Page 111 of A Win-Win Situation

"Right, it's time for bed," he declares.

I nod in agreement. "It really is. It's been a long day, especially after Michel’s visit." But I don’t move; I snuggle against him even further and Lucas's arms wrap around me, my head resting against his chest. His heartbeat is a soothing rhythm against my ear.

Leaning in, our lips meet in a sweet kiss. The taste of something like home lingers as we pull away. I yawn again and he whispers, "Okay, Sleeping Beauty, let’s go."

Lucas unwraps his arms from around me as we both get up, me walking towards my room and him behind me.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asks curiously.

"To sleep," I reply, confusion etching my face.

"Yeah? Well, you're not sleeping in there."

Confusion turns into surprise as I try to comprehend his words. "What do you mean?"

Determination surges within him, and he quickly closes the distance between us, wrapping his arms under my knees and effortlessly lifting me up. "From now on, you're sleeping inourroom. There's no chance in hell I'm letting you sleep far away from me again."

A smile slowly spreads across my face as I wrap my arms around his neck, my excitement mirroring his. "I'd love that," I say, my voice filled with joy.

I wakeup with his arms tightly wrapped around me; as if he’s scared I’ll run away. Which is something I would never do because being here, enraptured by the essence of him, feels like home.

It feelsright,and it scares me.

Because the last time I felt happy, everything changed and I got stabbed in the back. However, it’s different this time; it’s as though my whole body knows it. It feels different with Lucas.

Yet, I can’t help but worry about the reality that we’ve signed papers stating that this will end. These feelings have a deadline—a deadline I’m hoping we will extend.

"I can hear your thoughts brewing in there."

If I found his dark voice sexy before, it's nothing compared to the allure of his raspy morning voice whispering in my ear.

He releases his tight hold on me, and for a second I miss the heat, but it quickly comes back as he turns me to face him.

"Good morning, beautiful." Lucas presses me closer to his chest, sealing the moment with a sweet kiss on top of my head, eliciting a contented sigh from deep within me

"Morning." My answer is enough for him to lean back and grab my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes.

"What’s wrong?" Lucas asks with worry in his voice

"Nothing is wrong,"

"Leora?" Just him saying my name in that caring voice of his makes tears spring to my eyes.What is wrong with me?

His eyes search mine and for a second he looks confused. But then it morphs into some kind of fear before both of his hands go to my cheeks and one of his thumbs wipes away a single tear that escaped.

"Tell me so I can make it right." His words are low. There’s so much emotion behind them and it makes more tears fall.

"I’m sorry," I whisper back, but he takes the apology the wrong way.

His eyes move frantically over my face while he slightly moves away to look at me. "Did I do something?" he asks, his voice a bit shaky.

"No, it’s not you?—"

In his stressed state, he interrupts me, "What did I do, Leora? I don’t want to hurt you so please tell me what I did, because I’m the one who should be sorry for your tears."

This time, it’s me who grabs his face, grounding him.

"You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s the opposite. You’ve done everything right and it scares me."

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