Page 57 of Digital Desire

“Stop that,” Lauren hissed as she looked at them all. “My brother is alive and fighting and that is not a cause to mourn. We should be positive and upbeat. He needs us now more than ever, and if I see one of you looking sad then I’ll not be responsible for my actions,” she said to them all, her face red and determined.

“Of course,” Zack said with a nod. “Right, everyone go home and get some rest, we can take turns staying with Drew, but we can’t do that if we’re all exhausted.”

“Plus, we have the party to organise,” Lauren said to Zack.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to cancel?” he asked looking unsure.

“No! It goes ahead. Now is the time to rejoice in family and look forward, not wallow in the sadness of the moment.”

“You heard her, go home, rest, and then tomorrow night we see in the New Year Fortis style,” Zack said and was met by a resounding cheer that shocked the entire nursing staff.

* * *

Having climbed into bed at around one am and immediately fallen into a deep sleep, Aubrey was woken by hunger. Her stomach felt like it was trying to eat itself as it rumbled. Turning over in bed, she saw that it was ten am on New Year’s Eve. Will was lying beside her—his arms thrown over his head, leg thrown over the duvet. His gorgeous body was like a feast for her hungry eyes.

Aubrey smiled as she looked at him with his mouth open as slept the sleep of the dead. He was exhausted, so as much as she really wanted to crawl all over him, she let him rest while she slipped out of bed and pulling on her robe over her Garfield pyjamas, padded to the kitchen in search of food.

Filling the kettle with water, she set it to boil while she pulled out porridge oats, milk, blueberries, and honey. Measuring enough for two into a saucepan she added the milk and turned on the gas before she began to stir the oats. Then deciding that porridge alone would not cut it this morning she added four slices of toast to the toaster and pushed it down, before loading butter, apricot jam, and chocolate spread—Will’s favourite, on to a tray.

Catching the porridge at just the perfect consistency, Aubrey poured it into two bowls before adding blueberries and a generous helping of honey and placed them along with two mugs of hot tea on the tray and carried it back to her bedroom.

She stopped on the threshold to admire the fine form of the man in her bed, letting out a happy sigh. They still had an awful lot to figure out, her job, her sister, how fast they were going to move, and in what direction. Aubrey had always wanted a family, but she had given up that dream over the years, but now with Will in her life she found herself thinking about it again. She didn’t want it yet, but one day maybe it would be nice to have a child with Will.

It shocked her how much her attitude had changed since she had decided to let go of the past and forgive her teenage self for being naive and indulging in girlish dreams.

“Are you bringing me food or are you going to just look at me,” said Will as he stretched, running his hand up his firm, washboard belly as her mouth watered.

Aubrey started and moved towards the bed. “You start sassing me, and you won’t get fed at all, buster,” she replied haughtily but with mock annoyance.

He sat up on his elbows as she laid the tray down and climbed back into bed on her side. “Um, well, in that case, I best be on my best behaviour then, ’cos I want dessert too,” he said kissing her neck. Aubrey fought the shiver his kiss ignited and failed as goosebumps broke out on her skin.

“You don’t eat dessert with breakfast,” she answered as she angled her neck, so he could kiss it with more ease.

“Yeah, well I’m starting a new trend,” he said with a laugh.

“Well, eat your porridge before it gets cold and then maybe dessert,” she laughed.

“Yes, mama bear,” he laughed taking the bowl from the tray and gathering a large spoonful of the sweet porridge into his mouth.

“Don’t you turn Red Riding Hood into food for your porn-addled brain.” She laughed as he almost choked on her words.

“Shit, I need to hide my stash better,” he said with a wink.

“Or you could let me watch it with you.” She winked as she ate her own breakfast to hide a grin.

“Oh my God, where did you come from? You’re my perfect woman,” he said setting his empty bowl aside before taking the tray from her and setting it on the floor out of the way of whatever he had planned and reaching for the tie on her robe. She stayed silent as she finished her food, her heart beating faster as he tugged the robe open and slid his hand in and under the top of her pyjama bottoms to stroke the sensitive skin of her belly.

“What are you doing, Geek Boy?”

“Checking you’re not a robot that I created of the perfect woman,” he smirked.

“Eugh,” said with a laugh and slapped his hand away, “you’re disgusting.”

His hand continued to do very delicious things to her body. “And yet you love me anyway!” he exclaimed with a smug grin.

“Um I’m starting to change my mind,” she teased and suddenly found herself underneath a very sexy and very aroused male.

“That wasn’t a nice thing to say,” Will admonished as he caressed her belly, slowly pushing her top until it bunched just under the swell of her breasts. Aubrey felt her breath hitch when he skimmed the underside of her breast with his fingertips.