by S Kline
I hold his warm hand in mine as I rest my forehead against his arm. His dad has called as often as they'd allow him to. I can't imagine how Luke feels beings so far away and helpless. Dad has been by a few times. I have to wonder why I have yet to see my mother. She has called to tell me she heard about Troy and was sorry. That she was glad that I was okay, but she hasn't taken the time to even come up here since I was released.
I had often wondered at how my parents ever ended up together. My father is so warm, and caring. My mother is so distant, and cold. I let my eyelids slide close as I rest against Troy, and silently wish I could still smell his unique scent over the sterile hospital smell that now lingered on his skin.
***
I move into the slight caress against my cheek, and want to be encompassed in the familiar warmth.
“Kaci?” My name whispers around me on a cracked, dry sigh of words.
I lean in closer to the warmth. The sound of Troy’s voice sends a shiver over my skin. I don’t want to wake up. I don’t want to lose this connection only to be alone again when I open my eyes.
“Babe, please wake up. I need to see your eyes.”
This feels unbelievably real. I feel tears start to run down my cheeks, and a sob shakes my shoulders. Suddenly my head is being lifted, and two warm palms are against my cheeks. I squeeze my eyes tighter, afraid that this will disappear when I open them.
“Please, Kace. Open your eyes.”
I have to force my eyes open as I take him in, and my heart pounds furiously against my ribs. The room is dark now, but the brightness in his icy eyes glows back at me. I sob and launch myself into his arms. He alternately chuckles and groans as he holds me tightly against him. I jerk out of his grip, and push his hands away as he tries to pull me back.
“Oh, God, I could have really hurt you.” The stupidity of jumping at him consumes me with guilt.
“I’m fine, babe. You better get that fantastic ass of yours back into my arms.” His voice is cracked and broken from weeks of tubes being shoved down his throat.
I shake my head. “I need to call the nurse. They’ll want to know you’re awake.”
“They can wait.” Troy reaches for me again, but this time I let him pull me back into him.
“They’ve been waiting. They need to know you’re okay.” Everyone needs to know you’re okay.
Troy tenses underneath me. “How long have they been waiting?” I can feel the hesitancy in his body. He wants to know, but at the same time he doesn’t.
“You’ve been out for a little over eight weeks.” I search his gaze, and watch his eyes widen in disbelief.
“Will you…” Troy trails off. His eyes search my face for a minute before he continues. “Are you okay? I tried to make sure you were okay.”
My eyes fill with tears, and all I can do is nod as a sob escapes me. “We’re okay.” I tell him.
Troy looks at me quizzically as he takes in the state of me crying in his arms. “Will you tell me what happened?”
I can feel my eyes widen now. “You don’t remember?” I ask hesitantly.
His head shakes back and forth. “Some.” He clears his rougher voice. “The rest is a little hazy.”
I pause. I’m unsure about what I should tell him. I wish I could say that things were hazy, that I couldn’t remember either. Unfortunately I do remember. Every. Single. Detail. Troy senses my hesitancy and moves his hand to my face. He pulls me back gently to study my eyes.
“Please, tell me, babe.”
I nod as tears still stream down my face. “You saved us. When Sean and Dylan showed up shots rang out all around.” I swallow and catch my breath on a big sigh. “They pinged your cell phone. They knew something was up. They said you were acting strange.” I lean in to press a kiss to his scratchy cheek.
“You shielded us, me and Addie, but you got shot.” I can’t decide how to tell him the rest, but decide that I just need to be honest with him. “I was shot.” His eyes widen, and he tries to speak, but I stop him with my fingers to his lips.
“I’m okay. We’re okay.” When I say it this time I try to implore him to understand I don’t mean Addie and I, but his baby and I. He looks confused, but he stays silent.
“Marcus tried to hurt me, but you saved me.” I lean down and brush my lips over his gently.
“What happened to Callie?” His voice is still quiet, but I can feel his anxiousness in the tension of his body.
“Callie ran off. Sean, Dylan, and Ethan are rotating between finding her, and taking care of me.”
He narrows his eyes slightly as he implores me to explain. “Why aren’t you taking care of yourself? You said you’re okay.” Troy’s eyes soften as he stares at me.
“I am.” I kiss his lips again, softly. “I-“
A dim light flick’s on as a nurse comes into the room, it’s Erin, and she’s carting the vitals machine behind her. She stops suddenly, and her blonde hair whooshing behind her in its ponytail, her jaw drops open at the sight of Troy awake. I understand that reaction, but I’m hoping her shock is only at his being awake and not his rugged good looks.
“You’re awake!” Her voice seems much spunkier then it was when she was in here earlier. I narrow my eyes as she moves closer to us. “The doctor will want to speak with you young man.” Erin shifts her gaze over to me. “You should have told us he woke up.”
“I told her not to.” Troy’s voice speaks out on my behalf.
“Well you should have let her.” Erin returns her gaze to Troy. “Let me check you over while Kaci gets something to eat.”
I’ve been here so long that the nurses and I are on first name basis, as well as the rest of the family. I don’t have time to wonder if Erin will tell him about the baby before I get the chance. She does.
“It’s not good on her or the baby for her to be sitting in here all day watching you sleep.” Disapproval drips from Erin’s tone.
Troy’s eyes go wide and frantically drop to my stomach where my palms are resting instinctively over it. His gaze moves slowly up my body, and heat courses through me at his visual caress. When they meet mine again I can’t read the emotion there, and I’m suddenly nervous about what he will say. How he will feel about this.
“Go get something to eat, Kace.” Troy’s words are firm making it impossible for me to argue. So instead of trying I just turn and head out of the room.
My hands are shaking as I realize I haven’t allowed myself to think about his possible rejection. Troy didn’t want a baby before. What makes me think that would change simply because it was our baby? What will I do if he asks me to give the baby up, or worse, to get rid of it?
I swallow back the pain the thoughts ignite in my chest. I won’t do it. I can’t. If Troy doesn’t want our baby then I will leave. I won’t make him be involved. I can’t ask him to be a father any more than he can chose for me not to be a mother.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Troy
Our baby. The thought rings loudly through my head, overshadowing the pain in my side and back. How is it possible that I was so angry when Addie had told me, but this feeling, the thought of having a baby with Kaci, has a sense of peace settling over me? I thought waking up with her next to me had been the most amazing feeling, but this feeling of completeness is a close second.
I can’t explain the agony that went thorough me at the thought of Kaci not taking care of herself. Our earlier conversation comes back to me and it all starts to click into place. “We’re okay.” I thought she meant her and Addie, but now I can read what she was trying to tell me. Kaci and our baby are okay.
I let nurse ratchet prod and poke at me for a few minutes, before she leaves with a promise that the doctor will be in shortly to speak with me. When silence descends over the room I let my thoughts roam in places I have only let it explore in my dreams. A future with the only woman I’ve ever loved. Thoughts of what our baby might look like, of seeing Kaci in a beautiful white dress, of having her sleep beside me
every night.
When the door squeaks open I expect it to be Kaci, and I’m slightly disappointed when Sean walks in. Wide brown-green eyes roam over me with a look of relief. He sits down in that horribly uncomfortable looking chair that Kaci had been in.
“You have no idea what a relief it is to see you awake.” His voice cracks slightly, but he clears his throat quickly to cover it.
I nod, unsure of what to say. Does he know about the baby?
“Kaci has been a wreck. I’ve tried to get her home, to eat, to rest, to shower.” Sean runs his hands over his face, and exhaustion overtakes his features. “She refuses to leave your side. I’ve tried to take care of her and make sure she eats, but she’s so stubborn.”
“I’ll make sure she heads home for a bit.”
Sean nods his head thoughtfully at my words. “Callie ran off, Troy. She’s still out there somewhere. Neason is dead. Ardon put a bullet through his head. We’re at war, and it’s going to get really fucking messy.” He breathes in deeply, looking off into space.
“I’ll take care of her, of them.”
Sean’s eyes snap to mine, a little brighter than before. “You know about the baby then?”
I nod, and a smile lights up my face. “Yeah, I do.”
Sean stands, reaching out a hand to grip my shoulder. “Get better, man. Focus on Kaci and the baby. We’ll take care of everything else for a while.”
“Thanks, Sean. I mean it, for everything. I owe you everything.” I choke on the last couple words, and I’m thankful that he doesn’t comment on my uncharacteristic display of emotion.
Sean nods and steps toward the door. “I’ll keep Kaci out here for a minute.”
I don’t have time to ask why, because as soon as he pulls the door open Dylan bursts in, his worry etched all over his face. I chuckle loudly, and then clench my side as pain rips through it.
“That’s what you get, douchebag.” Dylan’s words are clouded in worry even though he tries to mask them behind his goofy grin.
“Fuck you.” I wheeze the words out as he takes the chair Sean has just vacated.
“Your dad’s been calling.”
“Fuck!” He must be worried as hell.
“Chill man, Kaci’s been talking to him. He’s thrilled about that by the way.”
I raise a brow at him. “About what?”
“Kaci, the baby, all of it.” He shrugs. “The only thing keeping him up at night is you.”
I shake my head. I can’t imagine how helpless Dad feels.
“Kaci didn’t leave your side, man. Here I thought you two were all broken up, and I could squeeze in there. Then your selfish ass gets shot, and voila, she’s yours again.”
I punch him lightly in the shoulder as I chuckle softly. “You fucking wish, man.”
Dylan chuckles softly too, his green eyes glazing over. “You have no idea what it feels like to see you like this again. We thought we lost you, and then your stubborn ass pulls through, thank fuck. It’s just surreal.”
I nod, because I get it. I couldn’t imagine being on the other side of this bed. Dylan stands, and walks toward the door.
“The next time you pull some bullshit like this I’ll shoot you myself.” The words fade softly as he closes the door behind him.
This whole experience has been one giant fucking eye opener. Life is too fucking short to not take what I want wholeheartedly, and I want Kaci. Callie still being out there is something I plan to rectify as soon as fucking possible. Knowing that this war is just beginning leaves me so damn terrified. I finally have everything I’ve ever wanted, and now I have someone threatening to take it all away.
The door opens again and my breath catches at the sight of her. Kaci’s long dark hair is piled on top of her head. Worried blue eyes are watching me closely. I lift my arm and all of the worry is replaced by a relived smile and she rushes over to me. She slide’s up onto the mattress, careful not to bump my side as she does, and cuddles against me.
“I love you.” I whisper the words over the top of her head.
She sobs a little, and I pull back to stare into tear-filled eyes.
“Why are you crying?”
Kaci shakes her head from side to side quickly. “I-I-…” She pulls in a deep, shaky breath. “I know you didn’t want a baby, but I’m keeping it.”
My eyes widen in shocked surprise. “What the fuck would make you say something like that?”
She stutters over her breathing before gaining control, and locking her eyes to mine. “Addie told me, how you acted when she told you about her baby.”
My chest squeezes tightly. “That was different, Kace. The situation was completely different. I don’t love Addie. I couldn’t figure out how it happened, and as it turns out I was right in thinking it didn’t make sense.” I lean forward and brush a soft kiss against her lips.
“I love you. I know exactly how this happened. You make me so crazy I forget everything except how badly I want to be inside of you. I forget everything except how perfect we feel together.”
Kaci smiles through the next sob that shakes her shoulders. She runs a hand over her smooth cheeks to wipe at her tears.
“Will you marry me?” The words slip from my lips without thought, but I mean them so I don’t even try to take them back.
Kaci’s lips part in surprise and her blue eyes widen. She searches my face with a look of disbelief on her perfect face. Her hands grip my bicep firmly. “You’re serious?” The words are a plea on her tempting lips.
“I’ve never been more fucking serious about anything, Kace. I want it all with you, babe.”
“Why me?” The words are so soft I almost don’t catch them over the beeping of the heart machine.
I grip her face in my hands and stare into her eyes. “Why you?” I pretend to ponder it a moment as she chews on her lower lip. “That’s not even a real question.” Kaci looks at me quizzically. “The real question is, why me?”
I press a soft kiss against the corner of her mouth. “How did I manage to make this perfect girl give me the best parts of herself? How did I convince her to fall in love with me? Because, babe, you’ve always been it for me. My end game. My forever.”
“I love you!” Kaci launches into my arms again, and I ignore the pain in favor of the peacefulness she causes inside of me.
“Is that a yes?” My chest swells with hope, with love.
Kaci sobs harder into the fabric of this stupid hospital gown, her head nodding furiously against me. “Yes, Yes, Yes!”
With those three words my life is complete. I know that the threat is still there. I know I won’t give up until that threat is eliminated, but right now, at this very moment, everything is perfect. Everything is complete. My demon’s laid to rest by this one feisty little woman who owns me heart and soul.
The End…For now…
Chapter One
Dylan
“Dude, watch it.” I jump back as the beer sloshes over the top of this moron’s red, plastic cup.
“I’m sorry, D.” The guy stutters over his words nervously.
I ignore him, brush at my dark green t-shirt, and continue on my way through the erratic mass of grinding bodies. After every fight we have these epic after parties, and even though Troy is now tied down, I still plan on enjoying them to the fullest.
Reaching behind me I clasp onto the blonde girl that has followed me here from the fights. The main event was brutal. The basement had been filled with the metallic scent of blood among the screams of fans, and the crunching sound of bones breaking against fists.
I stood next to Troy, who had a protective arm wrapped around a very pregnant Kaci, as he announced the fighters. It was good to see him on his feet again after taking a bullet to the chest six months ago. Everyone is still on edge and looking for answers as to where Callie took off to, but so far everything has been quiet.
I tug the blonde around until she is standing directly in front of me. Her green eyes are sparkling sexily under t
he flashing lights. That short skirt she is wearing is driving me crazy over her long legs. I am a bit clichéd. I have a serious thing for leggy blondes. She pushes up against me, grinding her hips and running her hands over my chest. The lighting is playing erotically over her soft features making my dick stir to life.
Ardon has spared no expense turning this place into the ultimate party house. Every room is flooded in the music pumping out through the hidden speakers, and the lighting is all set up on a switch that can change from normal lighting to strobe lights. Out back sits a massive deck complete with in-ground pool and hot tub. There are two bars on the ground level of the house; both are manned by professional bartenders. Was it any wonder we spent most weekends here?
I lower my lips to graze over her ear when my gaze catches on a flash of dark hair across the room. Okay, so maybe it isn’t the hair as much as the soft, full lips on such an angelic face. I can’t stop the images of her on her knees, wrapping those lips around my cock that play through my mind.
I start to lift my head to get a better look at her, when this giant ass dude stumbles into my line of sight. He presses himself against her in a too familiar manner, so I duck my head again and tug a small earlobe between my teeth. I’m not about to start a fight over a quick lay.
I nibble down the side of her neck and feel her hands fist tightly into my shirt. I can’t hear what she is mumbling over the pounding bass of the music, but I don’t particularly care either. I lower one hand over her ass pulling her tighter against me. She hums in satisfaction, her body molding to mine. I chance a glance up again, and this time my whole body stills. My adrenaline kicks in and I find myself releasing this girl and pushing my way through the crowd.
I’d be lying if I said watching this tiny little girl land a solid punch on this douche bag didn’t turn me on a little bit, but it also pissed me off. She shouldn’t have to defend herself like that. I should have realized what was happening the first time I looked over here. I should have stopped this before anything happened.