“Don’t you ever change, Nadine.”I stroked the uninjured side of her face gently, smiling down at her.“Don’t be the timid girl who couldn’t stop me from making a bad situation worse by sedating my patient’s wife when that was the very thing she was terrified of.Be the brash, courageous woman who took charge of the situation and did what needed to be done.You calmed her down when no one else could and when no one else would listen to you.You did the same thing in Terre Haute.Now, you do it with me.”
She gave me that cocky grin again.“You’re still sore about the birthing kit.”
“Again, it’s a moot point because it’s never going to happen.Donotbring it up again.Get me?”
“You never worked ER, did you?”It wasn’t a question.
I narrowed my gaze as her grin grew wider.“No.I told you I avoided the ER because those guys have to deliver babies on occasion.”
“Right.”Shook her head, giving me a look that said,sucks to be you, sport.“You know you’re not supposed to say ‘never’, right?That’s the best way to make it happen.”
I paused, thinking about her words before I could make my brain comprehend she was teasing.Then I scowled at her.“Not cool, little hellion.Not cool at all.”
I wrapped my arms around her and lifted.She squealed but hung on with her arms and legs as I took her to the bathroom.The sound of her laughter after being so terrified of losing her was like a balm to my soul.Nadine was all right.She was safe.I’d killed the bastard who’d hurt her.She was safe.
She was safe.
Once in the bathroom, I started the shower before turning back to her.“Strip off, baby.I want to see everything.I need to know you’re OK, then I need to fuck you.To lose myself in your tight little body.”The words felt like they were ripped out of me after they’d been dying to be free.
“Those need cleaning,” she said, running her fingers gently over the gouges on one arm.
“Later,” I growled, stepping closer until she was backed against the counter.“Right now, I need to be inside you.”
“Fine.You strip off too, then.Because I want to suck your cock before you fuck me.”
“Son of a bitch,” I gasped out as my cock shot impossibly hard, pulsing and reaching for Nadine on its own, the head angry and purple.“How the fuck do you make me lose my Goddamned mind so easily, woman?”
Nadine’s eyes darkened with lust as she watched my reaction.“I pay attention, Pain.I see you.All of you,” she said with a teasing smile, though it faltered slightly when her bruised cheek twinged.
The sight of her discomfort brought me back to my senses, but only just.I reached for her, tugging her close again, my hands sliding down to cup her ass.“Careful, sweetheart.Don’t push yourself.”
“Shut up and kiss me,” she murmured, pulling my head down to hers.
I obliged, keeping my touch gentle on her injured side.The bathroom was filling with steam now, the mirror fogging as I deepened the kiss.Nadine moaned against my mouth, her hands working frantically at my belt.
“Slow down,” I whispered against her lips.
“Make me,” she replied with a hiss, finally getting my belt undone and shoving my jeans down my hips.
Those words hit me like a punch to the gut.Today had been too close.Way too close.I understood her desperation because I felt it too, that primal need to affirm life after brush with death.
“I can’t lose you, Nadine,” I bit out harsher than I intended.“I can’t fuckin’ lose you.”
“Pain, I’m here.”She gripped my head in her hands, forcing me to look down at her.“Do you understand why I left today?Why I went for that birthing kit?”
I sighed.“Yeah.I do.And I’m more grateful to you than I’ll ever admit at any time after this immediate conversation.As far asanyoneis concerned, I never said it.”I glared at her for effect before I had to soften my gaze.“But yes.Which makes me hurt all the more because I should have been the one insisting on that fucking precip kit being here the minute we knew Tillie was pregnant.In fact, I need a couple in case of twins.”She blinked up at me, her eyebrows raising.“And this marks the end of the immediate conversation.”
As I hoped, Nadine burst into giggles.Even with the side of her face hurting she didn’t curb her mirth.Son of a bitch that I am, I soaked up her laughter like a flower soaks up the sun.And that was the best way to describe what Nadine meant to me.She was my sunshine.She was my second chance.She was God smiling down on me for some unknown reason and saying,you’re not a bad person.If you were, she wouldn’t let her touch her this way.She wouldn’t look at you with such affection and emotion in her eyes.Nadine was my very soul.I would protect her, no matter the cost.
“I love you so fuckin’ much, woman.”
Her face softened and she stroked my beard tenderly.
“I love you too, Pain.More than I ever thought possible.”She leaned up and kissed me softly, her lips gentle against mine.“Now get in that shower with me before the hot water runs out.”
I helped her finish undressing, my hands reverent as they traced over her skin, checking for any other injuries I might have missed.When I was satisfied she was okay aside from the bruise on her face, I stripped off my own clothes and followed her into the steamy shower.
The hot water cascaded over us, washing away the blood and grime from today’s violence.Nadine pressed herself against me, her wet body sliding against mine as she reached for the soap.
