Page 85 of Bound by Desire
That’s where we are now. I’m sitting, just waiting for my beautiful woman to wake up. The doc and nurses left just moments ago, taking all the damn tubes from her mouth, and are now watching her like hawks. So far,sogood.
Nox comes behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. I don’t tense, move—nothing. I don’t have the energy to do so. Every bit of it is going to my girl. He’s been here, though, only leaving me briefly, mostly sitting off to the side by the window. Here but not, giving me the support he can without being in myfuckingface.
Having him by my side is much like the days when we were younger. He always had my back before I turned to the other shit. Feels good to have his back again aftereverything.
“Brother, do you needsomethin’?”
“Her to fuckin’ wake up,” I replyinstantly.
He squeezes my shoulder. “Know that.Shewill.”
A lump forms in my throat. “Yousosure?”
“Damn right. That woman is tough as hell. She’s not ready togoyet.”
I shake my head and close my eyes. “She can’t beready.”
Nox comes around, momentarily stealing my attention from the bed. “She even tries it, you and I go in and getherback.”
That lump gets harder to control, knowing he has mine and my woman’s back. All I can do is nod as he does the same then moves off by the windowagain.
With each second that ticks by, more of the fear creeps in. I want to yell at her, “Wake the fuck up,” but I know it won’t doanygood.
I hate it. Fucking hatethisshit.
Inside, I’mempty.
* * *
Pressure comes to my hand,and I pop up. Relief floods me when I see my beautiful girl’s green eyes and a smile onherlips.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Ilieon the couch in Deke’s apartment, looking up at the ceiling. If he doesn’t stop treating me like glass, I’m going tohurthim.
Brewer lies at my feet. He hasn’t left me for any long period of time. He must have his doggie sense and knows that I was hurt and wants toprotectme.
“I love you, but if you don’t stop this shit, I’m going to plan yourmurder.”
Deke pulls me into his lap, my most favorite place on the planet. “You loveme,huh?”
Well, hell, guess I just threw that one out there, but I did have a near death experience, even if he doesn’t like to bring it up because it makes him all twitchy. I get it. Of course I didn’t see me, but Ilivedit.
“Yeah.”
“Good, because I love you, too.” He pulls me to his lips and kisses me softly, yet deeply andpossessively.
Yeah, I lovethisman.
“You sure your mom’s up for this?” I ask, flitting around Deke’s parents’ kitchen, putting out the food for the party that will be starting in the next thirty-five minutes. Emery’s helping and Deke’s supervising again, because he hasadick.
Asshole.
“She wanted it, she’s gettin’ it,” heresponds.
Angel’s tests came back, and they came back good. Her remission is something for us all to celebrate. I’m not knocking that one little bit. It’s just that she’s still pretty weak, unable to lift things or exert too much energy at a given time. It’s taken a toll on her body, yet her spirits are damn good. I have all the confidences that she’s fought it for good. However, there’s always that chance, and the doctors say she has to routinely get checked, but I feel good aboutthings.
Even Deke is lighter, one less thing off his shoulders. Anything that takes the weight off him, I’m more thanhappyfor.
