Page 46 of Ronan

But maybe… just maybe…

He won’t.

Conflicted, I step out of the shower into the muggy air and dry myself, putting on a t-shirt and pair of boxers to sleep in. Nerves fire in my belly as I walk back into the bedroom, only to find Ronan in one of the armchairs, sound asleep. His head has fallen back against the cushion,mouth slightly open, and soft snores roll from his throat. A quiet, huffing laugh pushes from my nose as I watch his chest rise in steady breaths.

I hesitate before I walk over and place a gentle hand on his shoulder. A sharp inhale startles him awake, and he launches to his feet, eyes wide. “Hey, hey,” I soothe as the wildness in his eye settles. “It’s just me. You fell asleep in the chair.”

“Did not,” he mutters, and I bite my lips between my teeth at how flustered he seems from me catching him napping.

“You need rest, Ronan. We can share the bed.”

Deep purple spreads high on his cheeks, a blush forming as his tongue flickers to wet his lips. He gestures behind him. “The chair will be fine for me. I can get comfortable there and keep watch.”

“Keep watch?”

His brow arches, some of his sass returning. “Who’s the parrot now?”

“Um, in case you’ve forgotten, you werebleeding to deathless than twenty-four hours ago and have only slept a few hours since, andthatwas only because you passed out from blood loss.”

“That’s a little dramatic… I’m not even tired,” he says, the words muffled by a massive yawn that stretches his mouth wide, and I can’t help my smugness.

“That was the least convincing argument in the history of mankind.”

“Not a man.” My eyes narrow as he smiles.

“But you aren’t invincible either, no matter how much you try to convince me otherwise. Your injuries arefresh, and you drove all night. You are exhausted, and you need sleep just as much as I do… hell, probably more.”

“I’ll be fine,” he insists, the stubborn set of his jaw a clear sign of his defiance.

Time to play dirty.

I push out a heavy sigh as I walk over to where he stands, getting into his space until only a few inches exist between us. His gaze doesn’t leave mine as I place my hand on his chest, leaning in as I stare up into those dark eyes. “What’s the matter, big guy? Don’t want to sleep with me?”

My name leaves him like a curse, low and grumbly, and I grin at the effect I’m having on him. I fist his shirt, tugging him closer. “Ronan, come on. We’re both exhausted, and it’s a big bed. Besides, it’ll be easier to protect me if you’re close.”

Those eyes stay locked on mine for a long time, his stubbornness shining through. “Okay,” he finally says, and I open my mouth to argue when his response hits me.

“Wait… okay?”

He nods, a lopsided, sleepy grin forming on his face. “Yeah, Cameron. Okay.”

Light blue sheets cover the bed, the dusty comforter removed, and Ronan leads me to the bed with a delicate grip on my arm. He gestures towards a bottle of water sitting on the table beside the bed. “Drink that and get some rest. You look exhausted.”

“Hey,” I say with a frown. “So now I’m not only skinny but also tired-looking?” He huffs a quiet laugh that fades as his gaze falls to my mark. It’s the first time I’ve left it uncovered, and he watches, enthralled, as the light pulses and shifts beneath my skin in a warm glow.

“No, Cameron. You’re unexpected… and perfect,” he finally whispers, and there’s unfiltered emotion in his eyes as they meet mine. “Lie down and rest now. I’ll join you when I’m clean.”

Unconvinced he’s not going to just stand watch over me all night instead of sleeping, I start to argue, but a giant yawn forces my mouth wide. Ronan chuckles and nods towards the bed. “Sleep.” Too tired to fight, I flop down with a groan. After so long spending nights curled up in bushes or on top of a pile of hay, the mattress is like a cloud underneath me.

“Oh, holy shit,” I whisper, pulling the thin sheet over me. It’s hot outside, and the solar panels are not functioning, which means it’s warm and a touch muggy inside, but I’m not about to be a choosy beggar.

Not when so much has worked out in our favor today.

“I’ve died and gone to heaven,” I announce, my voice muffled by the pillow as I flip to my stomach, getting comfortable. Ronan chuckles, checking the windows once more before securing the door to the bedroom. Another sweet smile curves his lips as he walks closer, reaching to remove my glasses. I jerk back, heart racing, as one of my hands grabs his wrist while the other clutches the frames.

“Cameron?” A worried frown creases his face, the picture of caution, and I inwardly curse my knee-jerk reaction.

“Sorry… I’m sorry. You did nothing wrong, I just… I don’t take them off in case I need to run in a hurry.”

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