Page 17 of Lane

“I wasn’t lying.”

“No, but it wasn’t all of the reason you’re still here.” Before more coughing could start, he took a drink.

“Has anyone ever said you have an infectious personality?”

“I have an infection. You told me that after you got here. That’s about as close as I’ve come to what you said.”

“Lane?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I stay longer and take care of you?”

“It’s your choice, Doc. If you get sick, don’t expect me to know what to do for you. I wasn’t exactly brought up in the best environment.” I’d heard enough in passing from others to know he loved his mom. The rest of his family… not so much.

“You care about others though. While your upbringing wasn’t good, you’re kind.”

“That’s debatable.”

“You’re going to keep arguing with me, aren’t you?”

“Now you’re catching on.”

I faced forward when he unmuted the TV and returned to focusing on it. Time passed, and my eyes became heavy. We weren’t talking, simply being near each other. I must have fallen asleep because when I woke, the room was bathed in darkness, the TV was off, and a warm body was pressed to mine. When I looked at the clock it was around dinnertime.

Somehow, I ended up on my side with Lane in my arms, his head beneath my chin and his body wrapped around me. The blanket was even up to our waists. How tired was I to not wake while we moved into this position?

Did I get up? If I did, I’d wake him. He was sick and needed sleep. Would he think I was trying to force something with him? Oh, god, this could go downhill fast.

“Stop thinking, Doc, and keep holding me,” Lane murmured.

“I didn’t know you were awake.”

“As soon as your heart started beating against your ribs, I woke up. Is it that awful to be here like this with me?”

“Of course not.” I held him tighter to prove the truth of my words.

“In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m a cuddler. If I’m asleep and someone is near me, I latch on to them like Velcro. You’ve just been introduced to my epic warmth and snuggling abilities.”

“Maybe we should get you to bed where you’ll be more comfortable.”

“If we go in there, my cock will want in on the fun. Right now, he’s weighing if it’s worth it to party or not.”

I groaned. “You’re torturing me.”

Lane ran his nose along my throat. “I’m not, but I could be.”

“You have the flu and bronchitis.”

“And you accepted your fate when you sat down to spend time with me. Lean into it.”

7

LANE

There was no way I could play off the comfort I found in Alton’s arms as the germs raging in my system. I didn’t get the flu as bad as the others. I’d heard some were throwing up and barely able to get out of bed. I had made it to the couch and could move around a little. The body aches sucked. The coughing was brutal. Of course, I’d get a two-for-one deal and have the flu and bronchitis.

Was it twisted that I was kind of glad for being sick? It brought Alton to my home. A man I hadn’t gotten to know before and had only seen briefly. Now, he was lying on my couch, cuddling me. It was of my own doing. I couldn’t help but gravitate toward whoever slept near me.

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