “Go on. Give it a try.”
I narrow my eyes, my hand reaching out to take his wrist, pulling him even closer as I stretch up and tap his forehead with mock solemnity. “Sleep.”
One corner of his mouth quirks up. “Nice try.”
I scowl, undeterred, and try again, this time with a little more intensity. “Sleep.”
Koen’s grin widens, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He’s obviously thoroughly entertained by my efforts, not budging an inch.
Looks like I need to bring out the big guns.
I grab a fistful of his shirt and tug him down to my level. The sudden pull makes his hair fall forward and tease my cheek as I lift my hand, gently pushing the stray strands behind his ear. The curve of his hearing aid catches my attention for a split second, my eyes flicking up to his.
He regards me intently as I take a breath, letting the moment settle between us, then I lift my fingers to his forehead. The touch is feather soft, deliberate. “Sleep,” I whisper, mimicking that low, commanding tone he used on me.
A flicker of something passes through his eyes before it melts into a slow, indulgent smile.
His arm snakes around my waist, and he pulls me flush against him.
“Not bad,” he murmurs, his gaze dipping to meet mine.
“You know, I was a little jealous Saturday,” he admits, changing topics abruptly.
“When I saw you dancing with Nicholas like this.”
I blink up at him, caught off guard by the admission. “You were?”
“Yeah.” He grins, his hand pressing against the small of my back, keeping me close. “I like to dance.”
The way he says it makes me scowl in mock annoyance. “Liar, you didn’t dance at all at the club.”
“Wasn’t really in the mood after what went down.”
Is he talking about me getting hurt?
“Is that so?”
“And it wasn’t my kind of music.” He lets go of me, then walks back toward the Bronco. A moment later, music starts, a country song filtering through the quiet.
“So, what do you say?” Koen steps toward me and extends his hand, his brown eyes warm and inviting under the soft glow of the headlights. “Will you dance with me?”
The rush of emotions that bombard me at the question are a tangled mess, too many and too intense, but the thought of pushing him away is a weight I can’t lift right now. Falling into him, letting myself lean into this moment feels so much easier.
Maybe even inevitable.
When I realize the song he chose is a slow song, one about slow dancing in a parking lot, I take the final step and slide my hand into his. He wastes no time as he pulls me close, his arm wrapping around my waist as we were before, and we begin to sway.
This isn’t the dancing I did with Nicholas, all practiced moves and flirtation, or with Sylus, untamed and electric. Dancing with Koen is gentle, close, like an embrace. Our steps are small and slow.
As the chorus starts, he pulls me even tighter, his beard brushing against my temple as he kisses the side of my head. “I’m proud of you, my Little Thief,” he murmurs. “For doing your job so well. For pushing yourself, even when it’s hard. For staying and trying with us.”
The praise wraps around me, and I melt into his embrace, truly letting myself fall into the comfort and protection it provides.
His vanilla scent fills my nose, and I can’t help but wonder how he knows exactly what I need to hear.
It’s like he saw the part of me that’s been drowning and found the perfect words to help me breathe again.
I close my eyes and rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
For a long time, there’s nothing but the music, his scent, and his arms wrapped around me.
I simply let myself be here, held and safe, allowing everything else to fade into the background.
Eventually, my movements noticeably grow slower, soothed by the extended comfort.
Koen chuckles, glancing down at me tenderly.
“Are you falling asleep on me?” I mumble something incoherent in response, barely able to keep my eyes open. His huff of laughter bristles my hair as he brushes it back over my shoulder. “You’re precious, you know that?”
A thrill runs through me, waking me up a little.
He tilts up my chin, catching my gaze, and I blink up at him, feeling half-dazed, maybe from the hypnosis or our extended closeness.
“We still need to see if the hypnosis worked at least a bit before I can take you to bed.” A teasing glint in his eyes makes my pulse pick up, and sudden warmth unfurls between my legs.
Fuck.
“Okay,” I say, clearing my throat, trying to sound awake and unaffected.
“How about we drive over to the food market? I could grab some Twinkies or something. I haven’t really eaten today.
” He frowns at that, but I continue rambling before he can say anything.
“I’ll share, don’t worry. And hey, the fact that I’m even thinking about food right now? Good sign your hypnosis worked.”
“I’m a good cook.”
“I can do a one-eighty on a skateboard.”
“What?” His brow furrows as he stares at me in confusion.
“Oh, sorry,” I explain. “I thought we were stating random facts.”
He makes an amused sound deep in his throat but then smiles. “How about this, instead? We grab some ingredients, and I’ll cook you something back at your place. Call it a reward for being so brave tonight.”
I lift an eyebrow, pretending to consider it. “What do you cook?”
“What do you like?”
“Pasta.” God yes. “With lots of cheese.”
He nods seriously, like he has accepted a challenge. “Done.” He kisses my temple, then takes my hand, leading me back to the Bronco. His hand in mine feels as steady as his heartbeat, giving me that same feeling of comfort.
As he opens the door for me and helps me in, it takes a moment to register what I’m feeling, or rather, not feeling. There’s no panic, only a gentle flutter in my chest. In utter shock, I realize the nerves are there, but they’re muted.
Settling in, I instinctively reach for the bracelet around my wrist, lightly tracing its surface. The smoothness of the metal grounds me even more, sending the nerves even further into the background.
Koen sits in the driver’s seat and starts the car, then squeezes my knee affectionately before returning his focus to the road. Every few minutes, his attention drifts to me, his gaze meeting my steady, if slightly nervous, smile.
I keep playing with the bracelet, the rhythm of my touch syncing with the hum of the engine, helping me stay present.
“It’s way better.” It’s still not like this is my comfort place or where I want to spend my time, but I think if it stays like this, I might be able to have this date tomorrow without embarrassing myself. “How did you know what to say?”
“I just told you how I feel about driving.”
For the rest of the ride, I don’t look at the streets. I look at him, the man who gave me a piece of himself to heal something I thought could never be repaired, and something happens that has my heart rate picking up speed for entirely new reasons.
For the first time in years, I genuinely smile while sitting in a car.
Because of him.