I was so fucking happy rightnow that nothing in the world could have dampened my mood.
As the last of theaftershocks faded, I helped Miles ease himself down onto my chest and wrappedmy arms around him, breathing a huge, deeply-satisfied sigh.
This was perfect. Aftereverything we’dgone through, this was the reward we deserved.
We both lay there until ourbreathing evened out, skin cooling except for where we were pressed againsteach other.
I never wanted to moveagain. This was the happiest I ever remembered being.
“I love you too,” Milesmurmured, shifting to look me in the eyes. “And your ass.”
I snorted. After all thethings I’dsaid about Miles’ ass, I deserved that.
Hell, I’d wear it as abadge of honor. My cute little boyfriend loved my ass.
“Makes two of us,” I said,sliding my hand down Miles’ back and giving his butt another good squeeze. Iwasnevergoing to gettired of that.
“I’m gonna have ahand-shaped bruise in the morning,” he said, and it wasphrasedlike acomplaint, but the fact that he was grinning the whole time kind of ruined theeffect.
“Yep.” I grinned right back.“And on plenty of future mornings, too.”
Miles’ eyes lit up,and I knew in that moment that he was mine.
Somehow, impossibly, hewanted me to stay.
I wasn’t sure how I’d gottenso lucky, but I planned to hang onto it with both hands.
“I can live with that,” hesaid. “I’ve been thinking about getting one of those adjustable sit-standdesks, anyway.”
Laughing, I rolled us bothover and pinned Miles under me, my heart swelling as he looked up withexcitement and just the faintest trace of lust in his eyes, and no fear at all.
He knew I was a teddy bear.As long as that meant I got to stay in his bed, I didn’t mind.
“Good,” I murmured, leaningin to brush my nose against his. “Because you’re gonna need it.”
THIRTY-THREE
MILES
I'D NEVER REALLY gotten over hating hospitals—especially cancer wards—since I’dbeen a kid, but for my mission today, I was willing to brave this one.
Besides, Gray was rightbeside me. As long as I had him, I could do anything.
He’d been incredible while I’dnavigated my way through all the fallout from John’s scheming. We’d had to shutthe trial down after all, but we’d managed to hold off until the kids we’dstarted with got their final treatments, and that was the best I could hopefor.
It looked like all of themwould be better off for it, so I was hopeful that the company would be willingto give the research another chance.
Therehadbeen proof,after all. Jimmy had saved the day, and I still had mixed feelings about that.He’dalso quit, which saved me the dilemma of trying to decide whether or not Iwanted him fired.
I didn’t, really, but Iwasn’t sure I’d ever be entirely comfortable working in the same building withhim again. The fact that he’d resigned told me that he understood that, and Iwas grateful to him for it.
He’d be fine. He was smart andhard-working, and he didn’t need us.
“You okay?” Gray asked as westepped out of the elevator on the floor we were headed for. “Kinda quiet.”
“I’m thinking,” Miles said. “Abouthow supportive you’ve been and how glad I am that you’re not sick of me yet.”
Gray held out his hand inoffering, and I didn’t need any more convincing than that to take it. The warm pressof his fingers against mine had quickly become my number-one source of comfort.
