"That would be nice," I tell him and climb into the spot he had made for me, the mattress already alerting me to the good night’s sleep I'll probably be getting soon.
This definitely isn't the standard issue one brought in here for staging purposes...no this is one of those expensive mattresses that only rich people have.
I should brush my hair out and see if Miller got any leave-in conditioner, but my body is too thrilled to be horizontal, and the second my towel-covered head hits the pillow, my eyes close.
"This is the most comfortable bed I've ever been in," I mumble into the pillow.
"Yeah?" Alec settles in the chair next to me and I reach out toward him.
He takes my hand between his, and I lie there silently, listening to the faint in and out of his breaths.
It isn't long until I fall asleep, but it also isn't long until the nightmares start.
32
MILLER
Cora has been asleep for a very, very long time.
I study her chest as it rises and falls and watch for any sign of distress.
She's woken several times, but never enough to keep her awake long. No, she's startled by her own whimper or quiet scream, a gasping breath, and then frantically, she looks for me, grabs onto my hand, and falls back into a deep slumber.
Every single time it breaks my heart a little more, and I worry that my presence isn't enough to rid her of those demons haunting her.
I lie here with her far longer than I'm ever known to be in bed, but I can't fathom leaving her, not when the only thing that seems to calm her is my simply being here.
Alec left, and Silver came and went, both coming into the room to stare at our sleeping beauty and no doubt contemplate murder as they take her in.
It's bound to happen, soon enough—one of us finally reaching the depths which we can handle before ending this once and for all.
Cora stirs, her face pinching together like she's in pain.
"Shh," I whisper and tug her tighter to my chest.
She lets out a soft cry, and her eyes flutter open, her gaze darting until she settles on me. This time is unlike the last, almost like she's really awake instead of the in-between she's been stuck in all night and morning.
"Hey." She yawns, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. "What time is it?"
I remove my arm from around her to check my watch. "After two."
"In the morning?"
I tuck her ratty hair behind her ear. "No, two p.m."
She sits up abruptly and glances around like that's going to somehow change what time it is. "Holy shit, why did you let me sleep so long?"
I reach for her hand and fall short. "I think you needed it, Cor."
Cora hops out of bed and flinches, her palm quickly covering her side. "Fuck."
"You're working from The Wellerton today, remember?" I pat the spot she just left. "Get back into bed. But take your medicine first."
She follows my pointed finger to the nightstand where a water and pain reliever sit. Alec told me she fell asleep before she could take any last night, her tolerance for discomfort clearly no match to her level of exhaustion.
Cora swallows two of the pills and downs about half the glass of water before climbing back in with me.
I hold out the blanket for her and tuck her in, my head propped up on my hand as I rest on my side.
