Annoyed, Sterling shifted the girl deeper into the bed, then lay flat beside her, their hands still locked together. Back in her familiar space, Claudia's hand instinctively searched for her giant goose pillow in her sleep, only to find the warmth beside her instead. With Rose in his arms, Sterling pressed his fingers to his brow in frustration, then sighed and pulled the small bundle closer, closing his eyes. ... "Ah—!" The scream shattered the peaceful morning silence. Sterling immediately caught the foot that had just kicked his chest and pressed her back into his embrace. "What's all the fuss? Go back to sleep." Claudia had slept like a rock, but he hadn't shut his eyes for even a second. "What are you doing in my bed?" she squirmed, trying to kick him off. How was he so strong? "Take a better look. You're the one in my bed," Sterling responded lazily, eyes still shut, shamelessly flipping the blame. His handsome face wore a drowsy, lazy expression—deadly attractive, as always. "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 frowned. She didn't remember sleepwalking. The more she thrashed, the more Sterling buried his face in the crook of her neck, just like she had done last night. He patted her waist gently, murmuring for her to calm down."Nothing happened. Just relax." Her body seemed to agree—or else she wouldn't be lying here arguing with him. But his position? Way too intimate! Claudia finally gave in, exhausted. "Let go of me." Were they the kind of people who could share a bed? Sterling pretended to sleep. Truth was, he was annoyed with how soft he'd become toward her. But after one night in her arms, he'd slept deeper than he had in years. Her heavy sleep had rubbed off on him. For someone who struggled with insomnia, someone who had been stabbed just days ago, it was… unexpected. If he had to sum it up in one sentence: he'd slept like a baby—and he intended to keep it that way. All his doubts, all his frustrations—they were gone. He knew exactly what he wanted. One night was all it took for Sterling to decide: this Rosebud was going to be planted in his garden. So, to him, holding her close in his sleep was just… natural. "Didn't you say you'd repay me? Then sleep with me for a month." He caught her fist mid-swing and, ever so patiently, clarified, "Just sleep." Claudia blinked, utterly stunned. "Excuse me? Didn't anyone ever teach you the difference between men and women?" The speed at which they'd become this… familiar, was downright alarming.After all, since their first meeting, they hadn't known each other long enough to fill one hand. "So what?" Claudia was speechless. "You don't have a wife or girlfriend?" she asked, still processing. “No. Single. Unmarried. No woman," he answered, his voice thick with sleep. "Then aren't you going to ask if I have a husband or boyfriend?" Sterling pressed her waist down, closing the gap between them. "Doesn't matter. From now on, you won't have either." …Now that was a worldview. Claudia had no idea how a single night had flipped everything upside down. But when fighting proved useless, and scolding felt pointless, she surrendered. After all, she'd only tried to kill him once. This man beside her had drawn real blood. She lay back down, resigned, even a little amused. She and Jasper had known each other since she was three, and he was five. They'd dated for three years after she finally confessed at twenty. Through all that time, he'd never once shared her bed. And now, some guy she'd known less than a week was sprawled across it without a second thought. 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 had. Maybe, when it came to people, it really was all about timing and luck. Since she'd broken up with Jasper, he'd been erased from her life. She didn't feel guilty anymore. So what if this man treated her like a pillow for a month? She'd endure. As her eyes fluttered shut again, almost slipping back into sleep, a loud pounding came at the front door. Sterling's eyes snapped open, a murderous glint in them. Claudia saw it instantly. In a panic, she pressed him back down. "I'll go. You can't be seen right now." She didn't know exactly what he was up to, but based on his conversation with Clint, she figured his status outside might be "dead" or "missing." And she wasn't about to turn her front door into a crime scene at dawn. Breaking free from his iron hold, she rushed to the door, breathing in the sweet relief of fresh air as she went.