“Rest for a few hours,” I said gently. “There’s nothing and no one waiting for either of us. You can sleep knowing I’m just downstairs. No one will get past me, not even Ma or Pa. Maybe that’ll help you sleep better.”
Reid tapped his fingers together. “What if I want you to stay with me?”
“Ye don’t need to worry, Reid. I don’t need to be in the room to keep you safe.”
“I know, but…” He reached up to cup my face, his fingers following the same lines mine had traced. “You have the same bags, Ev. I hate to think how much sleep you’ve been missing to watch over me. Must be a lot considering you don’t even need that much in the first place.”
I didn’t deny it. That would mean lying to him, and I’d be damned before I’d do that. “It was worth it to keep you safe.”
“Hmm…” I could almost see him plotting. Heaven help us all if he and Logan got any closer. Carnage would be unleashed. “How fast can you shift if you’re woken from a deep sleep and think there’s danger nearby?”
I blinked, confused by his question. “Immediately. The adrenaline helps my brain process information faster. To be honest, my wolf is ready to go at all times these days, so it’d be no more than a split second. Why?”
“Perfect.” Reid beamed, not answering my question. Instead, he was scooting over to the other side of my bed. “Get in.”
Ah. “Do you want me to hold you until you’re asleep? Like we did last night?”
“Nope.” His jaw cracked as he yawned. “I mean, yes, Idefinitely want you to hold me. Preferably shirtless, if I get a vote, although I’ll take what I can get. But I don’t want you to leave when I’m asleep. I want you to sleep too.”
I hesitated. “Are ye sure?”
“Yes.” He patted the space beside him. “Come on, Ev. Don’t make me beg. You just said you don’t have anywhere to be. And you also said we need to find our way out of this fucking depression hole together. Who said we can’t do that by taking naps?”
“Well, when you put it like that…”
“I know.” He nodded solemnly. “I’m very wisdomous.”
“Is wisdomous a word?”
He hummed, his eyes barely open now. “Remind me to put it on the list.”
I reached over my head to grab the back of my shirt. I stripped it off in one movement, something that had Reid reaching down to press on himself with a whimper.
As fun as that would be to explore, I was acutely aware that my parents and their supe hearing were only a floor away. Besides, Reid was right. We both needed the rest.
Instead, I slid in beside him, lifting my arm and motioning.
Reid didn’t hesitate before tucking in close. When his cheek hit my pec, I think we both sighed in relief.
I cuddled him, wrapping my arms tight around him as I had the night before. It was almost perfect.
Then Reid threw his leg over my waist, and perfection was achieved.
Despite what I’d said to Reid, I hadn’t actually expected to sleep. I might have been exhausted, but I hadn’t missed that much rest. Not enough to take a nap in the middle of the day, surely?
I didn’t know if it was the quiet lullaby of his heartbeat, the gentle shapes he was tracing on my chest, or just having him in my arms. Whatever it was, it had my own eyes drifting closed.
I was hovering on the edge of sleep when I heard Reid murmur a question. “Why does this feel so right?”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled, pressing a sleepy kiss to the top of his head. “Maybe, instead of questioning it, we should lean into it.”
He was silent for so long that sleep swept back in. It took me under so fast that I wasn’t sure if I dreamed his reply or not.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
When I peeled my eyelids back, I felt more refreshed than I had in months.
Best of all, Reid was still in my arms.
