Page 33 of Scorched

Chapter 6

Exhaustion pulled at Declan as he and Maggie walked into his house. He needed the max dose of pain pills, a shower, and eight hours or more of sleep. In that order.

“I’m going to go take a shower,” Maggie said, her voice not much louder than a whisper thanks to all the smoke she inhaled. After Declan rescued her, Brady drove them to the hospital so a doctor could look at her at Declan’s insistence. Maggie hadn’t wanted to go, but he didn’t give her a choice. She hadn’t been able to stop coughing. She was now the proud owner of a bronchodilator inhaler and under orders to rest.

“Same. You can use the shower in the guest bath down here and sleep on the couch if you don’t want to climb the stairs.”

She shook her head. “I’ll be all right. Thanks, though. Good night.”

He offered her a tired smile, and she retreated upstairs. Declan found his pain medicine and swallowed as many as he was allowed. His ribs hadn’t hurt this much since he broke them. He hoped he didn’t damage the repair job or Maggie would have his head. It wouldn’t make any difference that he did it saving her. But he would do it again. There was no way he was going to trust her life with anyone else.

Declan downed the rest of his water, then turned off the kitchen light and made his way upstairs to shower and go to bed. He could hear the water running from the other bathroom and tried not to think about Maggie naked only feet away.

A chuckle slid past his lips as he entered his bedroom. He was in no state to do anything about his need for her. It was all he could do to stand up straight right now. And she wasn’t in any better shape. Her breathing was okay, but he could tell the ordeal had been hard on her.

He undressed as he crossed to the bathroom, leaving his shirt until last. Gingerly, he eased his left arm through the hole, then pulled it over his head and dropped it on the floor. Multiple colors covered his chest, an angry red line cutting through them. He examined the incision and bruising in the mirror. It didn’t look any worse than this morning, which made him think he just overdid it tonight.

Happy with how things looked, he turned and started the shower, letting the spray grow warm before he stepped in. The hot water sluiced over his gritty skin. Declan squirted some soap in his hands and ran it through his hair and over his body. The suds slithered down his frame, turning a light gray on the shower floor from the grime.

Once he was sufficiently clean, he stepped out, running a towel over his hair, then wrapping it around his waist. He stepped into his room to find clothes, but stopped short at the sight of Maggie sitting against a mound of pillows on his bed. Her long legs peeked out from beneath cotton pajama shorts, and a large t-shirt swallowed her upper half.

“What are you doing in here?”

She bit her lip, her gaze glued to his exposed body. Shaking her head, the glaze over her eyes disappeared.

“I know it probably isn’t wise, but can I sleep in here?”

Dear God, was she trying to kill him? “What’s wrong with the bed you’ve been sleeping in?”

“Nothing. I just—” she broke off and sighed. “I don’t want to be alone. My mind won’t shut off, and all I can think about is what would have happened if you hadn’t given me that radio or come in after me.” She finished on a soft whisper, tears welling in her eyes. One spilled over, and Declan was lost.

“Let me put some clothes on quick.” He crossed to his dresser and took out a pair of underwear and some athletic shorts, skipping the t-shirt. He’d never get it on. He walked back to the bathroom to dress, quickly donning the clothes. With his hand on the doorknob, he took a breath, tamping down his desire and locking it firmly away. He tugged open the door and stepped out.

She was under the covers now and curled on her side with the blankets tucked up under her chin. At least those long legs of hers were no longer in sight. Now, she just looked cute as hell.

He stifled a sigh and flipped off the light, then joined her. Easing into the bed, he stuffed the pillows behind his back. Lying flat still hurt too much. Once he was settled, the sleep he thought would come didn’t. His body hummed, sensing the woman beside him.

Her fingers curled over his arm, and he jumped.

“Sorry,” she murmured, withdrawing her hand.

“No, it’s okay. You just startled me.” He’d thought having her touch him would only ramp him up more. But it didn’t. It was comforting. Neither of them were in any condition for more than cuddling, so her touch was soothing instead of arousing. Like sitting by the fire with a good book and a beer after a long day.

He reached for her hand under the blankets. Instead of just holding it, he tugged her closer. She was on his good side, so he tucked her into his body. Her arm crossed his abdomen to curl around his waist. She drew slow circles on his hip at the top of his shorts.

He closed his eyes, enjoying her touch.

“Declan?”

“Hmm?” He kept his eyes closed.

“Thank you.”

He turned his head to look at her. Gratitude shone from her pretty brown eyes. “I will always come for you, Maggie. Always.”

Her hand slid up to his shoulder, and she scooted higher to press a kiss to his jaw. A shot of lust zinged through him, but he put a lid on it. He turned his head and pressed a kiss to her hair. “Go to sleep.”

She nodded against his shoulder, and he felt her settle. Declan inhaled a breath, catching her sweet scent and letting it relax him. He cradled Maggie against him and let sleep take over.

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