Chapter 59 Chapter 59 - Falling For A Monster
That was stupid of you,” Cedric said. “Strategically stupid. Politically disastrous, probably. It’s going to take a long time for you to come back from that.”
Cedric shifted closer on the bed, his good hand finally making contact with Gianni’s shoulder. His skin was warm through the blood-stained shirt, solid and real under Cedric’s palm.
“But I’m glad you did it anyway,” Cedric admitted quietly. “Even if it was stupid. I’m glad you came back.”
Surprise flickered across Gianni’s face, along with relief, and Cedric suddenly realised that Gianni had expected him to mock him for it, or to use his vulnerability as a weapon somehow.
“Come here,” Cedric said, the words coming out gentler than he meant them to. “Lie down before you fall over. You look dead on your feet.”
“I’m fine,” Gianni repeated, but his body was already swaying slightly with exhaustion.
“Yeah, you’re the picture of perfect health,” Cedric said with a hint of his usual sarcasm, trying to make this feel less intense. “Just take off that disgusting shirt and lie down. Let me…”
Cedric reached out with his good hand and started working on Gianni’s buttons with one-handed determination. “You’re covered in blood that probably isn’t even yours, and you’re about to collapse. So for once in your life, just let someone take care of you.”
Gianni let him. Actually let Cedric work the buttons free with clumsy but determined movements, let the ruined shirt slide off his shoulders to pool on the floor beside the bed.
The cuts from whatever had happened out there were superficial, nothing that would scar, but Cedric’s fingers traced over them anyway with a gentleness that surprised him.
“You really scared me,” Cedric admitted quietly, his eyes fixed on the small wounds instead of Gianni’s face. “When I heard the gunshots. When I heard you shouting and then nothing. I thought…” He swallowed hard.
“I don’t even know what I thought. That you were dead, maybe. Or that you were killing someone. Or that the whole place was under attack and I was just going to die tied to a bed without ever knowing what happened.”
Gianni said nothing at first, then with his sharp eyes on Cedric’s he said, “I am much stronger than the version of me you’re seeing right now. Today. You know this. I would have protected you.”
“Uh huh. Whatever you say, big guy.” Cedric pointed out, his hand moving to the larger bloodstain on Gianni’s chest. “I mean… You were kind of busy preventing a massacre. So I think I can forgive the delayed rescue this time.”
Cedric couldn’t tell if it was relief or gratitude or something else that crossed Gianni’s eyes when he looked at him, but he filed it away all the same. He liked the way it felt.
“Lie down,” Cedric said again, already shifting back on the bed to make room. “Please. Just for a little while. Everything else can wait an hour.”
And so Gianni did, sinking into expensive sheets with a sigh that sounded like surrender.
Cedric moved with him immediately, his body knowing what it wanted even if his brain was screaming warnings. He positioned himself carefully against Gianni’s uninjured side, his head coming to rest on Gianni’s shoulder, his casted arm lying awkwardly between them.
Cedric’s good hand settled over Gianni’s heart without conscious thought. He could feel it beating under his palm, steady and strong despite everything.
“Is this okay?” Cedric asked softly, suddenly unsure.
Gianni’s arm came around him on pure instinct, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them. The gesture was possessive but also protective. He probably needed this as much as Cedric did.
“Yes,” Gianni said simply.
They lay there in silence and Cedric tried to make sense of what he was feeling. This wasn’t part of the plan, Marcus’s plan, Cedric’s plan, anyone’s plan. He was supposed to be gathering evidence, building a case, finding a way out.
Not lying in the arms of his captor feeling weirdly content while Gianni’s heartbeat thudded steadily under his palm.
But Cedric was so tired. Tired of being scared, tired of lying, tired of trying to stay ahead of a man who seemed to see through everything.
Cedric watched Gianni’s eyes drift closed, his breathing gradually evening out. The tension in his shoulders, which Cedric had learned to read over the past few days, slowly melted away as sleep pulled him under.
Gianni didn’t get up to pace through the night like he so often did. Didn’t slip out to deal with security or plan revenge. He just slept, holding Cedric close to him.
And Cedric let himself drift off too, his fingers tightening slightly around Gianni’s, telling himself it was just exhaustion and nothing else.
Cedric did not belong with him, no matter how much it felt like he did.
When Cedric woke up, morning light filtered through the curtains in soft gold. His neck was stiff, his casted arm completely numb, and he desperately needed to pee.
But he didn’t move.
Because Gianni was still asleep, his rugged, handsome face peaceful in a way Cedric had never seen before. And their hands were still intertwined where they’d found each other during the night.
Cedric watched him breathe. Watched the rise and fall of his chest, the way morning light caught the cuts on his face.
He came back for you, Cedric’s brain supplied. Risked everything.
Gianni’s eyes opened slowly, focusing on Cedric’s face.
They didn’t speak. Just lay there watching each other, hands still clasped, and Cedric realised with sick certainty that he was in so much deeper than he’d ever intended.
He was falling for him, a voice whispered. Falling for the monster who destroyed his life.