Bear it All Read Online Free

Taking watch downstairs, he grabbed a blanket and laid on his favorite easy chair before closing his eyes.
    *****
    Grey walking into the room watching Cece cry in her sleep. She was repeating herself over and over and he knew she was dreaming about her encounter. Laying on the bed next to her, he picked her up so her head was resting on his chest. She seemed to calm down some and the crying stopped. She unconsciously started to snuggle closer before settling in. Something so simple seemed to calm his bear. Unable to stop himself, he ran his hand up and down her arm until her breathing evened out and she was back asleep. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep, he reached over and pulled out a book from the top drawer of the nightstand. He and Sam would be the laughing stalk of their families had they known they both were closet nerds. He enjoyed good medical journals along with trending business opportunities, were Sam, he was the numbers person. Grey used to joke he was a mini Rain Man. But it helped them get the bar and the house they have now. Sam was big into stocks and bonds and knew where money should go following the trend. It paid off when they hit one and doubled their income.
    Flicking on the small light next to him, he made sure it was set low so Cece could sleep while he read on. He did his best to concentrate on the words on the page as he read over a study of adults who were searching for pills to make them look younger through natural remedies. It really wasn’t his type of study, but it was something. Before he knew it his eyes had started to close, he shook his head to try to snap out of it, but it didn’t seem to work to well.
    He must have fallen asleep as the sound of whimpering woke him. Opening his eyes he was first confused as to why he was in the guest room, and then he remembered. He looked next to him and saw that Cece wasn’t in bed. Snapping his eye open all the way, he jumped out of bed looking for her. He called out her name and nothing. He heard movement from the bathroom and automatically opened the door.
    Cece gasped as she held her oversized sweater to her chest.
    “Um…sorry, I will be right out.” She lowered her head to avoid looking him in the eyes.
    “Do you need some help, love? Leave it off for now, I need to look at the wounds to see how they healed.” She stood still, rooted to the spot she stood in. Grey didn’t bother asking her if it was okay as he walked in and stood behind her. The welts had gone down some, but he saw several other scars from before. This wasn’t her first time. He ran his hand along some of the bruising, causing her to gasp.
    “Does it still hurt?”
    “Some, but I can handle it. I’m sorry I bothered you and your friend, but I really need to go. I have to be at work.” She went to put the sweatshirt on and he could see that wasn’t going to be easy, and it was covered in her blood.
    “You need to stay here and talk to us. I can get you a clean shirt, follow me.” He grabbed her hand and started to pull her with him. She whimpered as he must have pulled to hard. “Oh, love, I’m sorry.” He slowed his steps as she followed in turn. Opening his door, he pulled her inside while he released her hand and found her a t-shirt. He knew it was going to be extremely large on her, almost like a dress, but it was clean and he could wash her clothes, or get her some that fit.
    Cece slipped the shirt on as she turned her back away from Grey, but that seemed to make matters worse as he growled when she winced from her ribs. Damn, Billy. She really was lost this time. She knew he would find her gone, but then again, she did have to open the library early this morning, so maybe he wouldn’t think anything. After the shirt was pulled on she started to leave, but Greyson stopped her. “We need to talk, Cece.”
    “There is nothing to talk about. I was…umm...jumped. Yeah, I was jumped. I just need to get to work and forget everything,” she lied.
    “You