Page 106 of The Prodigal

I’m back with the fever-reducing medication in fifteen minutes, finding Remington in the same position I left him.

“Honey, I’m home,” I tease, giving him a gentle shake. “You won’t believe what I found at the drugstore.” I pop the cap on the bottle and take out two pills. “Pussy withdrawal medication!” I chuckle at my own joke. “The pharmacist said they renamed it ‘fever reducer’ after someone claimed the name wasn’t child friendly.”

Slowly, Remington rolls over, his eyes dark and heavy, but he manages to flash me a smirk. “Did he say to take it with pussy or on an empty stomach?”

I twist the cap off the bottled water in my hand. “He recommended shoving it up your ass, but I thought it might be too soon for a backdoor virgin.” I hold out the water. “Good thing he had alternate routes for pussies.”

Remington barks out a pitiful laugh. “You, my love, are a twisted wet dream.”

I’m positive that means he loves me.

“Here,” I push the water closer as I open my hand, revealing the pills in my palm, “take these.”

He stares at my hand and then meets my eyes. “No. I don’t want them.”

Recapping the water, I lay it on the bed and grab his chin. “I know you haven’t had positive experiences with people giving you medicine, but I’m not Tooney. I love you. I would never let anyone hurt you—not even my father. I am your Eve. Please trust me. You can even look at the bottle. I’ll google the name so you can verify what it is. Please,” I beg. “Please, let me help you.”

I don’t expect miracles. Years of trauma can’t be undone with great sex or even love, but trust is different. Trust can be built—it doesn’t have to be healed until you break it. I haven’t broken Remington’s trust, not even once, since I’ve known him. If anything, I’ve more than proved I’m all-in on Team Adam and Eve.

“Don’t look at me skeptically,” I snap when he just lies there, his eyes glued to my face. “You know I’ll warn you when I want to kill you.”

He grins, the lines on his face softening as he weighs my words.

“Yeah, you know I’m right.” I narrow my eyes. “I will always give you a running head start.”

A low chuckle warms my heart. “You are too good to me. I don’t know how I got so lucky to find a woman like you.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “I don’t know how you did either.” I push the pills to his mouth. “Now open. I’ll wait and murder you later in the week when your brain isn’t frying.”

About thirty minutes later, Remington seems to be a little better, but he’s still hot and only awake a few minutes at a time.

“Eden?” he whispers beside me.

“Yeah?”

“I really want to keep you.”

My chest tightens. I don’t like how he phrased that sentence. “What made you think you had a choice, 101?”

I can’t let myself think he’s being serious.

“You’re keeping me, even if it isn’t voluntary.”

Again, I am that crazy girl. Adam had one Eve, not eight. Remington’s sampling days are done. Eve has put a proverbial ring on his finger. Let him try and walk away. He won’t make it far, especially with those smoker’s lungs.

“Don’t make my dick hard when I can’t stay awake long enough to relieve it.” He chuckles, but it sounds off.

I smooth back his hair and wipe the cloth against his face. “You’re feeling worse, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.” He pulls in a shaky breath. “I need to call someone.”

Fucking finally! “I’ll get your phone.”

I don’t give him time to change his mind before I’m across the room and back with his phone in hand, already flipping through his contacts. I have his father pulled up and ready to call when I show him. “Your dad, right?”

After all, he’s a doctor. It makes sense that he could triage his son over the phone.

“Fuck no.” He nearly chokes. “Do not call anyone with the last name Potter. Do you understand?”

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