Page 86 of Crimson Tears

Look at us, becoming mates so quickly. You should be proud.

We move slightly so that Doc can assess her ribs to make sure the altercation didn’t cause any more damage. Once he’s satisfied, I help drape her arm over my side so he can start a new IV for her.

He gets the fluids and the next round of antibiotics started while I try to keep her comfortable and situated between us. Thankfully, her bed is large enough that we all fit well on it together. Sleeping might be a little rough, but I will deal with anything if it means my girl doesn’t wake up scared.

“She should sleep for an hour or so. If the pain becomes too much again or she starts to panic, just press the button and I’ll be here. I forget sometimes that she’s a natural redhead and she might need more medication than I would usually prescribe.”

Boris nods at Doc and shakes his hand.

“The men that touched her, they will be punished?” Boris asks.

Doc nods. “I will see to it myself. They’re good men, but they will learn not to touch my VIP patients like that. Especially ones who are clearly confused.”

I can tell Boris wants to argue. He wants to be the one to deal with their punishment, but he lets it go and Doc excuses himself.

There is one thing we need to ensure before anything goes further. I know that my earlier words bothered Boris, but we never had the chance to discuss things before shit went down. And Nessa doesn’t deserve to deal with this. We need to settle whatever this is and find a way to move forward right now, for all of our sakes.

“You messed up trying to walk away like that.”

He sneers at me. “And you messed up by rushing into that building without a plan.”

I knew this was going to come up at some point. Rightfully so too. I fecked up and deserve to answer for that.

“I’m aware. And I will spend the rest of my life begging for her forgiveness. I will apologize every damn day if that’s what it takes.”

My voice is strong, determined. Boris shakes his head though, looking down at the woman between us like she is so fragile he might break her if he moves the wrong way.

“Don’t do that to each other,” he says quietly. With a sigh, he looks back up at me. “Apologize and move on. She has already forgiven you, it is clear as day. She does not need you to be sorry. She just needsyou.”

I tilt my head slightly. “Is this one of those ‘with age comes wisdom’ things?”

He chuckles a little, lightening the tension of the moment.

“Something like that. You will understand when you are older.”

A few minutes of silence pass before he breaks it.I’m honestly surprised, I thought I would have to draw this one out of him.

“Would you have let me stay?”

It takes me a second to realize what he’s asking. “After I went down on her in front of you and you all but watched with your dick in your hand?”

He nods, looking down at Nessa as his fingers continuously glide through her hair in a way I happen to know she loves.

“I would have let you fight.” I think about him shoving me out of the way to claim her right where I made her soak my face. Then imagine me pulling her hair back so she has no choice but to look at the both of us while he takes what he needs, and she gives it to him so beautifully.

Feck, I’m getting hard with my girl in a hospital bed. Not cool, big guy. Calm it down.

“I do not wish to fight with you, Kid. Fighting causes stress. Bickering distracts us. If we are focused on each other, who is caring for her?” He glances up at me, a real question in his gaze.

“It’s a good thing our girl is capable of taking care of herself then,” I reply with confidence. Nessa may be soft with us, but she is capable. I never want her to believe we think otherwise.

“And she loves our banter, it turns her on.” I half grin and he shakes his head like I couldn’t possibly know that. But I do. I see it in her eyes. He just needs to look a little harder.

“A woman like Nessa should never have to care for herself. She should be loved and adored every moment of every day.”

Well duh,I mutter in my head. But I know I need to have more finesse here so he will believe me when I say I am all in.

“Agreed. But we can adore her while also having our own kind of relationship.”

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