Stay with Me: The Moran Brothers Series

Chapter 6

Sick In-Law

Reminisce

“Let’s get this party started,”I sing as I dance into my sister’s house with two bottles of wine.

Her husband is heading out of town with his brothers, and my parents are babysitting her boys. We’re going to have a girls’ weekend that I seriously need. It’s been crazy at work, and I haven’t been able to focus since that text message that Knight sent me in the middle of the night.

It probably wouldn’t have affected me as much if I hadn’t been masturbating to thoughts of him when the text came in. However, I had, and I was so close to reaching for the stars. That text nearly had me sending him an invite to finish the job.

The restraint I used that night … lord of the baby Jesus rings. I didn’t think I had it in me. I learned a lot about myself.

I earned this weekend of drinking because I haven’t been able to get him or that text off my mind, but I resisted returning the text or giving him a call. When it comes to Knight, that’s an accomplishment for me.

“Hey, I was just about to call you,” Saga says as she comes into view in the kitchen.

I groan. “No, no, no. I know that face. What’s wrong?”

“Baby, I’m starving,” Bishop calls as he walks into the kitchen shirtless and barefoot with the twins in his arms.

This shit ain’t fair.

It’s not fair that my sister is married to such a fine ass man. I mean, look at him. The tattoos, his big arms holding up his sons, those abs, damn she’s one lucky heifer. If Bishop puts it down like his baby brother, Saga is indeed living her best life.

Heck, it’s not fair that the Moran men look like this. And most of all, it’s not fair that I’m not getting my girls’ weekend. I already know my sister and brother-in-law are about to drop some bad news on me.

“Wait, why are you here? Forgive me, I love my two little stink bugs, but what the heck are they still doing here? Don’t do this to me,” I whine and throw myself down on the kitchen island with the bottles of wine still clenched in my hands.

“I’m so sorry,” Saga says.

“Knight is sick, so we had to cancel,” Bishop says as he chuckles at me.

“No, no, no,” I whimper. “I need my sister and wine. Why does that man hate me so much?”

“That’s BS. I think my brother has a thing for you. Maybe you should go check on him, so I don’t have to bring back whatever he has to the boys.”

“What?” I lift my head and frown at him. “What are you talking about?”

“I see the way you two look at each other, and he’s always asking questions about you while trying to act like he’s not asking questions about you,” Bishop says with humor in his voice.

“That’s not what I meant. Why can’t Lord or Prince check on him?”

“When we canceled the weekend, Lord took a modeling gig in New York. Prince is off somewhere parasailing or something. He was going to meet up with us. That leaves me. Mom and Dad are on a cruise.”

I should mind my business. I should take my wine and go home to get drunk by myself. Sunny did say that I could join her and Jamel in Malibu for the weekend.

Okay, I’m not that desperate. I’m not going to watch my best friend and her man suck face for three days. I stomp my feet like a toddler, while still thrown across the countertop.

“I have an idea. You go spend the weekend with your brother. We can drop the babies at mom and dad’s and still have our weekend,” I say hopefully.

The moment Bishop walks up behind Saga and places his hand on her belly, I know I’m royally screwed. These two are like bunnies. I swear, she’ll be pregnant again soon. The way he looks at my sister is plain sinful.

“Mom and dad took off when I told them I didn’t need them,” Saga says, she then looks up at Bishop. “We were going to tire the boys out and spend the night in.”

“You’re a traitor. I had the week from hell. You were supposed to have my back.”

“Now, you can have our backs. Can you go check on Knight? He doesn’t sound good. I have a key to his place. Just pop in for me and make sure he’s all right,” Bishop says with a plea in his voice and eyes.

“I … that’s not such a great idea.”

“Come on, Rem. He sounds like shit. I need to make sure he’s okay, but I can’t chance getting the boys sick.”

“Please,” Saga adds.

“I’m being set up,” I mutter.

“Never,” Saga says with a sly smile.

“Whatever.” I huff. “Get me the key.”

Bishop beams at me. “You’re the best.”

* * *

Knight

I feellike death warmed over. My throat is sore and my head is throbbing. My body aches everywhere. Shit, I don’t know what I did to deserve this.

I’m lying on my stomach in bed with my hand hanging over the edge. I promised myself I’d get up to go to the bathroom thirty minutes ago. I’m just too weak to do it.

I told Bishop I didn’t need any help, but that’s bullshit. I haven’t eaten today, and my sheets are soaked and wet from sweat. I groan when my front door opens.

“Fuck me,” I mutter.

If I need to lift a gun toward an intruder today, I’m a goner. The sound of the alarm being disarmed causes me to relax. Bishop never listens. My big brother has looked out for me all my life.

I guess we’re a bit closer because the twins have each other. As soon as I told Bishop I caught something he declared he was going to come check on me. I ruined everyone’s weekend. I was actually looking forward to getting out of town for a little while.

“Saga,” I murmur, not loud enough for anyone to hear.

Her heels are clicking as she makes her way to my bedroom. Fuck, I’m butt ass naked. I groan because I can’t move. I wish Bishop would have told me he was sending his wife.

Asshat.

I probably reek. My nose isn’t working enough for me to know the difference, but the lack of bathing in the last forty-eight hours sort of guarantees it. Though with the fog my mind is in, Saga will just have to forgive me.

“Damn, are you alive in here?”

I stiffen at the sound of the voice. I’m going to beat the shit out of my brother. With the little energy I have left, I turn my head toward her voice and the bedroom door.

Maybe I’m dying because I’m looking at a fucking angel. She’s done something different with her hair. It’s not straight and hanging down her back.

“Pull my weave, and I’ll cut you,” those were her words the first time we had sex.

I pulled that shit and paid for her to get it done the next morning. Only once have I had the pleasure of tugging on her real hair. So I know this halo of wild curls isn’t her natural hair, but it’s not her usual style either.

Her lips are glossy and her lashes pop around those gorgeous eyes. The top buttons of her shirt are gaping open, showing off a peek of a pink bra and her chocolate brown skin. I guess I’m not too sick to get hard. Those jeans and heels have me stabbing the mattress.

“Oh my God, Knight,” she gasps. “You poor baby. Your nose is so red. You look like shit.”

“Thanks, sweetheart. Now get out of here before I contaminate you.” My voice comes out in a congested rasp.

“When was the last time you bathed? Have you eaten? What have you taken to get rid of this?” she rattles off instead of turning to leave.

I roll onto my back and toss my arm over my face. The effort feels like I just lifted a truck and dragged it across a parking lot. I sigh and answer her questions.

“Two days ago, no, and some bullshit cough medicine my buddy dropped off,” I mutter.

“Okay.” She sighs. I look at her when the sound of her heels dropping from her feet pulls my attention. She pads over to my bed barefoot. “Come on. Let’s get you in the shower. No, a hot bath. You smell horrible.”

“You can leave. Like I said, I don’t want you to catch this.”

“I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine. Besides, my sister and Bishop would kill me if I left you like this. Come on, up you get.”

I sit up slowly, and she helps me from the bed. I suck it up as best I can. This isn’t how I want her to see me. I frown when I can’t smell her sweet scent as we move into the bathroom. I look forward to that whenever she’s around.

“I got this,” I say, standing upright on my own.

I move to the toilet to finally relieve myself, and Rem moves to the tub to fill it. My bladder feels like it’s about to burst. Maybe it’s a good thing she arrived when she did.

I turn to glance over my shoulder while I’m taking a leak. Through my heavy lids, I find Rem with her eyes on my ass. The lust in her eyes is clear, although she looks lost in thought. I chuckle and start to cough and piss all over the place.

“Fuck,” I breathe with a rasp.

“Aren’t you kind of old to be missing the bowl?” she teases.

“I’m going to kill Bishop.”

“For what?”

My shoulders and back burn from coughing. When I bend to clean up the toilet, I give a small hiss. I think my ego is bruised as much as my insides.

“Leave that. I’ll take care of it. Come here,” she says softly.

I look behind me to find a gentle look on her face. I normally wouldn’t want anyone cleaning up my piss, but my head feels so fucking heavy, I think I might fall over. I stumble to the tub like I’ve been drinking all night and climb in.

The warm water is soothing to my aching body. I sink in and put my head back. This feels so damn good.

“Keep your eyes closed,” she says, seconds later. She turns the water on and off again, then she places a hot rag over my face.

With her small fingers, she massages my pressure points and it’s like a bubble pops in my head. “Come on, blow,” she says as she peels the rag back and holds it to my nose.

Opening my eyes, I look into her browns. I feel like a toddler, but I’m too weak to do anything more than follow her request. I start to cough again.

Rem gets another rag. She heats it with warm water and places it over my chest and throat. It feels amazing. I close my eyes again and fall back against the tub. I don’t realize I’ve drifted off until the smell of pine bursts through my senses.

I open my eyes to find Rem in one of my T-shirts and a pair of my boxers.

She’s on her hands and knees cleaning the bathroom floor. Her ass is in the air sending my clouded head in the wrong direction. Shutting that down quickly, I groan. I sit up in the tub.

“Babe, please don’t do that,” I say and my voice breaks. I clear my throat. “I’ll clean up.”

“Knight, you can barely keep your eyes open. I warmed that water twice already. I’ve got this,” she says.

I blow out a breath and frown. Damn, I need to brush my teeth. Right as I have the thought, I spot my toothbrush, toothpaste, and a cup of water on the edge of the tub.

Reaching for the supplies, I get my mouth freshened up before she finishes putting the supplies away. Rem comes to collect the cup and my toothbrush. When she returns, she sits on the edge of the tub and fills a washrag with soap.

“Sit up,” she commands.

I lift a brow at her, causing her to give me that look she used to get in the courtroom. I sit up with a grin on my lips, allowing her to wash my back before she decides to kick my ass. The warmth on my back and the soothing circles she’s making releases more of the tension in my body, almost lulling me to sleep again.

I’m in heaven when she starts to wash my hair. The way her nails massage my scalp feels so damn good. If this is what it feels like to have your woman pamper you, I want Rem even more.

I wish I had the strength to tug her down into this bath with me. I’d fuck her until she forgets all her little reasons why we shouldn’t be together. My cock twitches from the thought of it.

“Hey, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m here to get you cleaned up and fed,” she says close to my ear as she reaches down to wash my growing erection.

“Doing that you’re going to get more than you bargained for. I promise you that,” I say in a gravelly voice.

“Down boy,” she teases while giving my shaft a gentle squeeze.

“You love playing with me,” I say against her ear.

“Pull back with those germs.”

I chuckle and move back. She finishes getting the soap off my body and goes for two of the large towels. I savor the feel of her drying my hair with the warm towel before wrapping it around my head. Opening the other one, she steps back and holds it up for me.

“Come on, big boy. Time to get you out of there.”

I snort but lift to my full height and step out of the tub. Towering over her, I lock my gaze on hers. So many unspoken words linger between us. She’s the first to break the trance as she wraps the towel around me and dries my body off.

“There are sweats on your bed. The sheets are fresh. I’ll make you some soup and a hot toddy,” she says breathlessly.

“Thank you,” I say, cupping her cheek.

I want to kiss her, but I truly don’t want to pass whatever this is to her. Releasing her, I stroll into the bedroom to find it cleaned with fresh sheets and clothes laid out for me. I smile, liking the thought of Rem taking care of me more than I thought I would.

“Hey, your phone is buzzing somewhere. I couldn’t find it,” she calls as she steps back into the bedroom.

“I dropped it under the bed sometime this morning, I think. I’ll get it eventually.”

I’m not waiting for any important calls. Reminisce is the only one I’ve been waiting to hear from. Once in my sweats and a thermal, I climb under the sheets.

“Rest, I’ll be in with your food and drink in a few,” she says as she places my phone on the nightstand.

Stubborn. I should’ve known once I gave her a location she’d find the damn thing. It’s one of the things I love about her. She’s determined and focused.

* * *

Reminisce

He’s knocked out.I don’t want to wake him up. His nose is still red, and his cheeks are flushed, but he looks better than when I first got here. Smells a hell of a lot better too.

He looks so peaceful in his sleep. I place the tray on the nightstand and chew on my lip. I don’t know if I should get dressed in my clothes and leave or stick around for a bit to make sure that he eats and downs the hot toddy.

“Stay,” he murmurs, his eyes still closed.

“What?”

“Stay with me,” he says slowly opening his eyes.

I want to say no. I know I should say no. Yet I find myself in his shower before placing on another of his shirts. I then climb into bed beside him.

With those blue eyes watching me, I settle at his side as he sips at the soup I made. He places the bowl down and smiles at me. One of those smiles that scrambles my head every time.

I may have just fucked up.