Page 26 of Blade
I swallow back my maudlin and shake it off as best I can. “I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t have any vibrators in the apartment or they would have been on the floor, and then Cannon would have seen them.”
“Yeah, I’m glad about that, too. I wouldn’t have wanted any of my men to know anything that intimate about you. Oh, and I didn’t get to search your cabinets or fridge for outdated condiments either. Darn it. Cannon would have had my hide if I’d touched anything besides clothes.”
I giggle.
Blade laughs at the same time, and then a grin spreads across his face. “But…”
He backs us up as a unit until we run into the bed and then reaches behind him and brings something around between us. “I found this little guy.”
I gasp and snag him out of Blade’s hands. Without thinking, I bring him to my face and rub my cheek with his paw. I can’t believe I didn’t think of him first. I would have been sad if he’d been lost.
Blade says nothing about my reunion with Tedbear. He simply holds me while I start crying again. Shoot.
I can’t stop, not when Blade is so fucking kind. He strokes my hair and kisses the top of my head. “I figured he was important. He’s so well worn. What’s his name?”
I’m too embarrassed to tell him.
“Let me guess. Billy Bob?”
I giggle through the tears and shake my head, not meeting his gaze.
“Jimmy Joe?”
“Blade…” I lift my face. “Promise you won’t laugh.”
“I would never laugh at a Little girl’s stuffie.”
I draw in a breath. “Tedbear. I was a baby when my mother got him for me. Apparently, I thought it was one word, so Teddy Bear got shortened to Tedbear.”
“That’s so sweet. I bet you miss your mom.”
“Yeah, sometimes. I have some memories of her that aren’t tainted by my dad’s abuse.”
“Tedbear is one of them.”
“Yeah…”
Ten
June
* * *
“Do you want to get back into bed and sleep some more? Or maybe you’re hungry. I can make you some lunch. Your meals are all off schedule, I bet, but you need to eat. How about some canned soup? It’s fast and easy. Chicken noodle?”
He’s so attentive that he’s rambling. “That sounds good.”
“Clothes first?” He wiggles his brows. “I mean, I’m good with you wearing my T-shirt all day, but I bet you’ll eventually want to put on clothes before you teach your class.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes. My students are a bit young for their teacher to show up with high beams.”
He snickers. “My men are too young to see your high beams, too. I’d have to gouge their eyes out if they saw you like this. And I suspect we’ll have a few visitors this afternoon, so yeah… Maybe more clothes.” He sighs dramatically and turns me toward the bed. “The only consolation in this plan is that I get to dress you.”
“You’re so crude.” I giggle.
“I am. Yes. Not going to deny it.” He sits on the edge of the bed and picks up a thick sweatshirt. “How about this?”
I roll my eyes. “It’s a bit warm for that, don’t you think?”
