First Night

I surveyed my surroundings as if something as big as a second mattress might have been hard to notice within this spacious bedroom. Restlessness clenched my chest. I ran out of the bedroom and glanced around. There had to be something I could use instead of a bed. A large chair, perhaps?

I spotted a settee upholstered in deep purple velvet. It seemed to be an antique, or it had been made to resemble one. I stepped closer and winced at the hard wooden frame and uncomfortable curve that would force my neck to be craned at an awkward angle throughout the night. A hard pass.

Two armchairs could have worked. I scanned the furniture carefully and realized that if I moved them together—

“The bed is large. You won't even notice me sleeping next to you,” Kaiden's voice sounded behind me.

I turned around, giving him a wry smile. He was leaning one shoulder against the doorframe, arms crossed. “I… I can sleep on the floor,” I stated.

“No.” He walked over and grabbed my hand before leading me bac