IAN'S POV

I dragged the chair closer to Masimo's bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling into my bones. As I sat there, the dim light from the bedside lamp cast soft shadows over his face, making him look almost angelic, so calm, so peaceful. It was a stark contrast to the man I knew when he was awake. Awake, Masimo was a storm intense, unpredictable, and often inappropriate in ways that left me reeling. But now, in the stillness of the night, he seemed so different, so… vulnerable. I wished we could find some middle ground, some way to coexist without the constant tension. After all, we were bound together, for better or worse, and the idea of spending the rest of my life in this cold war seemed unbearable.

My brother's words echoed in my mind, a constant, unrelenting reminder of my reality. "Once you get involved with the mafia, there's no going back to normal life ever again. It's either die or stay as their dog forever." That sentiment haunted me every waking hour, and now, even in this rare moment of calm, I couldn’t escape it. The weight of those words pressed down on me, suffocating any hope I might have had for a peaceful life.

Time passed slowly, and fatigue began to drag me under. Despite my best efforts to stay awake, my eyelids grew heavy, and before long, I was nodding off. The chair was uncomfortable, a stark reminder of the luxurious life I once had big beds, soft pillows, the freedom to stretch out and relax after a long day. Now, even something as simple as a good night’s sleep seemed out of reach.

I shifted in the chair, trying to find a more comfortable position, but the wood creaked loudly under my weight. The noise jolted Masimo awake. He squinted at me, his eyes still heavy with sleep, and I felt a pang of guilt for disturbing him.

“Is there a problem, kitten?” he asked, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine.

I tried to keep my voice steady, but there was no hiding my discomfort. “I’m used to sleeping in big beds, and this chair is way too small for my liking. I’ll sleep on the sofa instead.”

He let out a soft chuckle, the sound surprising me. “Kitten, that sofa is small too. Come over here. My bed is big enough for both of us to fit and sleep peacefully. You've done my surgery, so you at least deserve this much.”

His offer caught me off guard. I hesitated, not sure how to respond. “Oh no, it’s okay. I’ll sleep on the sofa,” I insisted, but even as I said it, the idea of a comfortable bed was tempting.

“Stop thinking so much,” he said with a sigh. “We sleep on the same bed every day. Come over here and sleep without thinking anything further.”

I stared at him for a moment, debating whether to argue or just give in. But I was too tired to fight, and the prospect of a good night’s sleep was too appealing to resist. With a small sigh, I got up and moved to the bed. Masimo slapped his hand on the mattress, an invitation that was more command than suggestion. The bed was, indeed, large enough for both of us, and as I settled in, I found myself drifting off almost immediately.

Morning came too quickly, and I woke to the sensation of something hard beneath my head, rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Confused, I shifted slightly and looked up, only to find Masimo staring down at me with a smirk on his face. My heart skipped a beat, and I realized that my head was resting on his chest.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Our eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. His hands, which had been resting on my hips, slowly moved to my waist, pulling me closer. The gesture was intimate, almost tender, and it caught me completely off guard. My heart started racing, and I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. Before I knew it, I was sitting up, trying to put some distance between us.

“Are you shy… again, kitten?” he asked, his voice laced with amusement. My cheeks burned even hotter, and I couldn’t meet his gaze.

“Why would I be shy?” I muttered, trying to sound nonchalant, but the words came out weak. “It’s always like this whenever I wake up.”

Without waiting for a response, I practically bolted from the room, my heart pounding in my chest. I could hear his laughter behind me, deep and rich, and it only made my face flush more. Asshole, I thought, though there was no malice behind it.

I returned to the room later, after managing to calm down a bit. Masimo’s smirk had been replaced with a more serious expression as I approached his bed. “You still need to rest for two days or more, but we can discharge you today if you want. You can rest at… our place,” I said, correcting myself at the last moment. “But you need to take it easy.”

“Our place, not just mine,” he echoed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Leaving today would be perfect. I’ll let Mika handle the process. You can relax now. Thank you for doing my surgery and for looking after me. And for worrying about me.”

His sincerity took me by surprise, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. “I’m not taking care of you, and I’m not worried about you. I’m just doing my job as a surgeon,” I said, but even I could hear the lie in my voice.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, babe,” he replied, and there was that smirk again. His teasing made my cheeks flush crimson, and I cursed my stupid heart for reacting the way it did.

Soon after, Masimo was discharged, and we left the hospital together, Mika following behind us with two other cars. Security had been heightened since the attack, and now there were bodyguards everywhere. It felt suffocating, like we were constantly being watched, but I supposed it was necessary.

When we arrived at the mansion, the guards moved forward to help Masimo, but I waved them off and took his hand, leading him to our room. As soon as we reached the bed, Masimo tripped and fell onto the mattress, pulling me down with him. I landed awkwardly beneath him, our bodies pressed together, and for a moment, neither of us moved.

He shifted closer, his breath warm against my skin, and I instinctively placed my hands on his chest, trying to push him away. But when a groan of pain escaped his lips, I froze, realizing that I might have hurt him.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, loosening my grip. I didn’t expect what happened next—he suddenly collapsed on top of me, his head nestled in the crook of my neck, his arms wrapping around me almost protectively.

He had fainted, the weight of his exhaustion and injuries finally catching up to him. I sighed, feeling the full weight of his body pressing down on me. Masimo was heavy, no surprise considering his muscular build and height, and it took all my strength to carefully maneuver him off me and onto the bed properly. I removed his shoes and jacket, trying not to disturb him.

Just as I was about to leave, his hand shot out and grabbed mine, pulling me down onto the bed with a force that caught me off guard. I landed on his chest, my hand resting on his waist, and for a moment, I was too stunned to move.

Masimo’s arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly as if he was afraid I might slip away. There was a vulnerability in the way he clung to me, something that tugged at my heartstrings despite myself. I shifted slightly, moving my hand from his waist to his chest, and eventually, exhaustion won out. I fell asleep in his arms, his embrace warm and secure.

In that moment, I couldn’t deny the truth—no matter how much I resisted, a part of me didn’t want to leave him either.