My smart girl 3. Rewriting our stars

When we returned to my hospital room, it no longer felt quite so cold and terrifyingly sterile. The steady warmth of Jay’s large hand resting protectively on the small of my back was more soothing than any medicine could ever be. He turned off the overhead lights, leaving only the soft glow of the small bedside lamp, then carefully lay down beside me on the narrow bed and pulled me into his arms. The hospital bed was painfully small for two people. Jay’s tall, broad frame took up nearly all the space, yet I didn’t mind in the slightest. When he held me this close, every fear, every worry seemed to fade into the background. His presence wrapped around me like the safest blanket in the world. “So, baby… is this better?” he whispered with a gentle smile, pulling the thin blanket over us and pressing a soft kiss to my temple as he held me tightly against his chest. “Much better,” I sighed in quiet relief, nestling my cheek against his warm chest. Beneath my ear, I could hear the calm, steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and mine slowly began to match it, finding peace in his nearness. “Now do you think you can sleep?” Jay murmured, his fingers tenderly stroking the back of my head. “Or should I still get you something to help?” The feather-light touch made my eyelids grow heavy. I hummed softly, thinking that nothing in the world could compare to the comfort of his affection. “No need… Thank you, my darling…” I breathed, a pleasant shiver trailing down my neck wherever his careful fingers moved. “Don’t thank me for this, bunny,” he said quietly, his voice deep and sincere. “I’m your boyfriend. Protecting your peace and making you happy is my most important job. I would do anything for you… Never doubt that. Not even for a second.” His words touched something deep inside me. My eyes stung with sudden tears, and I pressed a grateful kiss to the warm skin of his neck. To keep myself from falling apart completely, I decided to tease him instead. I propped myself up on one elbow and asked with a playful, slightly wicked smile: “Anything at all? Even sleeping with me on this tiny, uncomfortable bed? What about your poor old-man osteochondrosis, Mr. McFell?” Jay let out a low, muffled laugh, immediately understanding the reference. He turned onto his side, propping his head on his hand, bit his lip with that shameless grin, and looked at me with sparkling, mischievous eyes. “Sorry, sweetheart. I lied to you that night. I don’t actually have it.” I huffed and rolled my eyes. “I knew it! So why did you make up that whole story about being old and sick? Were you trying to make me feel sorry for you?” He chuckled, hiding his laughter behind his fist, then admitted with a soft smile: “So you wouldn’t kick me out of my own bed, of course. And look — my plan worked perfectly. The goal justifies the means, little fawn. You know what they say… all’s fair in love and war.” “Deceiver,” I accused, pointing a finger at him. “You took advantage of my kind heart and pity.” He caught my finger gently and brought it to his soft, smiling lips, kissing it tenderly. “In my defense, it was a white lie. A lie to save you.” “Save me from what?” “From nightmares, baby,” he whispered, his gaze softening. “You sleep so much better when I’m next to you. Isn’t that true?” “It is,” I sighed, surrendering completely, and curled back into his side. The warmth of his body surrounded me like a protective shield, making sleep tug at me more insistently with every passing second. “Then sleep, honey…” he murmured lovingly, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll stay right here and guard your dreams… and you.” I was almost ready to let myself drift off, but one persistent thought wouldn’t leave me alone. I lifted my head from his shoulder and whispered hesitantly: “Jay?” “Hm?” His voice was equally soft in the quiet darkness. “Still… there really is something wrong with me, isn’t there?” He froze instantly. I felt his body tense, and the sharp breath he took told me more than any words could. For a heartbeat, the air between us grew heavy. Then he spoke, his voice carefully calm and reassuring: “Don’t worry, sweetheart. The MRI didn’t reveal any serious issues, but… your body is quite weakened right now. It concerns me, so we just need to run a few more tests. Just to be safe.” His arms tightened around me like a warm, protective cocoon, but a cold shiver still ran down my spine. I unconsciously clutched his t-shirt in my fist, my voice small and vulnerable: “I’m scared, Jay… Are you hiding something from me?” I wasn’t naive. I could feel it — the way he and Ten had been acting, the way they insisted on keeping me here. Something wasn’t right. Jay pulled me even closer, covering my cold fingers with his large, warm hand. He kissed my forehead again, his lips lingering there as if trying to chase away my fears with pure affection. “No, baby. There’s nothing you need to be afraid of. Trust me… These are just precautions. I promise.” Even though his voice was gentle, I knew him well enough to sense the wall he had put up. He wasn’t going to tell me the full truth tonight. Not yet. I let out a heavy, defeated sigh but still tried to sound threatening: “Fine… I’ll believe you for now. But if you’re lying to me, I swear I’ll hit you. Understood?” Jay chuckled softly, the sound warm and fond as he stroked my back in slow, soothing circles. “My fierce little kitten never lets me off the hook… But I assure you, baby, there’s no reason for you to hit me. Please don’t. Just pet me instead. After all, I’m playing the role of Jaedi tonight.” I huffed a quiet laugh, my fingers already tracing unconscious patterns across his chest. A small smile found its way to my lips as I whispered: “Will you purr for me then?” “Of course, my love… I’m very good at purring, as you know,” he smiled, gently tilting my chin up so he could rub his nose playfully against mine. “Then purr…” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck, seeking his closeness like a lifeline. “About anything. I just need to hear your voice… It calms me down.” “I know a much better way to calm you, my love…” he breathed, his voice turning low and husky. In one smooth motion, he rolled me onto my back and hovered over me, eyes dark with affection and something deeper. “And it’s far more pleasant than just talking.” I already knew exactly what he meant. Still, I reached up, gently stroking his cheek as I whispered: “Show me what is it?” “This…” he exhaled with a tender smile, cradling my face in his large, warm hands. Then he kissed me — slowly, deeply, and with such aching tenderness that the rest of the world melted away... Jay kissed me the way only he could: reverently, patiently, pouring all his love into every touch. His lips brushed not only mine, but my cheekbones, temples, forehead, and the tip of my nose in the lightest, most teasing kisses, as if he couldn’t bear to leave any part of me unloved. His gentle hands roamed slowly over my shoulders, arms, and through my hair, while his mouth eventually wandered down to my neck and collarbones, drawing soft, breathless sounds from me. I clung tightly to his broad shoulders — the strong, safe wall I could always hide behind. When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard, chests rising and falling rapidly as we tried to regain control. “Was that… your way of calming me?” I asked with a shaky smile, biting my swollen lips. The sweet taste of him still lingered. “How am I supposed to sleep now? Calm feels impossible.” “Sorry, kitten… I might have gotten a little carried away,” Jay murmured, stroking my cheek with unmistakable satisfaction in his eyes. Yet his gaze held such profound tenderness that it made my heart ache with love. “You’re so sneaky…” I whispered, still stroking his face even as I pretended to scold him. “I knew I shouldn’t have let you into my bed.” “Any regrets?” he teased, raising an eyebrow as he caught my hand and kissed each fingertip before lacing our fingers together. I shook my head, sighing softly. “Of course not… You’re so big and warm… like a giant teddy bear. Sleeping in your arms feels incredibly safe.” He laughed quietly at the comparison, but I wasn’t done. “It’s just a shame you can’t… take your shirt off,” I whispered seductively, trailing a finger down his chest while looking up at him from beneath my lashes. Jay went very still, watching me intently, as if testing my boldness. For a moment, heat flared between us. Then he caught my wandering hand at the waistband of his jeans, his dark eyebrow lifting playfully. “Who said I can’t?” he murmured, voice low and dangerous in the best way. “One word from you, Bambi, and I’ll take everything off… if that’s what you want.” My heart skipped. I knew I was playing with fire, but the words slipped out anyway: “And the pants too.” Jay chuckled, leaning down to whisper hotly against my neck, leaving a teasing kiss just below my ear. “That… comes with a separate price, Bambi.” I huffed and lightly pushed at his shoulders, though it was like trying to move a mountain. “Then keep them on and just sleep!” The shameless brunet laughed softly, then pulled back just enough to look at me with a wicked grin. “Fine. Since you asked so nicely… I’ll take them off for free tonight.” Before I could protest, he sat up slightly and in one fluid motion pulled his t-shirt over his head, tossing it onto the nearby chair.