Chapter 58
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
F umbling to close the front clasp of her bra, Larissa nearly jumped out of her skin when the curtain was flung to the side.
She swung around so the front part of her body wouldn’t be exposed, then hastily reached for the hospital gown she had removed when hard hands turned her around.
Being confronted with Moon’s harsh visage made her wish she had begged the doctor, who had just left, to admit her into the hospital.
His inscrutable expression gave her no clue as to his mood, but his stormy eyes showed rage not as easily disguised.
Taking in what she was doing, Moon grasped the two parts of the bra and easily slid the front closer in place. His eyes moved down from her bra to the white bandage placed over the wound on the side of her abdomen.
“The baby is fine,” she said huskily. “We both are. He barely broke my skin.”
The only discernable reaction Moon showed was to place his hand on the swell of her belly, as if to reassure himself that his child was safe.
“I shouldn’t haven’t gone to Jamestown before talking to you,” she admitted. “Sex Piston told me that you had seen the bikers and alerted Viper, and he shared the information with Stud. You didn’t want me at the sale in case the bikers were looking to cause trouble.”
Removing his hand from her abdomen, Moon reached for her top lying on the hospital bed. He picked it up and lifted it over her head to help her put it on. Once she was wearing the soft coral top, he handed her over her pants.
His silence spoke volumes. She could tell he was furious at her.
Sitting down on a chair, she maneuvered herself into the pants then slid her feet into the sandals he dropped in front of her.
“Please don’t be mad. All you had to do was tell me why you didn’t want me to go to the rummage sale.”
“Larissa.” Moon’s harsh expression tightened until the muscles in his jaw became visible. “We’ll discuss this when we’re home. Until then, I suggest you don’t say anything.”
Deciding to accept his advice, she remained seated, staring at the clock on the wall until the nurse knocked on the glass door before coming though the curtain.
“I have your discharge papers.”
After listening to her discharge instructions, she rose from the chair. “Thank you for all your help.”
“You’re certainly welcome.”
She left with Moon and stopped outside the door.
“Sex Piston left me her car,” Moon told her, pointing to where it was parked.
Those were the last words he spoke to her until they arrived home.
Nervously, she walked through the front door, bracing herself for what he had been holding back.
“I’m going to take a shower.” Hoping to delay the confrontation, she tried to slip away from his side.
“Later.”
With shaking knees, she followed him into the living room. Going for a good defense is a good offense , she told herself before he could talk.
“I was going to turn around right after I was on the road, but I had already made the lunch date with Sex Piston.”
Moon gave her a deadpan stare and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you ever think before you act?”
“Sadly, no,” she admitted. “It’s a bad habit of mine.”
“Are you seriously trying to make a joke?”
She shook her head, shamefaced. “I’m telling the truth.”
Hearing the hurt in her voice didn’t lesson his irritation.
“I overreacted. I admit it. Again. Like I said, it’s a habit of mine. I should have called you back when you sent the text, but I didn’t want to start an argument. I might have a bad habit of overreacting, but you have a habit of being bossy.” Taking a seat on the sofa before her knees gave out, she continued, “I told you before I hate arguing … and instead of calling you after the text, I did something I knew would make you as mad as you made me.”
“That makes no fucking sense.”
“I know.” Unconsciously twisting her hands together, she tried to explain. “To be fair, you could have told me why you didn’t want me going to the church.”
“You’re going to be a mother,” Moon snapped at her. “Don’t you think it’s time you start acting like you have a brain instead of striking out like a child?”
“Old habits die hard.”
From the furious step he took toward the couch, she wished she had chosen a better choice of words.
“Do you have any fucking idea how scared I was when I turned that corner and saw you trying to get away from that biker?”
“No, but I know how scared I was.” Her voice hitched as the gravity of the situation she had been in hit her again.
“Are you hungry?”
The abrupt question made her blink at him. “No.”
“Go take your shower and get ready for bed. I’ll be there in a few.”
Nodding, she dejectedly got to her feet.
She went to her room, then into the bathroom to remove her clothes. Instead of placing them in the laundry basket, she shoved them into the trash can—she didn’t want a visual reminder of today’s events every time she opened her closet door.
Adjusting the showerhead to hit the wall of the shower, she kept her body turned to keep the bandage dry. Washing her hair was more difficult, but she managed to do it despite her sore scalp. She should have waited until she was less sore, but she could still smell their putrid scent on her.
After toweling dry, she chose a silky pajama set, craving the softness against her bruised skin.
She lay down on the bed and buried her face in a pillow when she heard Moon enter the room.
“Go away.” She didn’t even bother to remove the pillow after telling him to leave.
Curious, she heard him set something down on the nightstand. She’d thought he was placing his phone and keys, but a familiar odor made her lift the edge of the pillow. What she saw had her sitting up to push the pillow behind her back.
“Is that for me?”
“Of course.”
“How did you get it so fast?”
“I had Nickel pick up the food for me. He brought it when he dropped my bike off.”
Larissa eyed the bag of hamburgers. “Are you still mad at me?”
“Yes.”
He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her thighs, and his hands went to her waist to tug her pajama up and over the waistband of her bottoms. He pressed his lips against the bandage where the knife had cut her, then lifted his eyes to meet hers. “You can’t do shit like this anymore, Larissa. You can’t just pick and choose which part of a relationship you want with me and go on your merry way when I say or do something you don’t like just because you don’t want to argue. I’m not going to walk around on eggshells because you can’t fucking handle a fucking disagreement. You don’t have a damn problem acting like a lunatic when you want hamburgers or cookies, but you get nearly kidnapped because I told you not to go to a fucking rummage sale?”
Feeling an embarrassed flush spread across her cheeks, she stared at the blank television screen rather than meet his eyes. “That’s different,” she mumbled.
“How?”
“Because then it’s what the baby wants. He’s very demanding. He takes after his father.”
“Or his mother,” he countered, his eyes falling to where his hand was resting over the bandage. “I don’t need to go into detail about how fucking lucky you are that all you got was a few stiches and bruises.”
“No,” she replied huskily, her eyes meeting his.
He pulled his hands away. “We’re going to have to come to an agreement here and now, and you’re going to stick with it.”
The seriousness in his tone made her quietly ask, “What kind of agreement?”
Was this it, then? Hadn’t her mother warned her numerous times that no man would be able to deal with her long term? The sharp pain in heart at the thought of losing him hurt much worse than when the knife had wounded her earlier today.
“I want you to promise me that when I do or say something to make you angry, you have to wait for at least thirty minutes before you do something stupid.”
“I can do that.” She nodded, relief rushing through her.
“Then you’re in complete agreement?”
“Totally.” She smiled at him as she reached for the bag of burgers, her smile widening when she saw he had brought up a pack of cookies, too.
Moon’s hand forestalled her. “I’m serious, Larissa.”
“Me, too. I promise.”
He moved his hand away, letting her have the bag.
“I don’t take it lightly when promises made to me are broken,” he warned.
She gave him a grin, regaining a small bout of confidence. “I’m too big to be put over your knee,” she joked, pulling out one of the burgers.
“You won’t always be pregnant.”
Something in his voice had her hand pausing midair with the burger. She felt a sexual shiver course through her body.
Before she could get her senses back under her control, Moon took her wrist, moving the burger to his mouth and taking a bite.
She gave him a baleful look when he moved his mouth away and she saw the big bite he had taken.
“Did I say I would share?” she teased, placing the remainder of the burger in her mouth.
A wicked glint flashed in his eyes. “You have no idea how pleasurable sharing can be.”