Page 81 of We Were Together

Even in the midst of my grogginess, I still think he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. I used to wish he’d peak in high school. That maybe there was a chance he’d level off so the rest of us mere mortals could catch up, but no. He just continued to supersede any expectation I could possibly fathom when it came to him.

“Hey, you.” My words come out slurred as a lazy smile slips into place. “How are you still so pretty? Hospitals aren’t supposed to make people look pretty.” Like I said, pain meds—no joke.

He chuckles, rising to approach the bed, allowing his face to come into focus. “You’re a bit more out of it than when I was here earlier.”

“Am I?” My face must convey my panic, because Nicky nudges me over, moving to sit on the edge of my mattress.

“Don’t worry if you don’t remember. It’s probably from the drugs, not any brain injuries. Rest assured, you were very awake earlier. Issuing all kinds of demands.”

“Demands?” I yawn. “What kind of—” The image of Tommy’s fist colliding with my face jolts me up. Pain tears through my right side, making it difficult to breathe.

“Hey! Hey!” Nicky’s hands take hold of my shoulders, his grip gentle but firm as he stabilizes me. “Are you crazy, woman? You’ve got broken ribs.”

“Jonsie?! Is she okay?”

“Shhh. Yes, Daph. I got her. She’s fine.”

“Tommy?”

“Handled.” He guides me backward, brushing the hair from my face as my head hits the pillow.

I wince, my side now throbbing as I struggle to readjust to a comfortable position. Nicky takes note of my pain, reaching for a clicker hanging over the bed rail and pressing the small red button atop it.

“What’s that?” I ask, my eyes tracking the cable it’s attached to and following it to an electronic box displaying various numbers on the front.

“IV pain meds,” he explains. My eyes drop to the needle in my arm just as a rush of warmth spreads through my body. “Pretty potent stuff. The machine lets you push the button once every three hours to administer a dose, in addition to the other stuff they have you on.”

“Mmmhmm,” I hum as my eyelids grow heavy once again. The pain in my side dulls as my body relaxes into the bed beneath me. “I feel better.”

“I’m sure you do.” He snickers, and I hear him moving around before feeling the mattress dip on my left. A wall of warmth presses against my body as I’m shifted, carefully over to the right, granting space for my new bedmate.

My head turns, my face nuzzling into his side, only to pull back while wrinkling my nose in disappointment. “You don’t smell like you,” I complain.

“I don’t know what that means.”

Pressing my nose into his side once again, I take a deep inhale, reaffirming my previous sentiment. “You smell like… mint and… fabric softener.”

“And what do I normally smell like, demon?”

I smile, slipping deeper into a dreamlike state the longer I engage him.

“Like sandalwood and sunshine. With a hint of gasoline.”

He barks out a laugh. “Gasoline?”

“Yup. Always on a bike. Comes with the territory.” Another yawn overtakes me. “But you don’t smell like any of that right now. I don’t like it.”

“Hold on.” He shifts, maneuvering to sit upright while his body momentarily contorts. Suddenly, he’s lying back down, the skin of his now-exposed torso drawing me in even closer.

I take a whiff, his familiar scent taking root in my brain causing me to bite down on my lip in response. “There you are.” I nestle into him once more. “What did you do?”

“The shirt. I borrowed it from Bishop.”

“Maverick.” I smile as I continue to cuddle up to Nicky in my semi-coherent state. “He loves Jonsie so much.”

“Yeah, I learned about that little fun fact tonight. Thanks for keeping me in the dark, demon.”

“I’m sorrrrrryyyyy.” The word drags out amidst my subdued giggle. “But you can’t be mad, Nick. Their love story is epic.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com