CHAPTER FOUR
Kaden
“What the hell were you thinking?”
A few hours had passed when her shrill voice pulled me from where I’d been dozing due to exhaustion. The sound bounced from the walls to the windows and slapped me in the face.
“What the fuck was that Kaden?” she bit out. “What in hell where you doing out there?”
My eyes peeled open and a smile licked at the side of my lips. She looked so sexy when she was mad. Her hands were slammed on her hips and I noticed a white dressing on her neck.
“What the hell are you smiling about?” Jeez the woman could holler when she was upset.
When she stepped closer to the bed, I reached out, grabbed her hand and pulled her against me. “You baby, just you.” I chuckled against her skin, my lips ran along the side of her neck to where the dressing was.
“What’s so fucking funny, Kaden?”
“Did you know you’re fucking sexy as hell when you’re mad?”
She pulled back and glared at me with her beautiful blue eyes and I found myself falling.
“Kaden, it’s not funny. You’ve gone and hurt yourself all over again.” She sounded hurt - she was hurting for me.
“Well, babe, you know I’d do anything to get more time here with you.”
Her shoulders rose as she sucked in a mouthful of air, it obviously pained her that I had slipped backward after being ready for rehab.
I squeezed her hand. “Look at me, babe.” I waited until her eyes locked onto mine. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Kaden, he could have killed you.” Tears welled in her eyes.
I shook my head. I understood PTSD better than most and knew the effect waging war had on the psyche. Being trained as a boy to kill. To be a beast when they should be enjoying their boyhood lives.
“Babe, he could have killed you, it’s why I acted fast.”
“You’re hurt though, because of me.”
I hugged her close. “Nah, babe, a few torn stitches and pulled ribs aren’t anything to fuss about. Hey, I did get those dam casts taken off since I did a great job at cracking them.” I lifted the blanket and wiggled my toes, wincing as pain shot up my legs and into my torso. “Fuck,” I cursed. “That fucking hurt.”
“See.” Her beautiful voice was gruff with an I told you so tone.
“You finished being mad at me, babe?” I raised an eyebrow at her.
She looked worn out, dried blood coated her uniform, it was a stark reminder she could have died today. I wanted to keep holding her in my arms, I couldn’t lose someone else I loved on this day.
“Hmm, maybe in thirty minutes I will be. I needed to see you, but I’ve been busy cleaning everything up and writing reports. I was on my way to have coffee with you when all hell broke loose. You scared the shit out of me.”
“I did? I believe you were the one with a scalpel at your throat.”
“Well, it’s over now. If you ever do anything like that again, I’ll….I’ll…. Oh, I don’t know what I’ll do but I’ll do something.”
I laughed as she pulled me into her chest and lifted the back of my fresh tee. My arms snaked around her waist and I held her close, soaking her up and breathing in her smell. Heaven, she is fucking heaven.
“You made a mess, Mr. James.’ Her fingers caressed the newly placed stitches.
“Chris did the stitching. Is it up to your standard?” I winked at her and she slapped my hand away from pinching her ass.
“I’m leaving.” Her smile sent shivers deep through me. Her molten stare made my heart stop and my dick hard. Like, shit,….she makes me feel when I thought I had no feelings left in me.
