Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19 A Shared Bed

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Annoyed, Sterling shifted the girl deeper into the bed and lay flat beside her, their hands still clasped.

Back in her familiar space, Claudia subconsciously searched for her giant goose pillow in her sleep, only to cling instead to the warmth beside her.

Rose in his arms, Sterling pressed his fingers to his brow, then gave in and drew the small bundle closer, closing his eyes.

“Ah-!”

The shriek shattered the morning quiet.

Sterling caught the foot that had just kicked his chest and pressed her back down into his embrace. “What’s the fuss? Sleep a little longer.”

She might have slept soundly, but he’d barely closed his eyes all night.

“What are you doing in my bed?” Claudia squirmed furiously, trying to kick his leg.

How was he this strong?

“Look more carefully. You’re the one in my bed,” Sterling countered lazily, eyes still shut, shamelessly reversing the blame.

His handsome face wore a languid, drowsy look–lethally attractive.

“I was in the living room, wasn’t I?”

“I didn’t lock the door. You must’ve gotten up in a daze and crawled in,” he lied smoothly.

Claudia’s brow furrowed. She didn’t remember ever sleepwalking.

When she thrashed harder, Sterling only buried his face in the crook of her neck, exactly as she had done last night. Patting her waist, he murmured for her to behave.

“Nothing happened. Relax.”

Her body told her the same, or she wouldn’t be lying here arguing with him now.

But his current posture? Way too intimate, sir!

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Chapter 19 A Shared Bed

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Claudia finally collapsed against him, exhausted. “Let go

of me.”

Were they the kind of people who could share a bed?

Sterling pretended to sleep.

The truth was, he was irritated by his own inexplicable softness toward her. But after one night in her arms, he’d slept deeper than he had in years.

Her piggish sleep had infected him.

For someone plagued with insomnia, stabbed and bleeding only days ago, it was unthinkable.

If he had to sum up his feelings in one line: he had slept well–and he planned to keep it that

way.

All his doubts and frustrations were gone. What he wanted never escaped him.

One night was all it took for Sterling to decide: this Rosebud would be transplanted into his garden.

So now, to him, holding his own possession in his sleep was perfectly natural.

“Didn’t you say you’d repay me? Then sleep with me for a month.”

Catching her fist as she swung at him, he clarified patiently, “Just sleep.”

Claudia blinked. “Excuse me? Has no one ever taught you the difference between men and women?”

The speed of their familiarity was downright alarming.

After all, counting from the first time they met, they hadn’t even known each other long enough to fill one hand.

“So what?”

Claudia was speechless.

“You don’t have a wife or girlfriend?” she asked earnestly.

“No. Single, unmarried, no woman.” He answered half–asleep.

“Then aren’t you going to ask if I have a husband or boyfriend?”

Sterling pressed her waist down, closing the distance further. “Doesn’t matter. From today on, you won’t have either.”

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Chapter 19 A Shared Bed

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…That worldview was truly something.

Claudia had no idea how one night’s sleep had turned the world upside down. But when fighting was useless and scolding fell flat, she surrendered.

After all, she had only attempted murder once. The man beside her had drawn real blood.

She lay back down, resigned, even amused.

She and Jasper had known each other since she was three and he was five, and dated for three years after she finally confessed at twenty.

Through all that time, he had never once shared her bed. And now, some man she had known less than a week was sprawled across it without hesitation.

Worse, in those three years of dating, she and Jasper had fought constantly over Lydia.

Looking back, their childhood as playmates had felt closer than their romance ever did.

Between people, maybe everything really was chance and timing.

From the moment she broke up with Jasper, he had been erased from her life. She felt no guilt

now.

So what if this man treated her like a pillow for a month? She’d endure.

As her eyes drooped again, nearly slipping back into sleep, a thunderous pounding rattled the front door.

Sterling’s eyes snapped open, murder flashing within them. Claudia caught it instantly.

Hurriedly pressing him back down, she whispered, “I’ll go. You can’t be seen right now.”

She didn’t know exactly what he was planning, but from his words with Clint, she guessed his status outside was either “dead” or “missing.”

And she wasn’t about to let her front door turn into a crime scene at dawn.

Breaking free of his iron hold, she rushed to the door, gulping in the relief of free air as she

went.

Send Gifts

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