Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
An ache bloomed in my chest, deeper than the broken bones and bruises. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“I kept thinking I needed you by my side to comfort me over your injuries.” His chuckle held no humor. “Sounds crazy.”
“No.” I shook my head. “It sounds like trauma.”
Running a hand over his face, he huffed. “Listen to me, complaining like a jackass when you’re the one in a goddamn hospital bed.”
“Hey.” I gripped his hand and drew it away from his face, once again revealing his pain-filled gaze. “Don’t downplay the shit you went through. It’s just as horrible as what put me here.”
“We’ll get through it together.” He clutched my hand, kissing my knuckles more than once.
“Fuck yeah, we will.” I was done questioning my worth in this relationship. Seeing the fear, agony, and love written all over Ryder’s face was enough to erase any doubts I’d ever have. He sucked at hiding his emotions, and they were tattooed on my heart forever.
I wanted to stare at him for the next few hours to make up for the lost days, but as suddenly as I’d woken up, my energy vanished. “Shit,” I whispered as my eyelids grew heavy and an exhaustion I couldn’t battle laid claim to me. “I’m so tired.”
“Sleep, baby. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
“Don’t want to,” I said, my tongue already slurring my words. “Wanna talk to you. Wanna fuck you.” My eyes drifted closed, and my mind already hovered somewhere between being awake and asleep.
Ryder chuckled. “While I’d love to bend right on over for you, I don’t quite think this is the place or you are in any shape to fuck right now.” He leaned in and whispered, “Plus, your mom is right there and I’m about to let your nurse know you’re awake.”
That’s right. We should have woken her. She must have been as worried as Ryder. I tried to say that very thing to him, but my mouth no longer listened to me, and all I did was grunt.
“Shh.” Warm lips pressed against mine before landing on my forehead, “I’ll tell her you woke up. There’s nothing for you to do or worry about. Sleep. I’ll be here.”
I couldn’t have ignored that command if I wanted to. The knowledge that I was safe, warm, and watched over allowed my mind to succumb to a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next time my eyes fluttered open, I found the hospital room bathed in low light. Ryder still sat on his vinyl throne, but now he typed away on his laptop. The dark circles hadn’t gone away, and his hair only looked more mussed. What would it take to convince him to go home and sleep the rest of the night in our bed?
“Hey,” I croaked, sounding like a dying frog.
He jumped, then glanced over the lid of his laptop. As soon as our gazes met, his eyes lit up. “Hey, handsome.”
“Water?”
“You bet. The doctor said you could have as much as you wanted, but not to chug. You haven’t eaten in four days, so your stomach might be a little off.”
I grunted as I parted my lips for the straw he held to my mouth. Icy water slid against my tongue in the most delicious, thirst-quenching sip I’d ever taken.
“Ah, what’d I say about hoovering the straw?” Ryder pulled the cup away with a stern expression as I tried to inhale the entire cup. “Save that shit for my dick.”
I let out a weak chuckle. “Pervert.”
He winked and settled back in the chair as he set the cup on the rolling table. “How are you feeling?”
Good question. How was I feeling? I took a moment to wiggle my toes, roll my shoulders, and bend my legs. Each movement came with a healthy dose of discomfort, but nothing too excruciating. “Shitty, but not terrible.”
“They’ve been giving you scheduled pain medication in the IV, so hopefully you’re not in too much pain. The doctor said they’d switch you to oral meds once you were awake more consistently.”
Made sense. “Mom go home?”
Ryder nodded. “Yeah, it’s about seven in the evening now. I had a car service pick her up about thirty minutes ago. She said to give you her love and she’ll be back tomorrow, but you can call anytime.”
“Can you put this thing down?” I asked, knocking my hand against the bed railing.
The request had Ryder chuckling. “I have been scolded by the nurse about a hundred times for putting this down while you were sleeping, but it’s too damn hard to touch you when it’s up.”
My thoughts exactly. “You can touch me now.” I reached for him, ignoring the pain in my ribs as I stretched my arm.
A gorgeous grin spread across my favorite face. “Don’t have to ask me twice.”