Page 41 of The Queen of Nightmares

I glanced down at my waist, where I could feel a hand resting on my bare belly underneath the hospital-issued cotton gown. My whole body froze as I took stock of what else I was feeling.

A large body was tucked in close to my back, spooning me from behind. Warm breath tickled the fine hairs at the nape of my neck. And a long, hairy leg was tangled in mine.

“Jack,” I breathed, not daring to believe it was true. Tears immediately filled my eyes and began to fall, soaking the pillow under my face as my shoulders shook. I tried to hold the sobs back, but so many overwhelming feelings flooded in too quickly. It was impossible to stop.

“Shhh…” The hand over my belly lightly caressed me there. “I’m here, little Queen. Everything is going to be alright now.” He continued to caress me as he brushed soft kisses against the back of my neck, just holding me as my body and mind purged the pain, anguish, terror, worry, and anger in great, big, wracking sobs. He spoke softly next to my ear, his deep, gravelly voice soothing my raw nerves.

“You did so good while I was gone, little Queen. You saved me. You saved the town. You were so strong, but you can relax now.” He clenched me tighter to him as he paused before placing a tender kiss below my ear. “You are more than I could have ever dreamed of in a woman. You are more than just my equal. You are better than I could ever be. I love you, Sally. With my entire being, I love you.”

As he spoke quietly, pieces of the jagged edges inside me smoothed out. Some of the pieces fit back together perfectly. Some of the pieces would always remain broken. But at least they weren’t sharp anymore. Too much had happened in the last year for me to ever be the same as I was.

I had been held captive and tortured.

I had fallen in love.

I had watched the father of my child taken by his enemy without knowing if I’d ever see him alive again.

I had been told the love of my life was dead.

I had killed not one, buttwomen.

No, I would never be the same. In some ways, I was better. I had found the woman I was meant to be. I had found strength I didn’t know I could possess. Maybe I was crying, but that’s okay. Crying didn’t mean weakness. Crying just meant that my emotions were so big, they needed a little release. Besides, wasn’t it okay to be weak every once in a while?

My heart was twisting in my chest for the first time in days, not in fear or pain, but in happiness. Jack was here, he was alive, he washoldingme.I shifted, turning to my back slowly, needing to see his face.

I had to swallow past the sudden lump in my throat as I blinked away a fresh round of tears. I would not cry. He was alive, and he was here. That was a cause for joy. So he looked a bit worse for wear, but that was okay. He would heal.

I raised my hand, heedless of the tube attached to it, and gently touched his battered face. Both of his eyes were swollen and bloodshot. It was so swollen I could tell he could barely see from one of them, if at all. Multiple areas had been either taped or sewn on his eyebrows, cheeks bone, the bridge of his nose, and upper lip.

He pressed harder into my hand. Instinct told me to pull away so I wouldn’t cause him pain, but I held still, allowing him to choose how much touch he could handle.

“Jack.” His name was hardly more than a whisper, I wasn’t even sure if it made it past my lips, but he knew I said it.

Jack leaned down and softly pressed his lips to mine in a sweet caress. I could feel the intensity of his gaze as he leaned back to peer at me through his one good eye. “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, little Queen.”

He tried to lift his hand to touch me the way I was touching him, but our IV lines got caught together. I choked out a watery laugh as we pulled apart.

“You should rest more, baby. The doctor said you were suffering from exhaustion and dehydration.” I only sighed and carefully returned to the position I had woken up in. I had no idea how long I’d been asleep in his arms, but now that he was with me, I felt as if I could sleep for days, finally able to truly relax and rest.

I yawned as I settled in. “How are they letting us stay in the same bed?” I murmured, not caring. I loved it, but I knew it went against policy.

“It was either this,” he grumbled as he tightened his arm around me, “or I walked out of here without treatment.”

I hummed. I knew there was more to the story, but I doubted he would elaborate. “Will you tell me what happened while you were there?” I asked sleepily.

“Not now,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “Maybe if you get some rest, and after the doctor says you’re back to full strength.” I pouted with my eyes closed. I’d say I could handle it, but I knew there would be no arguing with him. “And, little Queen?”

I tensed at his suddenly serious tone. “Yes?” My eyes popped open to stare at the window across the room.

“Once we are both back home, I’m going to punish you for not taking care of yourself better.” I swallowed hard, not liking what that would mean, but also, Jack was alive and capable of punishing me. So, as I drifted off to sleep, it was with a smile on my face.

* * *

A door banging open startled me awake, nearly making me bolt upright in the unfamiliar bed I was lying in. Only the heavy arm wrapped across my middle kept me in place.

“Shit, Prez, I’m sorry.” The sound of Barrel’s gruff voice coming from the other side of the room had me settling again, my heart rate slowing back to its normal rhythm. “But I thought you’d like to know that Doc just woke up.”

I gasped, trying to sit up again, but Jack gently pushed me right back down. His tone was calm, though I could hear the urgency he was trying to hide. “Good. Let the nurse know that we want to go see him as soon as they are done looking him over.” Barrel jerked his chin and immediately left to do what Jack had ordered.

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