Page 10 of Doctor’s Orders

“Tell me why you never told me to stop.” Wes’s dark eyes bore into mine, searching for the answer in the depths of my heart. In the depths of mysoul.

The words rise on their own, and as soon as they’re out, I realize they’re true.

“I never told you to stop because… you make me feelseen.” I hug my body against his, burying my face against his chest. “I came to you as a ghost. I didn’t know who I was anymore. But now— I still don’t know everything, and I’m still learning what I want, but I know that you care. And that you’re here for me.” I choke on a sob as I shed my first tears since Beck was born.

“Lacy…” Wes’s hand cups my cheek and tilts my head back so that he can see the tears in my eyes. “I don’t just care about you.I love you.I’ve always loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you.” He sighs against my lips, kissing away my pain and turning it into excitement and happiness and—

Love.There’s love here between us, and as Wes claims my mouth once more, he pulls his hips back and slams into me, swallowing my moan as he drives into me hard, breaking through all the walls I’ve built around my heart.

I live for my son now. But in doing so, I forgot to take care of myself.

As Wes makes love to me, murmuring sweet things in my ear and telling me how beautiful and strong I am, I realize that it might be okay for me to live a little for myself, too.

7

Wes

I take Lacy home close to midnight, but it’s still not enough time with her for me to be satisfied. You’d think after spending a year together, even if part of that time was from a distance, that I’d have had my fill. But no, I still crave more of her.

And thankfully, she seems eager to give it to me.

We’re quiet as we tiptoe into her home, and her sister is asleep on the couch with the TV on mute. Lacy’s son, Beck, is asleep on the other end of the couch. This isn’t my first time seeing him, and I wonder if Lacy understands that.

Not only have I been watching her, but I’ve been watching her son too. It’s important for me to keep thembothsafe, not just her. They’re going to be my family as soon as I can put a ring on Lacy’s finger. And every single family member is important to me.

Lacy asks me to wait for her in the bedroom, and I watch from the darkened doorway as she wakes her son and helps him to bed. A few minutes pass before she lays a blanket over her sister, turns off the TV, and walks into my arms. I wrap her up carefully, knowing she’s had a very stimulating night for both her body and her heart. She’s likely drained and in need of fluids and nutrition.

“I’ll get you some water,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “You shower and get into bed.”

She lets me take care of her, and not only do I get her to drink the entire glass of water, but I help her wash her body as well. I bet no one has ever taken care of her like this, and it’s my privilege to do it from now on.

After thirty minutes, I’m holding her in my arms as she drifts off to sleep.

“Will you stay the night?” she asks through a yawn.

“Not tonight,” I admit, already frowning about it. I’d like to stay, but she’ll need to speak with her son first. And showing up in the morning with her sister around is liable to bring some questions. “But I promise, once you and Beck are ready, I’ll move right in.”

“That would be nice,” Lacy mutters sleepily. “He needs a father in his life.”

I kiss my woman gently, savoring the feel of her in my arms.

That’s exactly what I intend to be. Husband, father, protector, provider.

There’s nothing else I want more in this life than to make her family my own.

“Go to sleep,” I order, brushing my fingertips through her soft hair.

She snorts, smiling against my chest. “Is that an order?”

“Yes,” I chuckle. “And you better follow it.”

“Okay, Dr. Wes,” she mumbles. “I’ll be good.”

As she drifts off, I say the one thing that’s on my mind. “I love you, Lacy.”

I don’t expect her to hear me, so when she sits up and presses a hand to my cheek, I’m surprised. “I loveyou, Wes. Thank you for tonight.” She kisses me gently, and my entire world encompasses this moment.

There is no past. There is no future.

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