When we had gotten to the hospital Peyton and Piper’s cries broke my heart. Even with Bodie telling me what they’d said to him before he came to find me, I wasn’t prepared to see them so scared and upset.
So after Bodie and I took turns reading them a story, I’d laid holding them close in the tiny bottom bunk until they both fell asleep.
I placed a kiss on each of their heads and stood staring at them for some time before Bodie grabbed my hand and started guiding me from their room.
“Love you, my sweet girls,” I whispered.
When we got to our room I told Bodie I needed a shower. He got in with me and tenderly washed my hair, body and dried me with a towel before picking me up and depositing me on our big bed. After climbing in behind me he pulled me in close and we both sighed.
What if things hadn’t turned out this way and I had never got to feel my husband against me ever again? I knew I shouldn’t think like that but it was hard not to.
With his arms wrapped around me, all my body's discomfort faded away.
“Make love to me,” I said softly.
Bodie’s hand, which was tenderly rubbing on my stomach, froze. “Sweetheart, you need to rest like the doctor said, and you’re injured.”
I turned over so I could face him.
“I’m okay. I need to feel alive.” I was trying not to cry but a tear leaked out and trickled down my cheek anyway.
Bodie leaned over and kissed where it fell.
God what he did to me. I closed my eyes and took a breath before opening them again.
“I need my husband.”
His gaze held mine and I could see in his deep brown eyes he was wavering.
“Please,” I pleaded.
Right then, I knew I had him.
“You know I can’t say no to you,” he told me.
“Thank God for that,” I whispered right before he placed his lips to mine.
ChapterForty-Two
BODIE
She wassafe and in my arms.
I didn’t ever want to let her go again. If we could stay in our bed wrapped up together forever, where nobody could hurt one silky, ink-black hair on her head I’d do it.
When Gemma’s life was hanging in the balance, I felt like mine was slipping away.
It was as if I stopped breathing the second I realized she was missing, and the moment I knew she was safe, life had been breathed back into me.
I’d watched her cry tears of pain, fear, and joy. All of which yanked at my heartstrings.
Gemma had endured her own physical and mental pain being taken by Lena, but seeing her brother shot crushed her. Paxton would have not only some physical but also emotional distress to deal with after knowing what his mom did. But he saved us.
As far as I was concerned, he was not only Gemma’s brother, he was mine too.
The happy part of the evening was seeing my woman holding baby Tristan. Her face lit up with happiness for Ruby and Lyric. It also had been full of longing as she gazed at the newborn and I hoped that I could give her that soon.
I hadn’t planned on working on that goal after what she’d gone through that day. I thought all she needed was to rest and for me to hold her.
