Page 95 of Forever Theirs

Miles’s harsh whispers sounded from the corner of the exam room, his knuckles now white where he gripped the phone as he ran the other hand over his beard in agitated swipes. Keeping one eye on him to ensure he didn’t punch another hole through the wall, I studied Aspen’s beautiful face, relaxed in sleep. Whatever pain meds Dr. Richards gave her knocked her out cold, which was good and bad.

Good, because the doctor sewed up the massive laceration—forty-two stitches—without her feeling a thing. The bad, her sleeping soundly indicated a possible concussion Dr. Richards diagnosed based on the goose egg on her forehead. He wanted her awake, but that wouldn’t happen until the meds wore off, though she would need more to manage her pain level.

Grabbing a sterile wet rag, I swiped it across her pinkish skin slowly, cleaning the dried blood coating her fingers. I glanced at the clock over the door that led out to the small clinic. It had only been two hours since we stormed into our cabin after getting Liam’s urgent call that Aspen was hurt and needed us. Thankfully, Langston was not only a medic in the Army but also trained as an EMT, providing the emergency trauma support we needed during rescue missions or just around Anchor Bay.

A soft sound snapped my attention from watching Miles pace to Aspen just as her dark lashes fluttered open. After several blinks, her gaze locked on me. I slumped against the table at the swell of relief that flowed through me. Not saying a word, I ran a single finger over her cheek, down her jaw.

A pain-filled expression flashed across her face when she shifted along the crappy clinic bed.

“Try not to move, sweetheart,” I rasped. “You’re at Dr. Richards’s clinic. Miles and I are both here.” She licked her lips and glanced around, brows furrowing. I hitched my chin at Miles to get his attention. “End that call. She needs to see you.”

Without a goodbye, he tapped the screen and strode to stand beside me. Her body instantly relaxed, and her lips curled into a soft smile.

“You’re here. You’re both here,” she whispered, voice cracking.

Reaching over, I grabbed the cup of water the nurse left and nudged the straw between her lips. After a few drinks, I pulled it back and set it on the table.

Beside me, Miles vibrated with the need for answers. I was proud of him for not immediately demanding?—

“What happened?” he barely got out around his locked jaw.

I rolled my eyes and jabbed an elbow into his stomach, making him grunt. “We talked about this, you overbearing, grumpy asshole.” I looked to Aspen, shooting her a goofy grin. “This guy can’t read a room, am I right?”

Her smile widened. “But he’smyoverbearing, grumpy asshole,” she rasped. “And you’re my mischievous mediator.”

“I’m not grumpy,” Miles muttered.

Aspen and I exchanged a humor-filled look before laughing in unison. Shaking her head, she glanced down at her bandaged arm, all humor fading.

“How bad was it?” she asked, not looking away from the white gauze.

“Forty-two stitches, and the doc thinks you have a concussion.” Miles planted a hand on either side of her head and leaned in close. “You scared the shit out of me, baby girl. I’ve never felt more all-consuming fear and helplessness than when I walked in to find you on that couch, bleeding out.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, eyes going watery. She looked past him to me. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey.” I shoved Miles out of the way. “You have nothing to be sorry for. This wasn’t your fault. But please, never put yourself in a situation like that again. I died a thousand deaths between the time we got the call that you were hurt until your big, beautiful brown eyes blinked open just now.”

“But she was going to hurt Jubie.” Grimacing, she lifted her injured arm and rested it over her stomach. “I got back from the book club meeting, where I drank one too many glasses of wine.” Miles grumbled something under his breath, and I elbowed him in the ribs to shut him up. “When I got to the cabin, she was there, dragging Jubie toward the back door. I didn’t know if she was alive or not, but I still had to do something.” Tears broke free and dripped out of the corners of her eyes. “She wanted to hurt Jubie to hurt you two, and I knew it would.” Her gaze went to Miles. “I know how much Jubie means to you and how much you need her.”

Miles’s features softened. Cupping her cheek, he brushed away the trickling tears with each swipe of his thumb. “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you protecting Jubie, but don’t you see you mean more to me? That I need you more?” Her head tilted side to side. “I love my dog, baby girl. She’s been with me every step of the way, but you and Aiden are my life, my world. I would be devastated if something happened to Jubie, but I’d lose everything worth living for if something happened to either of you.”

My throat closed up with unshed tears.

“I love you, Aspen Carter.” Her eyes widened at his admission. “I’m in love with everything about you. Your independence, which drives me fucking insane.” Her wide smile trembled as more tears poured down. “Your soul-healing dark eyes, adorable freckles, and open heart. You accept me, all of me, and from now on, I never want to know what it’s like not to have you in our lives.”

“I love you, too, Miles,” she cried, trembling on the bed with her happy sobs. “You deserve to be loved. You deserve everything because of what you’ve done and who you are. I’m amazed by you.”

There was a sharp knock at the door before it swung open. Dr. Richards walked in, attention on the chart in his hand.

“Give us a second, Doc,” I asked, making him look up from the papers.

“I need to check?—”

“Out,” Miles demanded, pointing toward the door. “Now.”

With an annoyed huff, he turned and walked back out, slamming the door shut behind him.

“You two are insufferable,” Aspen said, smile so wide that the corners of her eyes crinkled. “You should go apologize, Miles. He is the one who stitched me up, right? And we need him to not be pissed so we can get out of here and go home.”

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