“I want to go with him.” I say my eyes not leaving G.T.
“I know.” She wraps one arm around my shoulder and gives me a side hug. My eyes never leave G.T.
As Cruz and Dagger lift him, my heart plummets. Cruz grabs the top half of his body under his arms while Dagger grabs his feet. The way his body lays there limp, mimicking and swaying with every movement they make sends shivers of fear down my body. If I didn’t know 100% that he is alive, I would have screamed.
Harlow begins fussing all around G.T., giving him shots and checking this and that after they lay him down. Ma barrels into the room, her eyes wide with fear. “What happened?”
“One look at Casey had him passing out.” Harlow laughs and I blush. Bitch.
I stand in the corner of his room and watch, feeling like a spectator more than an actual participant. Ma holds her hands out to me as she walks and embraces me tightly. “I’m sorry you had to come home to this, but girl, I’m so glad you’re home.”
I never had a mom, never knew what it was like to have one. Ma is the closest I’ve ever gotten. She always had a way of making me feel loved even when I didn’t. I latch on tight feeling her warmth. “Thanks.”
“He’s okay, just not supposed to be moving too much right now.” She says answering the question that has been worrying me since he went down.
“When will he wake up?” I muffle into Ma, but my eyes lock on G.T. lying in his bed appearing to be peaceful.
“Soon, he just needs some sleep. Doc will be here in a bit to check him out.”
“Can I stay with him?” I ask, feeling like I need her permission. Scratch that, like I want her permission.
She pulls away from me and my eyes meet hers. Ma is a beautiful woman. Her blonde hair dances around her face in layered curls and her light gray eyes sparkle as if she likes what I just asked her. “Absolutely. You can stay with him as long as you like.” Her eyes penetrate mine as her words sink in, unbelievable meaning dripping from them. And as much as I want to tell her that I’d love too, some part deep down, one that I wasn’t acknowledging at the moment, knows that once he gets better I am gone.
I shake off the small thought not wanting to acknowledge it and lock it down deep.
“Thanks.” I pull away and walk over to the bed. I grab a chair and sit next to him, afraid to actually touch him.
“He just needs sleep. You can touch him, you won’t hurt him. He’ll actually like it. I gave him a small bit of morphine so he’ll be a bit out of it. I’ll make sure no one comes in.” Harlow says, squeezing my shoulders behind me. Everyone in the room files out, leaving me with a very unconscious hot man. I sigh. If only.
I grab his warm, rough hand looking at all the lines and scars that grace it. Each one, I’m sure with some kind of story. His fingernails are clean and cut short, the clean part must be Harlow’s doing because G.T. did not primp at all. He is all rugged and likes getting his hands dirty.
I rub my hands up and down his feeling the rough but soft palms. I lace my fingers with his and bring them up to my lips kissing them softly. “I’m so sorry babe.” I whisper.
Everything from that moment, his hurtful words spewed out of his mouth, to losing Mia burst through me. Tears roll uncontrollably down my face and I grip G.T.’s hand tighter feeling his warmth. I lay my head next to his hand on the bed, close my eyes and let myself feel the pain.
“This is all your fault, G.T. Do you even realize that?” I whisper into the bed. “If you could just be with me. If I could just be enough for you, we could have had everything.” I let the tears take over.
“Casey?” G.T.’s groggy voice sputters. I jump quickly, wiping my face to wash the tears away. I instantly miss the warmth of his hand in mine.
“Hey.” I say softly brushing his silky hair away from his face.
“You’re really here?” he asks, his eyes glassy, must be from the meds.
“Right here.” Placing my hand on his bearded cheek, I relish the feeling of his coarse hair under my palm. His hand reaches up and covers mine.
“Don’t leave me. Please.” His words almost a plea, but being heavily medicated I will not read anything more into his words, even if deep inside I wish it to be true.
“I’m right here.”
“Tired. Come lay with me.” I shouldn’t. It will only cause me more pain, but I can’t help my damn self. His pleading eyes suck me in and damn if I can crawl out from their spell. And to be completely honest, I need this.
I smile. “Yeah.” I kick off my shoes and crawl into bed under the covers feeling his body heat even though we are not touching. Laying my head on the empty pillow, I keep my body far away from his.
“Get over here.” His words are demanding and send fire through my body. Dammit if I don’t love his forcefulness, but don’t budge. I can’t make myself move.
“I don’t want to hurt you. I’ll just lay here.” I stare at his handsome profile. His nose with a slight bend from the fight he had when he was younger, it just never set right, his strong jaw angled just perfectly.
“Now.” The intensity in his words makes my body move on its own accord. I can never turn my body’s reaction to him off and part of me craves him. I move close and he reaches out, his good arm pulling me even closer to his body. My head rests on his arm as I lay on my side, hand on his rock hard chest and my legs next to his. I itch to move them over his, but keep them where they are. His arm holds me tight against his body as I wiggle to get comfortable and it doesn’t take much.
I sink into the comfort that he is providing me. I’ll only lay here for a little bit, I tell myself. But his warmth is too much and my eyes begin to get heavy.
Chapter 7—G.T.
The creak of the door as it opens rouses me from the most peaceful sleep I’ve had in months. Opening my eyes slowly, my Angel is draped over my body, her arm close to her as if she knew instinctively not to touch my wounds. Her legs entwine with mine and her chest slowly rises and falls telling me she is in a deep sleep. Casey’s beautiful face rests on my arm. Her blonde and now black hair sweeps across the bed in a huge curtain. Cherries. Damn woman always smells like damn cherries, and I fucking love it.
My eyes jet to the noise at the door and see Doc standing there, waiting.
“I heard she was back.” Doc says quietly staring at my girl. I want to gouge his fucking eyes out for even looking at her¸ string him up and beat the ever-loving shit out of him.
“What do you need?” I growl wanting him to leave, shut the door and allow me to forget the outside fucking world.
“Ma called. Said you passed out. Now I can see why.” He smiles reaching into his bag.
“Stop fucking looking at her.” I warn his eyes shooting to mine.
“Down there, big boy. I don’t want your girl. Just nice to see you a bit more alert.” He places the stethoscope in his ears and begins to place it on my body listening to me.
“Don’t wake her up.” I glare in his eyes.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He says smiling only causing my anger to turn red hot. Who the fuck does he think he is?
He checks my bandages and dressings thoroughly and I watch my beautiful Angel sleep peacefully in my arms without even a stir as Doc works. Her porcelain skin is so light against my tan and the little bit of freckles across the bridge of her nose is the only color gracing her face. I love those fucking things; it’s where I came up with Angel for her. Her freckles are Angel kisses and she is my Angel.
Casey’s tiny frame is pressed up against mine and I relish in the soft curves of her body. Never have I wanted a woman to lay with me like this. Never. Casey is the only one. Ever. And dammit if I didn’t want to stay like this forever. Damn sap.