Page 19 of Room One Hundred and Nineteen: Watching Her

“Miles?” I glanced over my shoulder only to look into his azure gaze. It was soft and tired. Somehow during my drama of the morning, I hadn’t noticed the dark circles under his eyes. Almost like he hadn’t been sleeping well.You and me both, buddy!

“Shh… rest. It’s going to be a long night.”

“Long night?” I whispered. “Aren’t you off?”

“You’re staying, so I’m staying, too.” He tucked me into him, my back flush against his front.

Ohmygod! Miles Jefferson is spooning me.

“Dr. Jeff—" I started to say because calling them doctor was the only way to remind myself of just how wrong this whole thing was. I’d seen doctors and nurses hook up in the past and it never, ever ended well. I didn’t need that kind of drama in mylife. Not to mention it wasn’t like I would even be able to choose who I would want between the three.

“Miles,” he corrected before he yawned. For some reason, that softened something inside of me, and my body relaxed. He was tired. By the looks of it maybe even more tired than I was.

“Miles, I should get my own bed,” I said without any real fight in my words.

“Maybe.“ I frowned. “But maybe you should stay here,” he said without letting me go. “Oh! I have something for you.”

“For me?” I asked just as his arm unclasped from my waist. He turned his strong, lithe body over, and before I knew it, he was back to holding me.

Only this time, he had brought something with him and rested it on my stomach. His hand pressed against it, and I felt it.Warm heat.I glanced down at the velvety lavender heating pad.

“A heating pad?” I asked like an idiot.Way to go, Captain Obvious.

“They help, right?” he muttered against my ear, and I broke out into goose bumps.

“Yeah, but––“

“Shh, I warmed it up for you. Sleep,” he ordered before pressing his lips to my temple. “Food will be here after our nap.” And just like that, tears spring to my eyes.

I wasn’t used to this.

Being taken care of was not something that had ever happened for me. Not without Rosie. I had no idea how this was my life. In less than two weeks, stuff that I only fantasized about had actually happened.

One moment, I was kissing Rick, half-afraid, half-hoping he’d never stop. And the next, Josh was letting me watch while he got himself off, confirming my suspicions of just how big he was. Now Miles was holding me close? Taking care of me, again and again, like it was no big deal. Making sure I had somethingthat helped with my cramps while he spooned me and kept dropping sweet kisses on my forehead and temple.

I couldn’t keep ignoring what was happening. My guys were up to something.

They’re not yours, the small sane part of me perked up.They aren’t mine.I didn’t know what was happening, much less which way was up. My life felt slightly out of control because of it. I had a feeling these things weren’t happening by accident.

But he felt too good, and I was too tired to figure out what they were up to. My boss was long gone, and the chances of her finding out I was lying down in one of the on-call areas with one of the sexiest doctors in the hospital were slim to none.

What is the big deal if I let myself have this?

If Miles’ strong arm banded around my waist wasn’t enough, he tossed a leg over mine. Like he was making sure I didn’t try to escape the moment he fell asleep.

As if I were strong enough to try.

I chewed on my bottom lip and blinked away the tears that threatened to spill. I’d never had this. My ex never cuddled in bed. Even after sex, he had been a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am, roll-the-other-way kind of guy.

It was stupid of me to let Miles hold me.

To let myself pretend this was normal.

Maybe it was my hormones and my period? Or maybe it was because I was going to let myself have a small moment of peace? It didn’t matter, but I didn’t try to right the situation either, because in the end, I didn’t roll out of the small bed and look for a different empty one.

I didn’t even consider it.

I was going to embrace the delusion of the moment. If just for only a couple hours. I basked in the illusion of what life could be like with someone who gave a shit. Who cared and wanted to take care of you when they knew you were having a bad day.A soft sigh escaped my lips as my body slowly relaxed in Miles’ arms.

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