Awakened Desires

by Rissa Blakeley

  “Quinn…” My voice was so hoarse, I was positive that I swallowed glass at some point.

  I heard hurried footsteps coming toward the bedroom. “Gunther? I’m here. Oh god, look at you.” I turned my head toward the door and the sunlight lit up my beautiful Quinn. She looked like an angel standing in front of me.

  “Quinn…”

  She rushed to my bedside and I felt her hand rest on my forehead. “You have a fever.” I swallowed hard and more glass shards tore at my throat. “Let me get you some water.” She jumped up and ran out of the room. She was like a blur in my vision. Things seemed to be slowing down and I wondered if I was hallucinating. Maybe she really wasn’t there. Maybe this whole thing had been one epic nightmare.

  It felt like hours had passed before she came back to me. “Here, open up.” She held a cup to my dry lips. “Come on…please drink.” I cracked my lips open just enough for her to pour a little liquid in at a time. The first time that I swallowed, I hissed. “Come on, I need you to drink more.” I lifted my hand and placed it on hers.

  “Quinn…,” I rasped.

  “Shh… Save your energy.” She pushed my hand back onto the bed. Her voice was echoing in my mind. I was sure I was close to turning. My eyelids were heavy, so she pried one open to check. “You’re still green.”

  “I…love…”

  “Hush. I know. Just drink more.” She tipped the cup to my lips again and I did my best not to choke on the water. “I’m going to go get Levi.” I didn’t want her to leave me and grabbed her thigh before she got off the bed. “It’s okay. I will only be a minute.” It was as if she could read my mind. Then I felt her presence leave my side, making me feel empty.

  In my mind, more hours had passed before she came back to me. I felt the mattress push down next to me. It wasn’t Quinn, but I couldn’t open my eyes to have a look.

  “Can you tell me what you’re feeling?” A man’s voice. It was hard to hear the words because of the echo that was beginning to turn into a muffled hum. I felt a hand rest on my head. I moaned and parted my lips. “I need to get him on a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories immediately.” I felt the bed rise again.

  I was drowning in the repose when a disturbance erupted beyond the bedroom door.

  Levi made a mad dash out to get his bag.

  “What’s wrong?” Josie asked when she saw his frantic state.

  “He’s bad. Very bad. It’s not looking good.” Josie dropped the wood that she was carrying to the fireplace, the load crashing to the floor. “I’m going to give him some of our meds. I will do my best to get him well.”

  “Wait, Levi, we only have so many doses of antibiotics! You can’t give him what we have!”

  “Mitch, I have a patient in there who is in grave danger. You are the one who put him in this predicament. He could very well be dying in there because of your trigger finger.” Levi grabbed his bag and headed back toward the bedroom.

  Mitch grabbed his arm. “Sorry. I won’t allow this.”

  “Get your hands off me. It’s not your decision. I treat as I see fit and, right now, he is in desperate need.”

  “What if we need them?!”

  “Then you will remember what you did to cause our shortage of proper medicine.” Levi yanked his arm out of Mitch’s hand and hurried back into the bedroom, Josie on his heels.

  Quinn was trying to get more water into Gunther. He was trying hard to drink, but he was losing steam by the second. He looked to be in so much pain. Her worry was taking over.

  “Come on, Gun. I need you to help me help you.” He was only responsive when the water would hit his tongue. Quinn’s hand shook more and more every time she lifted the cup to his lips.

  Levi and Josie rushed back to Gunther’s bedside. “Do you think he can swallow a pill?”

  Quinn looked up at him, tears threatening to fall. “No. He’s struggling with water alone.”

  “All right, we’ll crush them up. No other option right now. You will have to force him to swallow every drop of water, though.”

  “I will do whatever it takes.” Levi left the room to go crush up the pills at the counter in the kitchenette.

  “Is he going to be okay?”

  “I don’t know, Josie. He’s really sick,” Quinn choked. She held the back of her hand to her lips. “I don’t know.”

  “We will get him better.” She wrapped her arms around Quinn. “I’m sorry about last night.”

  “You are a good girl, Josie.” Quinn returned her focus to Gunther. She wet a towel and dabbed his forehead. He hissed under her touch. “Oh god…”

  “What?”

  “It’s his head. Look at his head wound. Levi!” Quinn shouted.

  “Just a second…!” he hollered from the common area.

  “Hurry, please!” Levi came barreling into the room and Quinn leapt off the bed. “He has a head wound I stitched up a day or so ago. I think that’s the issue. I had forgotten all about it when he was shot.” Levi started parting Gunther’s hair. Every time he moved a section, he moaned.

  “That looks like the issue. Get these antibiotics into him. We will have to shave down his head, then I will pull out the stitches so I can clean out the wound. I’ll see what I can do with it.” Levi dumped the powdered medicine into the cup of water Quinn held and mixed it with his knife. He motioned her back to the bed. “We have a battery-operated razor. I’ll get it.”

  Quinn sat down beside Gunther again. “Gun? I’m going to give you some medicine. You need to drink it all.” His lips parted as he waited. She tipped the cup to his lips and carefully poured a little into his mouth, trying not to waste a drop so he would get all of it into his system. He swallowed and groaned. “I know it tastes bad, lover, but it will help you. Keep drinking, please.”

  It took Quinn about a half-hour to get Gunther to drink all of it. He groaned every time the liquid washed over his tongue, but she made sure he finished every drop. She blotted his forehead again, wiping up any sweat, then kissed him on the cheek.

  “I love you so much. Don’t give up on me. I need you. I can’t lose you.” There was no response and it seemed like he had fallen unconscious, but she continued to talk to him. “Levi’s going to shave your head, remove the stitches, and clean your wound. I’ll be right here with you the whole time, holding your hand, taking care of you.”

  Levi walked back in, razor in hand, along with Mitch and Reid. Quinn ushered Josie out of the room, closing the door behind her and turning back toward the bed. “All right, they’re going to help me move him, then leave the room,” Levi reassured.

  “He weighs a lot,” Quinn mumbled with a sob. She wiped the tears from her face.

  “We know,” Mitch and Reid said in unison.

  “Sorry. I’m just scared to death. He can’t seem to catch a break. He’s been injured so many times these past couple days. I love him so much and I can’t lose him. I just can’t. I would be lost without him.”

  “I can promise you that I will do the best I can to fix him,” Levi comforted. She nodded. “All right, boys. One of you at his knees and one at the torso. I will direct his upper body.” Reid put his arms under Gunther’s knees, Mitch went under his torso, Levi grabbed Gunther’s bulky shoulders. “I want to angle him to the left so I can reach him from the edge. Ready…now.” All three men strained under Gunther’s dead weight, but they were able to position him as Levi needed him to be.

  “Is he okay? He’s not responsive.” Quinn held her hands in front of her mouth, trying to hold back her cries.

  “I don’t know. I’m going to check his vitals before I start.” Levi was trying to use his best reassuring voice, but he was uncertain of what lay ahead for Gunther. He checked his blood pressure three times before he sighed and shook his head. “It’s low and his pulse is slow, as well.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It’s not great news. I will do my best. Reid, Mitch…out, please.” They both lumbered out of the room.

&nb
sp; Levi tucked a towel under Gunther’s head and draped one over his eyes. He grabbed the razor and flicked it on, beginning the tedious process of shaving off Gunther’s hair. “All right. Now, I’m going to wash and sterilize the area.”

  Just then, Janny brought in a pot of boiling water. “Anything else?” she asked in a kind voice.

  “I will call if I need something,” Levi said. She pursed her lips and avoided Quinn’s sorrowful eyes. She left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

  Levi began washing the wound, trying to clean off the old blood and whatever else had collected in the area. Gunther’s hand twitched and he moaned. Quinn reached behind her back and checked to make sure her Sig was firmly in place. She swallowed hard, knowing that his secret may be exposed and she may have to end it for him. The thought made her whole body quake.

  Levi was unaware of the battle that was going on in her head. “Are you okay, or do you need to leave?”

  “I…I’m…I’m fine. Just worried.”

  He nodded at Quinn. “Sterilizing…” Once again, he broke out the bottle of vodka and slowly poured it over the wound. Quinn grabbed onto the hand that was still twitching, pulling it to her lips and kissing his fingers. Then Levi grabbed a small pair of scissors and began cutting out his stitches. “Jesus…,” he muttered.

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “Just the infection.” He shook his head. “Who stitched him up?”

  “Me. It was gaping open. I cleaned and stitched it the best I could with what we had.”

  “I understand.”

  “I stitched his arm closed, as well.”

  Levi looked up and she pointed at his forearm. “I will look at that when I’m done.” He looked back down at Gunther and continued to clip and pull out the stitches. “I think we’re getting this cleaned just in time. Any longer and there may have been a major problem, like necrotic tissue.”

  Levi worked diligently. Some time had passed before he was satisfied. Quinn watched Gunther’s breathing and body movements. Levi had her check his pulse every now and then to give her something to concentrate on.

  “Okay, I’m not going to stitch it back up. It’s too messy. We’ll just have to keep it covered and keep a close eye on it until it starts healing over. Let me see his arm.” He shifted on the bed and Quinn picked up his arm. “This looks good. Over an old wound?” He glanced up at her.

  “Yeah. I have no idea what happened, but he sliced it open somehow.”

  “I’m going to remove the stitches here, as well.” Levi busily clipped and pulled out Quinn’s handiwork. He quickly cleaned up that wound, satisfied to leave it unbandaged.

  Then he scooted his way down the bed and examined his leg, unwrapped it, and cleaned it up. He rewrapped it and began picking up the items he used. “Well, we will hope that the antibiotic does its job. Everything else seems all right. If we can keep it from spreading and him becoming septic, he should be fine. The problem is the infection is so close to his brain.”

  “Then why is he not waking up?”

  “Well, he just may be severely fatigued along with the fever. I will keep a close eye on him.”

  “Thank you so much.” Quinn stood up and gave Levi a quick hug.

  He was a little taken aback by her gesture. “You’re welcome. It’s the least I can do. I’m going to grab Mitch and Reid so we can move him to allow you to sleep in the bed, as well.”

  He walked out of the bedroom and Josie came in, closing the door behind her. “How is he?”

  “Not really sure, but I’m not leaving his side until I know he’s all right. He would do the same for me.”

  Levi, Mitch, and Reid came back in and muscled Gunther to one side of the bed. Quinn decided she was going to lay next to him and hope for the best.

  I had no idea how much time passed, but when I popped my eyes open, the room was lit by the lantern. Testing myself, I shifted my big body around a little.

  “Gunther?”

  “Hmm…?” I moaned.

  “Are you awake?” Quinn’s sleepy face appeared in front of my fuzzy vision. She looked like a mess—full of worry and fatigue. But, no matter what, she was still stunning. She would look amazing covered in mud.

  “Yeah,” I rasped. “I think so.” She leaned to my face and her lips brushed across mine. I tried to reach up for her, but I was feeling so weak. I hated it. A bloke like me didn’t have time for weakness.

  “I’m going to wake Levi. I will be right back.” I moaned as she left me alone. I hated that feeling. Weak and alone. Not a good combination. I felt a tremor of fear run through my body.

  Before I fell apart, Levi and Quinn came back into the room. Josie sat up and rubbed her eyes, listening. “Tell me how you are feeling,” Levi asked as he lowered himself down onto the bed next to me.

  “Tired, sweaty, achy.”

  Levi reached over and grabbed the lantern. He checked my head. “It looks better already. We should get another round of antibiotics in him. Are you up for swallowing pills now, or do we have to crush them again?”

  “Is that what that was? It was so bitter.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I think I can swallow a pill or two.”

  “You will need to eat something to keep up your strength and cut down on any stomach issues.” I nodded. “I’m going to check your blood pressure and pulse, then I’ll get your meds.”

  Levi picked up the blood pressure cuff from the nightstand and wrapped it around my arm. The pressure made me tense up. I heard him sigh. “It’s still low. Do you have a low BP?”

  “Uhh…I don’t know. I don’t really go to the doctor.” Levi let out a noncommittal grunt.

  He quickly checked my leg. “Looking okay for now. Eat, meds, and rest.” I nodded and thanked him.

  Quinn left the room with him, coming back with a gut-knotting MRE (meal ready to eat) from the others, medicine, and more water. After she forced the so-called food, medicine, and water down my throat, I laid back and sighed, closing my eyes.

  “When will you be ready for…you know?”

  I raised a brow and opened my eyes. “I’m always ready for that,” I murmured as I wiggled my brows. She shook her head, and Josie let out a few sounds that reflected how grossed out she was.

  “Not that, you asshole,” Quinn sighed.

  I chuckled as best I could. “Soon would be nice.”

  She nodded and reached over to the door, locking it. She pulled out my pack, grabbing everything for a draw. I talked her through it and she did well, as I suspected she would. She was brill and could do anything. I knocked back the vials and settled in for my high to take over. It was always amazing having Quinn by my side when I was drifting.

  Chapter 28

  After being cooped up on the bedroom for a week, I was finally able to hobble out to the common area. Quinn made me sit in the chair, stacking up boxes so I could keep my leg elevated.

  Levi checked me over several times and told me things were looking good. I was still in quite a bit of pain but, thankfully, everything was on the mend.

  Reid had built a stunning fire. Levi’s wife, Janny, was also trying to care for me. She would watch over me while Quinn went out to help gather wood or get water from the well pump they had found not too far from the house.

  Quinn walked up to me and knelt down. Jesus, what I wouldn’t give for her to be kneeling before me in other ways. I felt J.T. twitch in my shorts. “How are you feeling?”

  I shrugged. “Tired, but all right. How are you?” I threw out a half-smile.

  “Better seeing that you are. You ready for bed?”

  “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. The good doctor says I need lots of rest.” I winked at her. She returned a smile as she stood up and helped me to my feet. Supporting me, she guided me back into bed.

  Josie was leaning against the wall with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, knees to her chest, her nose in a book and a pocket flashlight in her mouth. She looked up at us as we came
into the room. “Do you think it would be okay if I slept by the fire tonight? I’m freezing.”

  Quinn looked at me and I shrugged. “I think that would be fine. Just keep your gun near you,” I said.

  “I will.” She stood up, grabbed all of her blankets, and headed out to the common room.

  Quinn closed and locked the door. When she turned, she saw the devilish glint in my eyes. “No.”

  “What?” I played the innocent card. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “I know that look, and you need to rest.” She pointed at me as she spoke in a harsh whisper. I stuck out my bottom lip. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and raised her brow. “Gunther…”

  “Say my name again.” I grinned.

  “Stop. You need to rest.”

  “I need a lot of things.” I rubbed the mattress next to me. “Come on. I will let you do all the work.” I winked at her.

  “You are insufferable.”

  “I’m a lot of things, love. I suppose being difficult would be one of them.” She threw her arms down at her side and marched up to the bed. She looked so fit when she was angry. I chuckled and then murmured, “Now, take off your clothes.”

  “Add demanding to that list,” she said with a smirk.

  And I won.

  Quinn unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans as slow as she could, teasing me every step of the way. As she carefully worked them over her curvy hips, cream lacy underthings began to appear. I was instantly hard.

  “Jesus Christ,” I mumbled. She turned around, and I adjusted myself before J.T. broke through the fabric of my shorts.

  She slowly bent over, swaying her amazing hips back and forth in a steady rhythm. She slid her jeans down all the way, stepping out of them and pushing them off to the side. She turned and looked over her shoulder, teeth sunk into her lush bottom lip, a devious sparkle in her eyes.

  Looking forward again, she pulled her shirt over her head, exposing a matching bra, continuously shifting her hips back and forth. I groaned, knowing what was coming next. Her hands inched down her sides, scooted around to her amazing arse, and gave it a squeeze.