Page 38 of Deception and New Direction

“I don’t think you understand how this works,Jack.”

“Yes,Ido.Youdon’t want to have sex anymore tonight.That’sfine, butIstill want you to stay in this bed with me.”

“Jack, it’s not just tonight.It’sany night.Wecan’t.”

“I’m willing to discuss the merits of your opinion later, but right nowIjust want to lie down and enjoy you next to me.”

There was so much to take in from that sentence.

“Just lie with me for a few minutes, and then we’ll get up to letDashout okay?”

I could handle a few minutes.Plus, it did actually feel nice with his arms wrapped around me.

I gave in, positioning myself so my cast was draped just past his legs.Tenminutes was whatItold myselfIcould do.Itwas a good plan.Theonly problem was,Ifell asleep five minutes later.

* * *

Who knewJackwas a cuddler.IfoundIactually enjoyed it, but it was also like spooning with a furnace.Thatman radiated so much heat.

I woke up sweaty and needing to use the bathroom.AsIgot up,InoticedDashhad made himself comfortable on the edge of the bed nearJack’slegs.WhenIfinished,Istood with my crutches in the threshold toJack’sroom, debating whether or notIshould just go back to the other bedroom instead.

“Stop thinking about it, and get back in the bed,”Jackmumbled.

“You’re too hot.”Yep, that was the best thingIcould think of to say.

“Thank you.”Hisvoice still sounded sleepy, but now with a hint of humor to it.

This man was incorrigible.

“I meant your body is too hot, and it’s making me sweaty.”

“Ruthie, please come here,” he softly demanded. “I’mtired.”

I was too, soIrelented, climbing back into the bed with him.Igot myself situated to whereIwas comfortable but not awkward for my cast.Dashhad repositioned himself against my front andJackat my back.IguessIwas going to sweat some more.

I sighed at this realization.

“I’ll turn the air conditioning on to cool you down,”Jackmuttered behind me.

“It’sFebruary.Youshouldn’t turn theACon,”Ipointed out.

“Nobody in this bed is moving, which means you are trapped with body heat on both sides,”Jacksaid. “So, if it means keeping you whereI’vealways wanted you,I’llturn theACon.”

Trying to ignore thewhereI’vealways wanted youcomment,Imoved on to another question. “Ifnobody is moving, how are you going to turn theACon, then?”

“Even sleepy she gives me sass,” he murmured. “I’vegot an app.Goback to sleep, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart.

To that endearment, encapsulated in bed by the two males in my life,Ifell back asleep.

14

JACK

I woke up to a high-pitched whining, which was followed by a pitiful whimper and small paws stepping on my legs.

“Okay, hold onDash,”Ruthiemurmured next to me.

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