Declan growls, his hands tightening on my hips. “You’re not going to be sick forever, princess. If I were you, I’d be careful. Keep talking shit, and I’ll start keeping track of how many swats on the ass that I owe you.”
My eyes meet his in the mirror above the sink.
“I just…” I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“It’s part of life. I’m sure, at some point, a man-flu will take me down for the count.” He chuckles, kissing the side of my head. “Thankfully Ravvi and Damian could sense how on edge I was. I know they would rather be here with you, but I would have had to fight them for it, if it came down to it.”
I don’t want them fighting over me. It is nice to hear Declan sound so adamant that he wants to be here, though. He helps me back to bed, and I snuggle against his chest, breathing him in. That beachy, salty scent of his immediately sets to work, soothing my frazzled instincts.
I could let my mind wander to what’s being said in the press, but honestly, I don’t want to know. I’ll deal with that when the time comes. For now, I want to be pampered and coddled. I’ll tackle the hard stuff when I’m back to full strength.
Declan stays with me until mid-morning, but he lets Damian take over so he can run out and grab our bags from the hotel. I’m sure someone else on the Ruined Records security team could handle it. I think Declan needs to move and stay busy or he’ll go crazy. He was fine while he kept me company, but I don’t think he’d do well sitting around in the suite here at the omega center.
Damian’s tart blueberry scent is comforting, and he has this relaxing energy that makes me feel safe.
Not that Declan doesn’t. He’s just more focused and commanding, where Damian is all low-maintenance comfort. They both have their strengths, but Damian is who I would seek out if I was feeling crappy and wanted to spend the day binge-watching bad reality TV.
Declan would be more for those days when I want a workout buddy at the gym to help push me to my breaking point, and maybe even past it.
Ravvi is who I would go after if I wanted someone to talk and laugh with.
Damian runs his fingers through my hair, drawing me out of my thoughts. “Ravvi and I talked to our dad before I came in. I have some news. Hopefully it’s good.”
“Don’t leave me in suspense.” I smack his chest playfully.
“They’re not going to replace us,” he says. “My uncle Marcus and Oakley are going to fill in for us with the twins. Well, I guess all of Wicked Truths will be coming with them, but they’re going to blend with Riot and Creed. They’ll play a mix of our songs and theirs to keep us relevant.”
My eyes widen.
Wicked Truths was one of my favorite bands when I was growing up. Oakley Graves is incredibly talented. She’s going to put me to shame.
“The audience will certainly be getting an upgrade,” I say, trying to look for a positive. “Wicked Truths hasn’t performed live in like three years. The fans are going to lose their minds.”
“Hey, this is a good thing, right?” Damian’s chest starts to vibrate with a ragged purr. “I think it’s the best possible outcome. That way, we aren’t kicking off another band when we come back, and it gives Riot and Creed the opportunity to continue to perform.”
“You’re right. It’s a good thing,” I admit, running my fingers over the vibration echoing out of his chest. “I love that sound.”
“Mmm, good,” he says, sounding amused. “It’s a new thing. I swear I couldn’t do it before we started getting closer.”
“Well, I love it, so I’m selfishly glad you figured it out.”
He chuckles. “You know, Clover. I think I’m falling in love with you. It’s quick, but my chest gets warm and fuzzy when I see you. When I think about you during the day, I find myself smiling. That’s the beginning of falling in love, right?”
“Yeah, I think so, and same.”
He bends down, kissing my temple. “I know. I can feel it in the bond. It’s what made me realize what that feeling was.”
I smile like a total weirdo.
God, I love Damian’s honesty.
Damian swaps out with his brother after three or four hours. It’s nice to have one-on-one time with each of them, and it makes me even happier to see they’re sharing without argument.
If the emergency department rules weren’t so strict, I bet they would stay all the time.
Ravvi smells freshly showered, which deadens his electric scent, but I’m also a fan of the Irish Spring soap he’s so fond of. “How ya feeling, Clover?”
“Much better.” My words are the truth. “I mean, I feel stupid, but physically, I’m much better than I was.”
