“You could be wearing a circus tent and the vibes would still be there, Michaela.”
“Just to be clear, Sloane was not suggesting that we come home and bang all over this apartment like a pair of horny rabbits!”
Stone’s mouth dropped open as he pulled Mae into his chest. “I wasn’t suggesting that… but I don’t see why not.”
She scoffed, pushing away with a smile, but he didn’t miss how her eyes drifted down to the scars, still red and swollen, on his chest and belly.
“Shower. Now. Then bed. None of which will end in sex.”
“Fine.” He sighed. “But we could make out?”
“Stone!”
Mae huffed, reaching behind her to unclasp her bra. In a flash, she was stepping into the shower, a gasp hitting his ears as the water turned on and hit her exposed flesh.
“Shit! Don’t come in here. That’s fucking freezing.”
“Move over, I’ll come warm you up.”
The shower was indeed freezing, and he wrapped his arms around Mae, moving her so his back took the brunt of the cold water. She smiled up at him as her fingers dusted over the healing scar on his chest, and then she pressed her ear down, over his heart.
“I won’t ever take this for granted again.”
“Cold, horny showers with such a handsome man?”
“Hilarious.” Mae rolled her eyes and reached for the bottle of body wash over his shoulder. “I meant hearing your heartbeat. So steady and so strong. I swear, laying in the hospital with my head next to your hip, I memorized it in case…” Her voice dropped off, a small sniff filling the void instead.
“Mae, look at me.” Stone’s voice commanded. “Look at me, baby. I’m not going anywhere. I would never leave you. I’ll always fight to be with you. Always.”
Tears flooded her eyes, and it killed him. He was the source of her sadness. All her worry was because of something that happened to him… and he couldn’t even remember it happening. It made him feel helpless, but he hated how it was affecting her more than anything else.
“What’s wrong? Why is that making you emotional?”
“It’s just been a few really long weeks. Do you think yourmom would mind if we were in bed when she came back? I know I should stay up and entertain her, but I’m just?—”
“Stop. She’ll be fine. Let’s get this hospital stink off of me. Then we can put on some Dr. Quinn. You know I’ll be out like a light…”
“You want to watch that tonight?”
“Isn’t that your favorite show?” he laughed, knowing without a doubt it was.
“Yes, but it’s your first night home. We could watch something you like.”
“I plan on watching something I really like, while she watches a show she loves.” Stone pressed his lips against Mae’s, the warm water cascading over their bodies.
“Stop it,” she laughed, her hands full of soap. He raised his eyebrows up, moved his hands away from her and smiled.
“This canvas is all yours to create a masterpiece with.”
“Goodness. I should have taken Sebastian up on getting some in-home help. You could have gotten a middle-aged male nurse to help you with this.”
Stone laughed, his fingers swiping some of the gel in Mae’s hand. “Yeah, but I wouldn’t want to wash him back. Let’s go, beautiful. I’m ready to get you into bed.”
“I just bet you are,” she sighed. He studied her face. There might be weeks of memories missing, but that moment, with Mae soaking wet, smiling up at him like all her dreams came true when they walked back in through the apartment door, would live forever in his heart.
Ten
“Remember to listen to your doctors.”
