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 ! 1/2 9:40 Tue , Oct 7 ... 81 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 . " 2/3 9:41 Tue , Oct 7 Chapter 19 A Shared Bed : 81 57 +8 Pearis ... 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 。 10 1 ੨/੨ Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!