Page 36 of Chasing Storm

Leo places his hand on my shoulder. “Joe.”

I shake my head before glancing at him over my shoulder. “Yeah, okay.”

“When I’m removing parts of him while he’s still alive, he’ll know it’s from the both of us.”

We talk some more, and he tells me he’ll call Sean to have them stay at his house. He gives Tea a kiss and leaves. I trail my fingers up her covered legs and take her hand again. A nurse comes in to check her vitals, nodding at me while I sit in the chair. She works in silence, which I’m grateful for. My eyes close to the beeps of the machine, but I’m startled when that same nurse places a blanket and pillow on my lap. I thank her for it and soon after, I fall asleep.

Two days and nights have come and gone while Teagan continues to sleep, aside from the fluttering of her eyelashes. The doctor has given his okay for a small amount of people to visit Tea, and there’s also a waiting room on the ICU floor. I’m in the same clothes as when I brought her to the hospital, and I’ve lived on coffee. The doctors, nurses, and my mother have tried to coax me out of the room, but I can’t leave my little Teacup. Most of the time, I hold her hand, kiss it, and rub my cheek against the softness of her skin. I’m drowning in helplessness, not being able to do anything for Teagan. If the silence becomes too much, I talk to her about our life, and what she has to look forward to, such as school, a beautiful home, and somewhere down the line, children. I mention I’d like six, but I’ll be happy with as many as she wants to give me.

Remembering Sean brought Teagan’s carry bag, I shuffle through it to see if there’s anything she would need. I come across her journal and a reading book. Her journal sounds interesting, except I don’t want to invade her privacy, so I open the book,Quiet Chaos. Memories flood my thoughts of her reading to me when James and his goons beat the hell out of me. She loves her romance books and the steamy scenes. I begin to read where she left off.

“My finger runs along her wetness, and I push back into her backend. ‘Relax, Love.’

The pressure builds. Sky comes apart, chanting my name, and telling me not to stop. I piston in and out, finger circling inside her, pulling out and back in. I’ve never seen her react with such an enormous amount of pleasure. She locks up, crying,Oh God, as I pump faster. This prolongs her release and I hit my height. Cum coats us.

She’s a rag doll on top of me. My breaths lifting her along until they die down.

‘Cade?’

‘Hmm?’

‘That felt great.’ I grin. ‘Next time, I have to make sure not to say, Oh God.’

‘Yeah. He had nothing to do with it.’

A second passes before she laughs. I join her, because there’s nothing more beautiful than Sky, laughing after a good fuck. This is what I get to have in my life.”

This scene has me chuckling, bringing me back to our birthday anal sex. It wasn’t something Teagan was particularly curious about, but she did it anyway, as a birthday gift to me. I change in a minute, my emotions catching in my throat, placing the book down. Street fighting and a life of crime could never prepare me for a wife like Teagan. She’s reached my tattered soul and stitched it back together. I’m so lost in thought, I don’t hear Officer Podesta come into the room.

He takes a hesitant step and says, “I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. Thought I’d wait a couple of days before intruding.”

I stand and gesture to the other chair. “Not at all.”

He sits, eyes gliding around the room from Teagan to the machines to me. Both of us are uncomfortable. Two men on opposite sides of the law; one lost his love, and the other is holding on for dear life. But I’m sure Teagan would appreciate him stopping by.

In a rough voice, he asks, “How’s she doing?”

“She passed the 24-hour mark, which is a good sign. Teagan’s been sleeping ever since surgery. Doctor says it helps her heal from the trauma.”

It grows quiet again. We view Teagan in bed. My mind can’t help wondering if she will survive, and if so, will she be mentally scarred for life? I’m interrupted by my mother coming into the room. Podesta and I stand, and I introduce them. She gives her condolences to him and states how much Teagan adored Rosie. This causes Podesta to clear his throat of the reminder.

My mom addresses me, “Joey, I’d like you to go to Leo’s.”

“No. I’m not leaving Teagan.”

She rounds the bed and takes my hand. “Son, you’ve been here for two days. Teagan is in good hands. She’s sleeping, which is what she needs.” Her face contorts into a pained expression. “I’m worried about you. You haven’t slept much, showered, or eaten. I can stay here with Teagan.”

Podesta speaks up. “Please, let me watch over Teagan. Go with your mom.” His eyes find mine. “Since Rosie, I’ve taken time off work, except I don’t have anything to do. My frame of mind is…”

“I can’t leave Teagan.”

“Joe, she’ll be okay. I won’t let anyone else in the room. Promise.”

My gaze shifts between the two of them, and I sigh. It would do me some good to shower, but that’s it. I can’t be gone too long in case Teagan wakes so I agree.

My mom and I head to Leo’s where I find him and Sean talking in the living room. As soon as I walk in, they stand, both askinghow she’s doing.

“The same. I’m going to take a shower.”

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