CHAPTER ELEVEN
“I am fine,” I insisted. I shoved Alaric’s helping hands away. “I can get out of this bed all by myself.”
The bear inside Alaric growled quietly. “The doctors said you needed more rest. They want you to stay here overnight to watch your progress.”
“I hate hospitals,” I spat. “I want to go home.”
“But they said—”
I pointed a sharp finger at the window, where the sun was setting. “By my best guess, I have been here for almost twenty-four hours. That is long enough.”
“Faith, please, just lay back down in bed.” He leaned over my prone body on the hospital bed, a playful quirk to his lips. “I’ll make it worth your while if you do.”
My brown eyes narrowed at his. “Is this a bribe?”
“Yes.” He didn’t lie. “Is it working?”
“That depends. Does it include candy?”
My husband snickered softly. “I’ll try. I’ll see what they have downstairs in the gift shop.”
Reluctantly, I nodded. “Fine. But make it a lot of candy. And creative. The crap they’re feeding me isn’t fit for a dog—not even a rabid dog. I’ve been better ever since they gave me that damn shot in my ass, and they still keep feeding me ‘soft food.’”
“I’ll be right back, beauty.” He snickered and kissed my forehead softly. “And try not to hassle the nurses too much this time if they come in. They’re just doing their job.”
I snorted. “They keep poking me with needles.”
“Maybe we should have had sex earlier,” he taunted as he walked toward the door. He lifted his hands and flashed them in the air. “While I’m gone, think of what these babies will be doing to your body once you’re feeling better.”
I stared at his hands. “I’m feeling perfect now. Let’s go home.”
“You can’t even sit up yet without help.” He winked and opened the door. “Patience, my beauty.”
I groaned under my breath as he left the room.
Those hands were carved by a true artist, his body a work of art to behold. Just like the brilliance that he created every day with a new building. I could stare at him all day—and found myself doing it half the time. There was no shame now that he was my husband. That bear shifter was all mine.
I turned my attention to my body. I could sit up fine on my own, the liar. It was walking that zapped my energy. I needed to do a few laps around the room to build my endurance up. Otherwise, I’d be pitiful in bed with him when we did finally make our way home.
I shoved myself up and pushed my legs over the side of the bed. I took it slow as I got to my feet, my legs wobbling just a little. My teeth ground together as I walked at an elderly person’s pace in circles around my room, my forehead perspiring with my efforts.
I glanced at my water jug and groaned. My dry throat demanded wetness. I’d done well with the walking. A little further to get some ice and water wouldn’t be difficult. I grabbed the handle of the jug and gradually made my way to the door.
I opened it and stopped in my tracks. I peeked outside, spying down one direction of the hallway then the other. To the man closest to me, I groaned, “How many of you are there?”
The CA soldier’s lips twitched. “Enough, ma’am.”
“For what? An invasion?” Shifters, all of them.
“You are Mr. Wood’s top priority. As such, you are also ours for the time being.”
Then I snagged sight of a different black haired shifter. “Do you know where the ice is around here?”
The man blinked. “Call your nurse’s station, ma’am. They will take care of it for you.”
“That’s not happening. I don’t want those bitches and their needles anywhere near me,” I grumbled. Holding the back of the hospital gown together, I stepped out of the room. “I guess I’ll find it on my own.”
Slowly. Painfully slow.
