Page 60 of Toxic Kiss

He rolls his eyes at my poor attempt at humor.

“No. It’s just…”

He doesn’t finish. He just looks away and refuses to let go of me. I lean in and kiss the back of his hand, letting the beeps, the IV drip, and the quiet hold us.

“I think you should just get some rest. The doctor will want to talk to you soon.”

“Please don’t go.”

I search his face and swallow hard.

“Cy…you know I’m engaged.”

“And I know he’s a fucking prick and doesn’t deserve you. Please stay.”

“You just said please twice.” I joke, choosing to ignore the first part of that statement and to hide the torrent of emotions swirling in my chest.

Asshole. He always knows how to pull me back into his orbit, which is as damaging as the sun’s surface. I get burnt every time. Apparently, I haven’t learned from my mistakes.

He doesn’t smile, smirk or laugh. I’ve never seen him like this before, and the fact that he isn’t shrugging it off or telling me to go fuck myself scares me more than the collapse itself.

“Okay, I’ll stay,” I finally say.

His eyes flick up to meet mine. “Even though I don’t deserve it?”

I snort. “Has there ever been a time you deserved it?”

“No. No, definitely not.”

My smile falters as he closes his eyes. A tear slides down his cheek, but I look away and smooth his sheets. Pulling the chair closer, I lay my head on the bed and close my eyes. My body stills as he rubs his thumb over my jaw.

“Cy.”

“What? I’m behaving. I just need the contact.”

“I’d hate to see you not behaving,” I mumble, hating myself for loving his touch. I soak it up like it is a drink of water I’ve been dying to taste.

“Yeah, you’d look really fucking hot in a hospital gown riding my cock.”

I sit up. “Okay, that’s it. I can’t do this.”

Cy snatches my hand before I can escape.

“I’m sorry. It was supposed to be funny.”

“Jesus. I got two pleases and an ‘I’m sorry.’ You really are sick.”

He refuses to let go and just stares at me with those icy blue eyes that I can still see as clear as day despite the lights being off.

God, why am I so weak when it comes to this man?

I relax, and he links our fingers together. Giving in to the exhaustion, I put my head down and use our hands as my pillow.

“Want to lie beside me?”

“Don’t press your luck,” I say, making him chuckle.

“Had to try.”