My Official Girlfriend

Sora

I toss and turn, trying to shy away from the blinding light burning through my eyes, but it's futile. A groan slips past my lips as I burrow deeper into the hospital pillow, every muscle in my body protesting the movement.

Ow.

Who knew making out could count as cardio?

...Actually, scratch that.

I know exactly why I'm sore.

Heat rushes to my cheeks as flashes of last night threaten to replay in vivid detail. I squeeze my eyes shut and shove my face into the pillow.

Absolutely not.

I am not reliving that before breakfast.

The steady beeping of the heart monitor drags me back to reality, followed by the faint scent of antiseptic reminding me I'm still very much in a hospital room.

God, it's like Kade has embedded himself into my veins. I've never been brave enough to take control in bed before, yet somehow it came so naturally with him, like my body already knew what to do. And I came so hard from it too.

Five fucking times.

How am I supposed to face him today? It's not like I can exactly sneak out of a hospital. God, Sora. Yesterday has to be the last time I’ll let things go that far.

I crack one eye open, blinking against the morning sunlight spilling through the window. The room is eerily quiet, quiet enough for me to immediately notice the empty chair beside my bed. For some ridiculous reason disappointment settles in my chest before I can stop it.

Where did he—

The door clicks open.

I don't have to look up to know exactly who it is. Only one person walks into a room carrying enough confidence to rival the sun itself. I almost squeeze my eyes shut out of pure instinct, but his voice stops me cold.

"Good," Kade says, balancing a paper bag in one hand and two takeaway cups in the other. "You're awake."

My gaze immediately drops to the bag.

"Please tell me that's food."

His grin stretches wider.

"That's not a very loving welcome."

"Get over yourself, Kade."

"That's not what you were saying last night."

He punctuates the sentence with an exaggerated roll of his hips, making my face erupt in flames. I snatch the nearest pillow and launch it at him, but the smug idiot dodges it with ease, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"I really hate you," I groan, dragging both palms over my burning face. The last thing I need is him reminding me of everything that happened yesterday.

"Again," he says, setting the bag on the bedside table, "not exactly how I'd thank the guy who woke up before sunrise to hunt down breakfast and an iced coffee."

My ears perk up immediately.

"Iced coffee?"

"There she is."

I push myself upright far too quickly, already reaching toward the tray, and instantly regret it. A sharp wince escapes before I can hide it, wiping the amusement clean off his face.

His smile disappears so quickly it almost gives me whiplash.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Sora."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

I wave him off, hoping he'd take the hint, but Kade has apparently appointed himself head of the Hospital Nursing Committee. He sets the drinks beside my bed before walking over, his eyes sweeping over my face like he's trying to solve a puzzle I don't intend on helping him with.

Oh great.

He's about to fuss over me.

He leans over, pressing a palm against my forehead, a brooding look settling on his face as though he's convinced I've come down with something overnight.

The second his skin touches mine, warmth blooms through my entire body, spreading from my forehead to places I really don't want to think about right now.

What the actual fuck. My body is malfunctioning and I need to find a way to cure it without Kade’s cock in me.

I jerk away from him, nearly knocking over the coffee in the process.

“I’m just sore from last night,” I blurt out, refusing to meet his gaze.

Slowly, very slowly, I dare a glance at him, his brows lift in realization before guilt flashes across his face.

Instead of moving away, he sits on the edge of my bed and pulls the takeaway bag onto his lap, his fingers absently smoothing the crumpled paper as though searching for the right words.

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “I put you through more than I should have.”

I furrow my brows, that... wasn't the response I expected.

“I got carried away.” His jaw tightens. “It was selfish of me.”

I just stare at him.

This can’t be the same Kade Cam constantly warns me about, the one he swears is the right hand of the devil, right?

I eye him for a long second before snatching the takeaway bag from his hands and diving straight into my food.

I'll just give him the silent treatment until it's time for me to be discharged.

It seems like a perfectly reasonable punishment.

“I'm glad your appetite is back.” He says, opening his own container and beginning to eat.

I don't answer.

One thing I've noticed about Kade in the short time I've known him is that the man is ridiculously clingy.

He always has to be touching me somehow.

If it isn't his hand around my waist, it's his shoulder pressed against mine. If not that, then his knee is brushing mine or his pinky somehow finds its way around my finger.

It's weird.

Very weird.

Yet somehow I'd gotten used to it.

Now that we're sitting with a whole foot of space between us, it almost feels... unnatural.

“Yeah,” I mumble around a bite of food. “I guess.”

His phone vibrates inside his pocket.

He fishes it out, glances at the screen and immediately frowns, muttering something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like a curse.

Should I ask?

No.

I'm still embarrassed from last night.

He slips the phone back into his pocket before looking at me again, only… this isn't the cocky, insufferable Kade I've come to know over the past few days. This one looks... nervous and shy.

He scratches the back of his neck, opens his mouth, closes it again, then lets out a sigh.

Okay.

This is getting painful to watch.

“If you're going to ask me something,” I say, setting my fork down, “I strongly suggest you ask now before you dig a hole straight through the floor.”

A sheepish smile tugs at his lips.

“Right.”

He clears his throat.

“Before anything else, the headlines have been sorted out.”

I heave a huge sigh of relief and my entire body relaxes, only then do I realize how heavily that had been weighing on me.

“Finally.”

A laugh escapes before I can stop it, but the expression on his face doesn't change.

Oh no. He said before anything else.

I narrow my eyes.

“Why do I suddenly feel like whatever comes next is significantly worse?”

His smile turns apologetic. “Probably because you're officially my girlfriend now.”

I shut my eyes.

“What?”

“As far as the media is concerned,” he says carefully, “we're very much in love... and my friends are currently downstairs in the lobby waiting for permission to come up and meet you.”

I stare at him, then at the ceiling, then back at him.

“Tell me you're joking.”

“I wish I could.”