Back To Us (Dare With Me Series Book 4)

by J. H. Croix

  When he tried yet again to sit up, I shook my head. “Stop it. You need to rest.”

  “Sit,” he said.

  He shifted over, and I slid my hips on the side of the bed, keeping a hold of his hand and pulling it into my lap.

  “I’m fine,” I repeated. I tried to take a breath and hiccupped instead. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” My words were a ragged whisper, and my emotions felt stretched beyond their limit. “I thought you were going to die.”

  “I wasn’t even close to dying,” he said flatly.

  He tugged his hand out of mine and pulled me into his arms. I clumsily shifted to rest against his side and breathe him in. He smelled sterile, almost not like himself. The antiseptic scent overlaid his usual crisp, masculine scent. But it was there underneath, and I buried my head against his neck and took several deep breaths.

  I could feel the steady thump of his heart under my palm where it rested on his chest, and a deep sense of relief washed through me.

  Gabriel was alive, and he was okay, and that was all I really needed to know.

  His palm circled in the center of my back, and he murmured into my hair, “You didn’t screw things up. We’re fine. We’re just not all that great at this.”

  With a laugh, I sniffled against his neck before lifting my head. His mossy-green gaze was waiting for mine, and the love I saw there snatched my breath out of my lungs.

  My laughter faded, and I lifted my hand to smooth one of his brows, explaining, “It was messy.”

  His lips twitched at the corners, and I felt his fingers sifting through my hair. “Okay.” He stared at me somberly for a moment before adding, “I got defensive when you asked about my mom. I get tired of talking about her.” He lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug.

  “Gabriel, you don’t have to talk about this now. I’m sorry I pressured you and then got upset.”

  “You had a point. I know I love you, but I’m not used to what love means, and I’d rather just say it now. We can talk more later. To clarify, I don’t talk about her much because it’s an old story. At least to me. You know the basics, but you don’t know that the only reason she ever calls me is for money. I find I can’t tell her no.”

  I leaned over and pressed a kiss on the underside of his jaw. Lifting my head again, I said, “No wonder it’s frustrating. I’m sorry.”

  His lips twisted to one side. “It’s okay. I’ve accepted that I can’t change the situation, but I think I would hate myself if I didn’t help her when she needed it.”

  “You really didn’t have to talk about this now,” I said softly.

  “I know, but I wanted to,” he insisted.

  I rested my head on his shoulder again, tracing the muscled planes of his chest through the thin sheet. Because it was Gabriel and me, and we were plastered together in a bed, the familiar hum of desire shimmered in the air around us, a light net of sparks. Because it was Gabriel, and he was that kind of man, he even tried to make a move on me, sliding his palm down my back, over the curve of my bottom, and giving me a light squeeze.

  I rose up on an elbow. “Are you insane? For starters, we’re in a hospital, and someone could walk in at any time. Also, not now.” I scrambled away, resting my hips on the edge of the bed and keeping my hand curled around his. “You need to rest until you feel better.”

  He rolled his eyes. “It’s just my calf. I can’t feel a thing right now.”

  I couldn’t help my smile this time. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I was laughing as joy was spinning in little pinwheels through my body.

  “Any idea when they’re gonna let me get the hell out of here?”

  “Soon, I hope. Quinn said in an hour or two.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Gabriel

  I leaned back in Nora’s bed with a sigh, wincing slightly as I adjusted my leg on a pillow. Nora had insisted I put it under my knee because Quinn said elevation would keep the swelling down.

  Nora came walking into the bedroom with two mugs in hand. She was wearing her robe, and her skin was flushed and dewy from a shower. Quinn had reluctantly given me permission to shower as long as I was careful not to get the bandaging over my injury wet.

  I wanted to rid myself of the cold, clammy feeling clinging to me from being in the water and the antiseptic smell from the hospital. Nora had insisted on supervising me, and honestly, I hadn’t minded it one bit. Being fussed over by her was much nicer than the past few weeks when we’d stumbled out of sync again.

  “Tea for me and hot chocolate for you,” she explained as she set a mug on the nightstand beside me and rounded the bed.

  “For a second, I thought you were going to try to make me drink tea,” I teased dryly.

  After setting her tea down on the other nightstand, she climbed into bed beside me, tucking the covers over her hips before propping the pillows up behind her. Her lips twitched when she looked in my direction. “I know you hate tea, but I know you love hot chocolate.”

  “No beer?” I pressed hopefully.

  She pursed her lips and narrowed her gaze. “You know Quinn said no alcohol tonight. And if you take pain meds tomorrow, you can’t have it then either,” she said primly.

  I leaned deeper into the pillows and let out a sigh. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere, so I don’t see why not.”

  She actually clucked at me before reaching over to push down the covers and check on my leg. “I just want to make sure the bandage isn’t damp.” Her eyes flicked down as she slid her palm carefully over my thigh and down to check the bandage below my knee. The injury was on the outer edge of my calf. I was grateful whatever the hell had slammed into me hadn’t hit me in the knee. I didn’t need to be worried about trying to heal and screw up my knee while I was at it.

  “You already checked the bandage after I showered,” I commented.

  “I just want to check again,” she insisted.

  “Is it still dry?” I teased.

  She pursed her lips again when her eyes lifted to mine. “Yes. It is.”

  Because I was who I was, and apparently, I couldn’t be near Nora without wanting her, desire spun like liquid fire through my veins. It didn’t matter that her touch wasn’t even remotely sexual. She tugged the covers back over my leg, and I caught her hand, pulling her close quickly enough that she rolled against me with a surprised laugh.

  “Gabriel! Be careful.”

  She was half leaning on me, and I could feel the soft press of her breasts. A treacherous tenderness stole through me as I stared into her eyes.

  “I missed you,” I murmured while I brought her a little closer and dusted my lips across hers.

  Sparks flew as if leaping from a bonfire into the air around us. She didn’t draw away, not when I teased my tongue along the seam of her lips and tasted her again, savoring the glide of her tongue against mine. I ached for her—body, heart, and soul.

  Alas, she ended our kiss all too soon. Lifting her head, she murmured, “Just a kiss. That’s all.”

  I shook my head. “No. I need you tonight.” My voice was low and taut, drawn tight with the force of my need for her.

  She opened her mouth to protest, shaking her head wildly.

  I shook mine in return. “It’s my leg. I need you right here,” I murmured. Moving swiftly, I tugged her onto my lap, gratified when her knees fell on either side of my hips.

  She let out a gasp when she felt the hard ridge of my arousal conveniently nestled under her hot core. When I reached between us, I let out a groan. “You’re not wearing panties.”

  “I just got out of the shower. I don’t usually wear underwear under my robe,” she said, biting her bottom lip as her cheeks flushed pretty and pink.

  Shifting slightly, I teased my fingers into her slick and swollen folds. “Don’t try to tell me you don’t want me.”

  I used my free hand to untie her robe, watching it fall open. I immediately leaned forward to catch one of her nipples with my mouth. Her fingers speared into my hair, and she
let out a ragged whimper as I gave her nipple a sweet suck.

  “Gabriel—” she began again.

  I turned my attention to her other nipple. Whatever she meant to say was lost in the moment. I knew if I gave her time to protest, she would scramble off my lap and get all fussy about me. I needed nothing more than to be inside her. In another smooth move, I shifted her back on my lap. The friction of the motion dragged my briefs down with her, and my cock sprang free.

  “Come here,” I murmured against her lips. When she hesitated, my brain fired off a rational thought. “Oh, right, condom.” I moved to reach for the table by the bed, but she shook her head.

  “I’m on the pill.”

  My eyes widened. “Since when?”

  “Since before we broke up last time. I was going to tell you, but then—”

  “I was a dumbass,” I offered helpfully.

  She bit her lip, her lashes sweeping down. I nudged my knuckles under her chin, and she lifted her eyes to mine. “I’ll still wear a condom if you prefer.” We stared at each other, and it felt as if the air was shimmering around us.

  She shook her head slowly, all the while my heart was thudding hard in my chest. I pressed a fierce kiss to her lips before I brought her closer and guided her hips down over me.

  The sweet tang of her scent surrounded me as I filled her, savoring the silky clench of her channel around me. When she settled down over me, and I was buried deeply, I leaned back, letting my gaze soak her in.

  Her dark hair fell in a tousle around her shoulders. With her robe open, she looked like a goddess in the dim lighting.

  My heart beat hard and free in my chest, and a sense of peace stole through me, twining like a vine with my intense desire for her.

  “I love you.” My words were a promise, clear and strong.

  “I love—” Nora gasped when I leaned up and caught her “you” in a kiss.

  We rocked together, and I knew she was already chasing her release. The slick fusion of where we were joined created an intense friction as she rippled around me. A slurred groan escaped at the feel of being bare inside her.

  Her breath became tattered, and she gasped, “Gabriel, please—”

  I teased my fingers over her swollen clit, and a sharp, keening cry escaped when she clamped around my cock, pulling me with her as I came inside her in deep surges.

  A moment later, she fell against me, whispering, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I promise you didn’t. But if you climb off me now, you’ll break my heart.”

  I felt her giggle against my skin where her head was tucked in the curve of my neck. A little while later, I let her fuss over me some more and then fell asleep, my hot chocolate forgotten.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Nora

  Gabriel cast me a bemused smile. “It’s a little sore, but that’s it. I promise you can stop fussing over it.”

  I rested my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes. “Are you sure it’s not bothering you? You were scratching at it last night when you were asleep.”

  I rolled my eyes. “It itches because it’s getting better,” he countered.

  I couldn’t help but chuckle at the irritated look on his face. “Probably true,” I said as I crossed the kitchen to him and leaned down.

  I meant my kiss to be brief, but Gabriel slid his hand around the back of my neck, drawing me close and angling my head to the side when he took command. By the time he pulled back, I was breathless, and my pulse was thundering in my ears.

  “Now, what time is my appointment with Quinn today?” he asked, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.

  I straightened and turned to walk to the counter on slightly unsteady legs. Sweet hell. I couldn’t help but wonder just how long it would take me to get used to the effect he had on me. Of course, I thought that effect would’ve passed already. If anything, it seemed to be getting worse now that the barriers had fallen away between us.

  I poured myself a cup of coffee, glancing at him. “Coffee?”

  “Always.”

  I poured two cups, adding a dash of cream to mine and carrying his over. “Not always,” I replied as I set his mug down on the table and slipped into the chair across from him. “If it’s evening, you want a beer.”

  He took a swallow, chuckling as he lowered his mug. “Fair enough. So, what time is my appointment?”

  “Two. Do you want me to go with you?”

  He eyed me for a few beats. “Maybe,” he said cautiously. “But not if you’re going to lecture me in front of Quinn.”

  “I won’t lecture you. I’ll just make sure that we know what his recommendations are so you don’t screw up your recovery.”

  Gabriel took a long swallow of coffee, his gaze speculative. “Nora, it’s a cut. That’s it, just a cut.”

  “A paper cut is technically just a cut,” I replied tightly. “That gash was no minor cut. It required deep cleaning and stitches.”

  His gaze softened, and he reached across the table, catching my hand in his. “Babe, I needed stitches, and they had to clean it, but that’s it. I know it’s worse than a paper cut, but I’m really fine.”

  Suddenly, tears pressed hot at the backs of my eyes. “I know,” I said thickly. “But it scared me.”

  “I know. I love you. You can fuss over me all you want.”

  I smiled through my blurry gaze. “Okay,” I whispered.

  At that moment, his phone vibrated on the table. He released my hand and spun it around to glance at the screen. “It’s my mom,” he offered, his eyes lifting to mine.

  “Go ahead and take it. Unless you’d rather not.”

  “I’ll take it. It’s easier to deal with it right off.”

  He lifted the phone to his ear as he dragged his thumb across the screen. “Hey, Mom, what’s up?”

  I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but I heard the murmured sounds of a voice as he nodded. “Doing fine. How are you?”

  A few more murmurs, and then he nodded and said, “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.”

  He nodded along to whatever she said, before replying, “Take care, Mom. I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up the phone and set it down. I waited, nursing my coffee and not wanting to press.

  “She needed some money. That’s usually what she calls for.”

  “Do you mind?” I asked carefully, hoping I didn’t unintentionally slam the door shut on this opening between us.

  He shrugged. “Not really. She never asks for much, and I have it. Mostly all I do is save the money I earn here.”

  “You don’t mind even though she wasn’t there for you when you were growing up?”

  He shook his head. “No. Like I told you, I’d feel worse if I didn’t. I didn’t understand it when I was younger, but she didn’t have what she needed, and she was an alcoholic. She’s sober now, at least as far as I know. Maybe she couldn’t be there for me when I was a kid, but I’d regret not helping her. It’s not a big deal. That’s actually easier to give her than if she suddenly wanted to be a big part of my life.”

  “You’re a good man, Gabriel,” I said softly, once again feeling the hot press of tears in my eyes.

  Because he was a genuinely good man. I loved him, and he loved me, and I would never again carelessly let my defenses discard the heart he’d given to me to protect. I’d cherish it for the rest of my life.

  His lips quirked slightly at the corners before worry chased through his eyes. “Are you crying?” He reached over, catching my fingers in his and rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand.

  “I’m just emotional. That’s all.” I took a breath. “How does your sister feel about your mom?”

  “She’s a little more bitter than me.” He wrinkled his nose at that. “And that’s okay. She and I stay in touch, and we’re good. I don’t think she’d want me to tell Mom to fuck off and not take care of her. But she’d rather not be involved, and that’s fine.”

  “You’re a good man,” I repeated.


  He shifted his chair, scooting around the table to be closer to me. He tugged my chair to face him, his knees bracketing mine as he palmed my cheek. “And you’re a good woman, Nora. I love you.”

  My pulse tapped wildly, almost as if it were clapping. “I love you too.”

  His forehead fell to mine, and he gave me a lingering kiss. When he leaned back, he said, “Come with me to that appointment. I’ll get my stitches out, and then we can get something to eat in town.”

  I was laughing, and my heart felt so full it almost ached.

  Epilogue

  Nora

  Three years later

  I walked into the kitchen at the resort. Correction: I waddled into the kitchen at the resort.

  Daphne was standing at the counter, chopping onions. I stopped beside her. As soon as the momentum from walking ended, I needed something to hold me up. Turning, I rested my hips against the counter and curled my hands around the edge.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “How come you’re not as gigantic as me?” I muttered.

  She looked over at me and then down at her own round belly. “Because you’re due a month before me.” She smiled warmly, a glint of sympathy in her eyes.

  I rubbed my belly. “Pregnancy isn’t fun.”

  Her head bobbed in agreement. “My first pregnancy was way worse. This one’s been easier for me.”

  Daphne somehow managed to look tidy and prim even though she was six months pregnant to my seven. I felt like a giant whale, except whales were more graceful than me. Although maybe that was because they were in the ocean, and the water helped. If I could float in a pool for the rest of my pregnancy, I’d be happy to try it.

  At the sound of footsteps, I glanced over to the archway between the living room and the kitchen. The second I saw my husband walking through, my lips curled in a tired smile.