“That was a mistake,” he says, voice low and strained. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
My lips still tingle.
My heart is racing for a different reason now.
“It didn’t feel like one,” I whisper.
His eyes flash.
“Go to sleep,” he says again, rougher now. Like he’s saying it to himself as much as to me.
He rolls onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.
I’m still on my side, facing him.
The distance feels wrong. Too sudden. Too cold after the heat.
His profile is sharp in the low light. Jaw tight. Throat working once like he’s swallowing something back.
I don’t think. I just move.
I shift closer and rest my cheek against his chest, careful. Testing.
He goes still.
Then his arm comes around me again. Firm. Protective. His palm spreads between my shoulder blades, holding me in place like he’s anchoring himself as much as me.
My pulse is still fast.
But it’s not from fear anymore.
His heartbeat thuds steady under my ear. Solid. Real. Alive.
When sleep finally takes me, it’s with my fingers curled into his cut over his ribs and his arm locked tight around me, like letting go would cost him something he’s not ready to name.
Chapter 5
Doc
Iwakebeforethesun is up.
Habit.
The room is dim, gray light just starting to edge through the curtains. Carly is curled toward me, one hand fisted in the edge of my cut like she fell asleep guarding it.
Her breathing is steady. No tremors. No panic jerks.
Good.
I don’t move at first. I just watch her.
And I’m very aware of the way my body responded the second I woke up.
It’s been years since I’ve woken up so hard. I should regret that kiss more than I do.
I ease her hand from my cut carefully, sliding out from under her. She stirs, murmurs something soft, then settles again.
I step into the bathroom and shut the door.
