Page 18 of Lane

I remembered once falling asleep after a mind-numbingly good round of sex. I woke up as the man I was with was trying to shove me off him, but I clung to him like it was my damn job. I apologized and hadn’t slept in the same bed with anyone since. They didn’t sign up to be my personal pillow.

That was why it was so amazing Alton gave in and let me burrow against him. He tried to leave at first. In my sick fog, I told him to stay. I said to lean into it. Okay, so that probablywasn’t the virus talking. I’d still use it as an excuse if this went sideways.

“I didn’t want you to get the idea I was trying to initiate something you didn’t want,” Alton said.

“I latched on to you like a squid, not the other way around.” I still wasn’t sorry. I probably should have been.

A knock on the door had Alton tensing, but I refused to move.

“Enter!” I yelled, then covered my mouth with my shirt so I didn’t cough all over Alton.

He leaned back to give me space to cough and try to suck in air. Fun times.

“Sorry,” I said when I was done.

“Maybe I should give you a breathing treatment.”

“I’m okay.”

“Lane, I have your…” That was all Raiden said. He stopped next to the dining table with a prescription bag in his hand. He dropped his eyes to his feet. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come in like that. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

Alton tried to move again but I put my hand on his hip and squeezed. I was a persistent fucker when I wanted to be.

“Ray, look at me,” I said.

His eyes slowly raised to mine, sweeping over Alton and me.

“I told you to come in. What you see is all there is.” I thought about adding so far, but kept it to myself. “Thank you for bringing my medication.” I released Alton’s hip and held out my hand.

Raiden walked to us, handing me the bag. He turned to leave.

“Stop, please,” I pleaded. “Can you hand me my water? I really don’t want to choke this down dry.”

“Sure.”

I tore open the bag and popped the top of the prescription bottle, taking a pill out and placing it on my tongue, then tookthe offered water. The sooner I could get rid of this cough, the better. I handed him the glass after I swallowed it.

“Are you done working?” I asked, not wanting him to leave.

There was obviously tension between Alton and him. If I could help bridge the gap between them, I’d consider it a win. Where did I fit into all of this? Probably in the middle of them. That was where I’d love to be. The question was if I fit at all. I could only insert myself so much before I became a third wheel. Although Raiden had said he didn’t like me going out and sleeping with other men. Maybe I wasn’t a third wheel after all.

“Barry took over for me. Jordan and his family are in for the night. With some of the guards down, others are stepping in who usually don’t.”

“Do you want to stay for a bit?”

“Raiden can get sick too,” Alton said.

“I was around everyone before they developed symptoms.” He shrugged. “It is what it is.”

“Move your legs, Al,” I told Alton. “Make room for Raiden.” I brought mine up, slotting them with Alton’s.

“I’m not Doc anymore?” Alton asked with a smile.

“I’ve upgraded your nickname, seeing as how you’ve let me cuddle with you.”

“Ah.”

“Ray, couch,” I told him.

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