My gorgeous wife is an ex-convict (Grace) novel Chapter 15

“Of course, I’ll stay with you. You’re not well, why would I leave?! I’ll lay right here beside you on the floor. Just say the word and I can get you anything you need.”

“This bed can hold two people. Come and lie beside me.” Even he was unaware of the longing look on his face.

Grace bit her lip and hesitated for a while before nodding. “All right.” She lifted up the quilt on the floor and lay down beside him.

She was astonished that she had agreed to sleep beside a man.

His scent enveloped her and his body radiated heat.

Not like a fever, just a warm, healthy body.

“Are you sure I can’t take you to the hospital?” She didn’t think he had insurance, but she could go on a payment plan. The cost was irrelevant, the only thing that mattered was his well-being.

“I’ll be okay,” he assured her. “Just stay with me.”

She held his hand and shifted on her side so she could hold one arm over his body in a loose hug. It was a novel feeling to comfort this man, and for her, it brought into acute awareness how long she’d denied herself any comfort or any connection to another human being.

Sure, she had her friends, and she loved them.

But this… this involved trust, and connecting to someone new. After all that she’d been through, she was glad she hadn’t lost all of her humanity.

She switched off the light and then it was just the two of them, holding each other and quietly breathing.

“Sister, will you stay with me forever?” Jay asked softly

“Of course! In the future, when you get married and have a family, I’ll still keep you company.” Bonds could be forged that were stronger than blood. Hadn’t she learned that? While her own father and half-sister had forsaken her, Jason had shown that he would be there for her. And she would be there for him.

Jason slowly shut his eyes. He felt assured by her voice and the pain gradually lessened.

“Get married…?” he mumbled. Ever since the death of his fiancee, Jason had never thought of getting married. However, Grace was already thinking about that.

“Sister, do you mean what you said?”

“Yes,” she replied.

He made a small sound and then allowed himself to fall asleep.

Early in the morning, when Grace awoke, she lifted her hand to touch Jay’s face and forehead. No fever. And his body had stretched out during the night, which made her think that the pain in his stomach must have lessened. He looked peaceful and handsome. His strong, big body took up most of the bed, and though she’d tried to roll away from him to give him more room, even in his sleep, he’d pull her close again.

She edged away now, hoping to let him sleep a while longer.

“Morning.”Grace believed that he was no longer in pain.

“Sorry, I woke you up,” Grace said. “It’s still early. Rest a little longer.” As Grace spoke, she hurried off to wash up and get changed.

She set a pot of soup in the slow cooker and set out the medicine on the counter. “Try to eat something. And please don’t forget to take your medicine. You have to take it three times a day.”

After Grace had given the instructions, she hastily left.

Once again, Jason was left alone in the small apartment.

He buried his face in the spot where she had lain.

He could still smell her, and feel the residual heat of her body on the quilt.

This woman continued to care for him and asked for nothing in return. Only his friendship and company.

He breathed her scent again and his thoughts turned to darker things.

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