"It's fine. I'll remain here with you," William responded, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "Rest."

Elise stared at him. He added, "You frequently visited and looked after me during my previous hospital stay."

"You were injured because of me," Elise pointed out.

"I always repay kindness a hundredfold. There's no need for such formality, Ms. Scott," William stated, his tone resolute.

Elise pressed her lips together. A persistent feeling nagged at her, suggesting she would wound the vulnerable part of him if she refused.

So, she simply turned over, presenting her back to him, and closed her eyes to sleep.

William settled into the chair beside her hospital bed, his gaze fixed on her delicate, small form.

She was truly petite. So very small.

Yet, she possessed a toughness that was almost painful to witness.

William's Adam's apple moved in a slow swallow.

If he had stopped her all those years ago, during her desperate flight…

Would she have learned to trust more easily?

Elise hadn't anticipated actually falling asleep.

She had formulated a perfectly reasonable excuse to make William leave. But as she lay there with her eyes closed, sleep unexpectedly claimed her.

She rarely slept around strangers, her sense of insecurity usually too profound.

She shifted slightly and discovered William was also asleep, sprawled on the small couch.

The couch was far too tiny for his large frame, forcing him into an awkward, cramped position.

She recalled the time he was hospitalized. Their roles were now completely reversed.

Rising quietly, she picked up her blanket and attempted to drape it over him as gently as possible.

The instant she drew near, however, William's eyes snapped open, startling her.

"Sorry, I… Oh!"

Elise gasped as his hand shot out, capturing her wrist in a firm grip.

He pulled firmly.

Her entire body tumbled into his arms, the world seeming to spin around her.

Before she could process it, William flipped their positions, pinning her beneath him on the couch.

They stared into each other's eyes, locked in that compromising pose.

Then, Elise watched as William suddenly leaned down, his face inching closer to hers…

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

Every instinct screamed rejection, and her body tensed in refusal.

Yet, she hesitated for a split second when she met the intense brightness of his gaze.

She bit her lip, watching him draw nearer…

And nearer still.

At the very last possible moment, she squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists, as if bracing herself to endure something inevitable.

Her entire body went rigid with tension. Then, suddenly, she relaxed and her eyes fluttered open.

She found herself staring at the top of his head, at his jet-black hair.

He was simply lying on top of her, his weight threatening to suffocate her.

Had he never truly woken up? Was this all just sleepwalking?

Even as he lay heavily upon her, his breathing remained deep and rhythmic. She felt the warmth of his breath against her right ear.

His lips moved slightly. She couldn't tell if he was actually speaking, as she was deaf in that ear.

All she knew for certain was the difficulty of drawing a full breath under his weight.

After a while… perhaps ten minutes, maybe twenty, Elise felt she had reached her limit. She pushed against his shoulder. "Wake up."

Her body stiffened as he stirred. She couldn't look away from his strikingly handsome face as consciousness returned to his features.

William lifted his head, his eyes heavy with sleep as they focused on Elise beneath him. A flicker of surprise crossed his expression.

"What did I do?" he asked.

Good.

At least he was asking about his own actions, and not accusing her of something. She would never have been able to explain this situation otherwise.