Page 30 of Bitter Sweet Love

“Hey,” he said, scooting closer. “You’re finally awake.”

I opened my mouth, but what came out was no more than a hoarse, pathetic croak. Dez dropped my hand as he leaned back in his chair, reaching for the pitcher of water on the nightstand.

As Dez helped me sit up enough to drink, my gaze flitted around my surroundings. Beige walls, minimal furniture and heavy white curtains. It wasn’t a room in my clan’s home.

I felt as if I’d climbed a hundred stairs by the time I rested my head on the soft pillow again. “Thank you.”

Dez picked up my hand again, threading his fingers through mine. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired.” I turned toward him. My head was full of cobwebs. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?”

I searched through my hazy thoughts, slowly picking up the important stuff. “Herbert bit me.”

He nodded. “A pukwudgie’s bite is poisonous. I didn’t know it would be. If I had—”

“It’s not your fault.” I cleared my throat, wishing I could sit up. “You didn’t know. And if it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. God, I feel dumb.”

He smiled slightly. “Why?”

“Why?” I repeated dully. “You told me not to touch the stupid thing and I should’ve known better.”

He smoothed my damp hair back from my face with his free hand. “Well, trusting anything named Herbert is a bad idea.”

I croaked out a laugh. “That’s true.” Wetting my lips, I then let out a long breath. “Where are we?”

“We were too far from home to take you back.” He slid his hand to my cheek and then he sat back, still holding my hand in his other one. “I brought you to DC. We’re in Abbot’s home.”

My eyes widened. “We’re here? How? Did you drive?”

“Driving would’ve taken too long, and I didn’t know how dangerous the bite was. It was quicker to fly. And I’m glad I did. Turns out a pukwudgie’s bite isn’t something to mess with. Abbot sent one of his clansmen to get our car. All your stuff is here.”

I stared at him. He’d flown here? Carrying me? No wonder he looked as if he was about to fall over. “Dez, I... a thank-you isn’t enough.”

“You waking up and being okay is enough.” He squeezed my hand. “There were a couple of minutes I didn’t think you would. And I...” He swallowed hard as he closed his eyes. When they reopened, they shone the color of the sky before dusk as he brought my hand to his mouth and placed a kiss against my palm. “I was really worried.”

An ache pierced my chest at the agony in his voice. “I’m okay, though. Right?”

“Yes, but...” He lowered my hand back to the bed. “Jas, you’ve been asleep for a day and a half.”

“What?” I breathed. That couldn’t be true. I felt as though I hadn’t slept in days. “Oh, my God, I’m going to find Herbert and strangle him.”

Dez coughed out a laugh. “You need to get behind me in line for that.” His grin faded into a wince. “I had to tell your father.”

I cringed. “Oh, no.”

“He almost came down here, I think, to kill me. Abbot got on the phone and calmed him down, told him that you were going to be okay.” He smiled again, the twist of his lips tired. “Abbot said you’d feel better very soon, but he’s offered his house to us as long as we need to stay.”

“That’s really nice of him,” I murmured. My brain was stuck elsewhere, slowly turning everything over.

Dez let out a heavy breath. “Can I...?” He shook his head, starting again. “I’m exhausted and I need to lie down, but I’m not leaving you. Can I lie here with you? That’s all I want—to just lie here with you for a little while.”

My heart did a little dance in my chest at his request. Unable to speak because the words building in my throat were best left unsaid for the time being, I nodded.

“Thank you.” Dez dropped his head, and his large shoulders relaxed. Up until that moment, I hadn’t realized how tense he was sitting beside me.

Wordlessly, he made me finish off the rest of the water before climbing into the bed and stretching out next to me. I lay there for a moment, staring at him, and I forced my body to move. It took everything I had, but I rolled onto my side and wiggled closer, placing my head on his shoulder.

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