I turn towards him.“I suspected as much.”
“What can I say?Some things come up in life.”
I laugh and sink down a little more, rolling onto my side.“So, that book?”
The Doctor reaches over to the bedside table, picks up the book, opens it to his bookmark, and starts reading.The moment he begins, calm washes over me.My breathing slows, the tension eases, and the pain in my chest becomes almost bearable.I feel safe again, and I think I can buy us a few more moments before the last one inevitably comes.
During the night,nightmares — vicious and familiar — drag me from sleep and leave me drenched in sweat.I try to sit up, but something holds me down: an arm hooked across my chest.
I blink, disoriented.I look down and see his hand, warm and fucking real, resting on my stomach.Then I remember: I’m in the Doctor’s bed, and he’s holding me close.His warmth seeps into me, his breath brushes my neck, and his hand, steady and protective, feels almost magical.
Without thinking, I slide my hand over his.I trace the lines of his palm, feeling the veins beneath my fingertips.A need I buried long ago surges up, and I lace my fingers through his.
The Doctor sighs and tightens his grip.
“I’ll do my best,” he whispers in his sleep.
I freeze as fear, panic, and the realisation that he’s already fighting for me flood in.The scariest part is, I’m letting him.
Chapter58
Martin
“Look who finally showed up.”Chris greets me with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, clearly teasing as she welcomes me into her café.“Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” I say as I sit down.
“If I hadn’t called you…”
I snort.“Can I get a coffee, please?”
“Rough night?”
“The usual.”
Chris pushes a cup towards me.
“Thank you, hon.”
“So how are things going?”
“We’re not talking about it,” I say flatly.
“About what?”she asks innocently.
“Please, Chris.I’ve known you for twenty years.”
“You should know by now: you either talk, or I get nosy.”
“Can I just drink my coffee in peace and talk about Evan’s birthday?”
“Evan can wait.”
“They’re going to give you Mother of the Year.”
“Oh, come on!You’re even worse than I am!”
“True.”
