Consume Me by Kailin Gow Page A

said anything.”
    “But they were just nightmares.  Why are you still so affected by them?”
    She shrugged.  “I don’t know.  The sensations I feel while trapped in that darkened nightmare stay with me long after I wake up; this feeling of being enclosed and unable to get out, of being hungry and thirsty and cold; the feeling that I’ll never be found and never able to get out.  When I was in middle school, a boy brought me to the closet in his room to kiss me.  He never had a chance.  The moment he closed the door I just freaked.”
    Errol pulled her into his arms.  “My poor baby.  I hate to see you so out of sorts.”  He wanted to ask more questions, but she’d already begun to tremble.  “Don’t go back to that dark place,” he coaxed, trying to bring her out of the black nightmare that haunted her so much.  He never would have thought simply talking about it would make her tremble again. As he held her in his arms, he knew that whatever he could do to help her get over it, he would. She was the most precious person in his life, and it surprised him how much he ached to see her so frightened like that. All he wanted to do was to hold her tight and make sure she would be safe.
     

 
     
    Chapter 14
     
    Errol
     
    W hile part of him regretted questioning her at all, another part of him wanted to know more about this uncontrollable fear she had.  He was happy she’d opened up as much as she had.  Knowing the intensity of this paralyzing fear was a major advantage.  He’d now be better prepared to help her with her fear and to avoid situations that could spark hysterics.  But as she continued to tremble in his arms, he wished he could simply console her for the remainder of the flight.
    Gentle sobs shook her as he passed his fingers through her hair.  Feeling helpless, he simply held her while murmuring soothing words.
    For a man who’d known such heartache, he could certainly understand the difficulties of letting go of a long ago ghost.  He knew all too well how fear could cling to a soul, how the desolation and hunger of a child constantly left a man’s belly feeling in need of nutrients.  Those years of loneliness before finding his nana could have scarred him so much more than they had.  So what had happened in Taryn’s childhood to make such a horrific nightmare cling to her to the point of affecting her so physically?
    She seemed completely unaware as New York’s skyscrapers came into view.  She didn’t bat an eye as the plane made its descent to the airport.  And when passengers got up, collected their carry-ons, Tar remained immobile.  Errol had to physically pull her out of her seat and guide her off the plane.
    “Do you need some medical assistance,” the conscientious flight attendant asked.
    Errol shook his head.  “She’ll be all right as soon as I can get her home.  Thank you.”
    As they waited for their luggage, he called to have his sports car brought around.
    “I don’t have any luggage,” Tar droned as she stood at his side.  “I only had the carry-on.”
    Startled to hear her speak after a prolonged and tortured silence, Errol looked at her.  “Tar, you feeling okay now?”
    “I want to go home, Errol.”
    “It won’t be long.  I’ll get my bags and I’ll bring you straight to Sam’s.”
    He mentally set aside the plans he’d had for them.  After such a long and tense flight, he longed to curl up with her in bed.  He longed to hold her tight, to feel her skin against his, to kiss every inch of flesh, but his carnal need of her would have to wait.
    As he waited for his luggage to make its way down the conveyor belt, Tar leaned heavily into him and he could feel her exhaustion.  The weekend had been difficult and she was now paying the price.  Hopefully being home would have her back to her cheerful self in no time.
    With his luggage in hand, he led her out to his car.
    “Do you think your mom will still be at Sam’s?” he asked, not so