Page 146 of Fame & Chaos

She smiles softly and starts unbuttoning her blouse.

“Want a shower?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No, I just want to crawl into bed with you and sleep for about a year.” Her expression falters slightly. “A patient passed away tonight. It always rattles me.”

“I’m sorry, baby.” I step closer and wrap my arms around her carefully. “Anything I can do?”

She exhales shakily against my chest. “No. It was an overdose.” Her voice softens. “Those cases always bring everything back, you know?”

Immediately, my mind flashes to that night.

To her father lying dead on the living room floor.

To Indi, shattered beside him.

Pain twists violently inside me as I close my eyes and kiss the top of her head.

“You’re one of the strongest women I know,” I murmur. “I honestly don’t think you realize how extraordinary you are.”

She lets out a tired little laugh. “Well, I definitely don’t feel very extraordinary right now.”

“Then let me be strong for you tonight.” I slowly continue undoing the remaining buttons of her blouse while she watches me with heavy eyes. “You do whatever you need to stay afloat…” I tell her softly, sliding the fabric from her shoulders, “… and I’ll be whatever holds you up.”

Her expression instantly melts. “You’re such a poet.”

“Only when it comes to you.”

She smiles faintly before I slide her scrub pants down her legs. She steps out of them, and I place them beside the rest of her clothes before reaching around and unclasping her bra.

Her gaze slowly drifts down my naked body, and a sleepy giggle escapes her. “You sleep naked all the time, or just when you’re waiting for me?”

I grin lazily. “I guess I’ve been waiting my whole life for you, so technically… always naked.”

She laughs quietly and wraps her arms around my neck.

The second I lift her into my arms, she melts against me completely. Usually, she’d squeal or laugh or make some smartass comment about me carrying her around, but tonight she nuzzles into my chest, too exhausted to protest.

I’d had very different ideas about how tonight might go…

Bending her over the mattress.

Taking her slowly from behind.

Making her scream my name until sunrise.

But one look at her now tells me exactly what she needs instead—rest, warmth, and comfort.

Walking over to the bed, I lower her carefully onto the mattress. She immediately curls onto her side in the fetal position, and my chest aches seeing how emotionally wrung out she is. Climbing in behind her, I grab the remote and switch off the television before moving closer and pulling her naked body against mine. Her skin feels cool against my warmth, so I tug the sheets up around us and wrap myself tightly around her, trying to warm her.

Slowly, her breathing deepens and then steadies. I nuzzle against the back of her neck, breathing in the soft floral scent of her hair while peace settles over me completely.

This…

This right here is what I’ve needed my entire life.

Not the music.

Not fame.