Page 27 of In the Cover of Darkness

“Is your bodyguard coming?” he asks looking up at Dante, grinning.

But before Dante can answer, I take his hand in mine, “Lead the way, Doc,” I say, smiling up at him. I know he needs reassurance that I'm almost fully healed, and more importantly, I don't want to risk him backing out of training me, citing that he didn't hear it from the doctor directly so it doesn't count.

A loud high pitch buzzing sound comes from the oscillating cast saw as the doctor cuts through the layers of gauze and plaster, the sweet sensation of air blowing tenderly over the newly exposed skin on my arm. I feel lighter in myself as I've almost shed the last of the physical reminders from what Trevor did.

Gently, I take off my top as directed, so I'm sitting in just my leggings and a bra for Dr Johnson to look over my ribs, the last stage of the yellow, almost brown bruise nearly completely healed. Glancing over at Dante, he's not said anything as Dr Johnson has gone about his checks, just stared at me but I can see he's lost in thought. Almost as if he's looking through me, his knuckles white with how hard he's squeezing his fists.

“We're all done here Mila, pop your top back on and let me get you some strengthening exercises for your wrist. You'll need to complete them for the next few weeks but you should be back to fighting fit very soon,” Dr Johnson says, a soft look overtaking his face as he talks to me.

Putting my top and jumper back on, the feeling is so incredibly satisfying with my sleeve brushing over where my cast was only a moment ago. I take a few steps and stand in front of Dante, who still hasn't moved a muscle. Slowly, I reach my hand out and gently caress his cheek. This seems to break him out of whatever trance he was lost in and he looks up at me, leaning into my hand, searching for something in my gaze before he pulls me closer. Wrapping his arms around my waist, nuzzling his head into my neck, no words are spoken. He just stays there holding me until Dr Johnson returns and I take a seat next to him.

Wrist rehab plan in place, there is one final question I need to ask. Looking to Dante and then back to Dr Johnson, I ask, “I want to start self defence, well, Dante has agreed to teach me, but only if you give the all clear.”

Dr Johnson takes a full minute to respond, and let me tell you a minute is a bloody long time when you're waiting on an answer you desperately want to go in your favour. At some point I reach over and hold Dante's hand, getting whatever support I can from him and our connection.

“Okay. On one condition,” Dr Johnson finally says.

“Oh my gods, really! I thought you might have been thinking of a way to let me down gently.”

"Come on Doc, you're telling me she's okay to start punching—"

Holding up a finger Dr Johnson cuts off Dante, taking a further few seconds before going into more detail.

“Definitely no punching, at least not for another three months. Nothing that could injure her ribs either. I'm sure you can figure out something within those parameters. As far as weapons go, knives are okay, but wait at least a month to use any guns with a large recoil, she won't have the strength in her wrist yet to handle it, but something smaller should be no problem.”

“Wait, what? Knives and guns? I was thinking more about how to break someone's nose or something like that,” I say, almost an octave higher than usual. I've never fired a gun before and I have no plans to stab anyone.

I look over at Dante and unexpectedly, he has a large smile on his face. “Doc, I like the way you think.”

“Wait, you're okay with this. Knives are okay but punching’s not.”

“Yes,” they both say in unison, looking at me as I sit back in my chair, a little exacerbated at the sudden change of events.

???

Back in Dante's truck, discharge papers in hand, I can't help but feel excited. “Good things are coming Dante, I can feel it. Everything is changing for the better, and we can only go up from here,” I say, grabbing his hand, letting out a small squeak in excitement.

“Well, I'm glad you've said that because I kind of have a surprise.”

“What kind of surprise?” I say, looking over at him, sitting in the driver's seat. We still haven't left the medical centre car park so I'm assuming it's something nearby.

“Dante! WHAT KIND OF SURPRISE?” I practically yell at him, climbing over the centre console so I'm sitting on his lap. Not straddling him, I'm not that confident yet but close enough so I can look at him directly. Grabbing his shoulders I gentlyshake him, a large smile on my face. “If it was anyone but you, I would be sceptical, but it's not, so tell me what the surprise is!”

I think I'm entering a new high with how excited I am, especially in front of him, but he seems to be taking it all in stride, smiling along with me, practically letting me manhandle him in the cab of his truck. I'm just so happy that everything seems to be falling into place. My body is basically healed, I have a safe place to live, a job that I'm passionate about and a man I might be falling in love with, well at least crushing hard on. I don't know if this moment can get any better.

“A buddy of mine still in the service got in contact. We've never really talked about it so I hope you don't have any allergies or phobias. A couple of K-9s have retired and their handlers didn't make it.”

He takes my hand and holds it. I understand that he means the handlers lost their lives at some stage during their service. More often than not, I find we are always touching in some way these days. Whether it's holding hands, a grazing touch as we pass by each other going about our day, or cuddling in bed going to sleep. Touching each other has become almost second nature, I just wish it went further sometimes.

“They're called Attila and Ragnar and, well, I've agreed to adopt them. I hope you're okay with it. They arrived at the sheriff's station this morning and we’re picking them up and taking them home today.”

“RIGHT NOW?” I squeal at him.

“Yes, sunshine, right now, but I need you to stop yelling at me, it's making my damn ears ring,” he says laughing at my excitement.

I grab him and pull him into a tight hug, wrapping my arms around his neck. Because I'm sitting almost sideways on his lap, he adjusts my legs so I'm now straddling him, normally itwouldn't be a big deal but I can feel the moment the air shifts between us and this position suddenly seems very intimate. He pulls my hips closer to him so our bodies are now completely pressed against each other. I can feel the heat radiating from him and notice he's gotten hard underneath me. Pulling back from him slightly, he reaches up and gently takes my face in both of his large hands. Less than an inch separates us, his eyes searching mine as only the sound of our heavy breathing can be heard. Whatever this is, at this moment, I don't want to break the spell we've found ourselves in. We are completely alone, the outside world having slipped away.

“Dante,” I say almost breathlessly, his name slipping from my mouth. I can feel myself growing wet at the possibilities of what could happen right now between us if this is the moment we cross the line to something more. I can't help myself as I move my hips slightly, grinding my pussy over his hard cock, needing just a little bit of friction to ease the growing ache in my clit. I don't know if I've ever been this turned on before. My sexual history is less than ideal, and for the most part quite boring, so if he is the one to ignite this fire inside me, let's just say I'm not sad about it.

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