Page 122 of Filthy Lovin Heroes

Each step I took deeper into their room made my nerves zip with a tingly energy. I swear, standing five feet from them and I could feel the heat of their bodies lure me in. My face went red at the idea my body responded to just being near them.

I took in their disheveled look. Their tousled hair and a deep shadow on their chins made them look sexier in my eyes.

Not only were the men gorgeous, despite their hospital gowns, but they had big reputations that preceded them.

Tray in hand, I stepped up to the first bed.

The first Ranger, one Lieutenant Ryker “Hawk” Garrison of the US Army, known for his sharp-shooting shooting skills, didn’t look like the toughest badass who I knew singlehandedly saved seven of his team members from enemy fire. No, he currently sat in the middle of his bed with the biggest scowl on his face that made me want to wave a wand or something and make him all better. Then again, I don’t mind taking care of the big baby who came in with a fractured humerus and a bad fever. Which, like I’ve told him a million times, wouldn’t have been as bad had he come to the ER sooner.

But no. He was a bad ass so no hospitals until he was seeing double. Damn stubborn men.

That said, I could only imagine how hard it must be on a man as tough as him to be bedridden due to a fever. At least he was on the mend and would be discharged within the next day or so. I placed the tray on the table at the end of the bed and fixed the covers around his waist.

I took one final breath to steel for the battle ahead before slipping the small cup of pills into the large hand of the Ranger.

Hawk’s scowl deepened and his bright blue eyes, still shimmering from his fever, pierced mine.

Here goes.

He opened his mouth to no doubt give me a hot retort about not taking his pills when I raised a hand.

“You’ve given me trouble all week so don’t give me that scowl. If you’d listened last night and taken your meds when I said and not when you felt like it, you wouldn’t have had me in here at four this morning giving you a shot for your fever. Had you, your fever would probably be gone and you’d be out the door if you only played nice.”

His eyes sparked with mischief and there went that wicked, heart-melting smirk he used on me every chance he found. Damn if it doesn’t make me think there are ulterior motives for him giving me hell.

Hawk grunted, but I saw the glint in his eyes.

I watch the hand he used to rake through his thick black hair. “It’s just that…” he tried to start in a gruff voice I’m positive dropped panties ever since he hit puberty.

I lowered my voice and leaned in until I could see the dark speck of silver in his eyes. “Take the pills, Hawk. They’ll make you feel better so you can get out of here sooner and back to your men where you’re needed.”

“You see, that’s the problem, nurse. I’m not sure I wanna leave. Not when an angel like you flutters about taking care of me and tucking me in so nice.”

His eyes never left mine as he talked and I found myself leaning in.

He brushed his knuckles over my cheek.

I try to smile and pretend his hot touch doesn’t do a thing for me. Yeah, that didn’t work. The heat creeping up my cheeks gave me away the second those fingers of his touched my warming skin.

I pulled back at the same time he dropped his head against his pillow, eyes closing. The fever was taking a toll on the man, no matter how big and tough he wanted to act.

“Hawk,” I stated coolly despite the war of fluttering butterflies knocking each other out in my stomach.

He whipped his head around to pierce me with his sharp gaze. His blue eyes felt like pure hot ice burrowing deep into my soul.

“Just a minute, sweetheart. This fever is eating me alive.”

I pursed my lips and pushed my hair out of my eyes so I could stare him down right back.

“Here, let me help you.” I went to wrap my arm around his shoulders and help him sit up a bit, but he slipped his hand around the base of my neck and held me gently away.

“Nah, that’s okay. I just need a minute to catch my breath. I definitely don’t want a repeat of last night’s injection so I’ll be a good boy and take my meds in a minute.”

“Stubborn man.” I held them out again. The first few days he’d been in the hospital ward, he’d been delirious with fever, unable to keep anything down. At one point the doctors had been talking about maybe needing to operate, but then Hawk started to improve.

His bunkmate and best friend, Army Ranger Kane “Lucky” Callahan, straight from Tennessee with a Southern drawl that would make a woman shed her panties, was another story. He lay a bed away, weak and fighting off severe dehydration and sun exposure after a training op. The pair of Rangers had come in around the same time and she had the luck of them landing in her wing.

Even as sick as they were, they were a pair of sweet-talkers and loved to flirt. The ones who hadn’t been sweet-talked by them in the past wanted to be. And if the hot rumors floating around the base were to be believed, they liked to share their women.

---