Chapter 4
FOUR
brADLEY
Molly recoils and I step back, my ass bumping into the stove. It’s a good thing we aren’t using one of the front burners. I could have gotten burned.
Though, I’m not convinced that couldn’t hurt any more than the constant erections I seem to be getting every time I’m around this woman.
Cheeks flushed, Molly fumbles for her phone on the counter and turns off the alarm. “Sorry. That was a reminder for something I need to do.”
“Gotcha.” I shift back and forth on my feet to ease the aching appendage between my legs. “Do you need help?”
“Thanks, but, I’m good.” She takes a deep breath and sets the phone down again. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
The second she’s out of the kitchen, I open the refrigerator door and stand in front of it. I know it won’t do much good. Hell, if standing outside in subzero temperatures did nothing to zap my desire for Molly, I doubt this will do a damn thing.
Still, it’s worth a shot.
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and let it out slowly. I should be thinking unsexy thoughts. Like, how gross the debris I found clogging the drain on the pipe that directs water from a stream to my cabin. Or, hell, the searing pain that shot through me when Molly pelted me with the free-weight bar at the gym earlier today.
Instead, I can’t get the vision of a flush-faced Molly, breasts heaving, and eyes burning with a desire to match mine out of my head.
She wants me. A slow grin spreads across my lips. I knew it. And now, I’m about eight-five percent sure she knows it, too.
I’d been seconds away from trying my luck at kissing her. If only her damn alarm hadn’t gone off when it did. If only?—
A loud scream blares through the air. Panic lances my chest as I slam the refrigerator door closed and race toward the sound. It’s coming from a back room.
Another shriek pierces my ears. I reach a closed door and, not bothering to knock, I throw it open.
I find Molly sitting on the floor of her bathroom. In one hand, she’s holding a needle connected to an IV line. In the other hand, she’s cradling a yowling cat with long white and brown fur.
A medical bag with fluids hangs sits on the floor next to them.
“It’s okay,” Molly struggles to keep the cat in her arms as the fur-ball kicks at her. “Pigeon needs her treatment, and she’s not a fan.”
I nod. “Chronic kidney disease?”
“She was just diagnosed last week.” Molly’s eyes widen in surprise. “How did you know?”
“I had a cat with CKD.” Lowering on my haunches, I hold out my fingers for the cat—Pigeon.
Seemingly forgetting her fury at what’s going on, she sniffs my fingers curiously.
I smile instinctively. “His name was Charlie. He was the naughtiest—sweetest—little orange tabby you ever saw. It took us a while to get used to his treatment too.”
“It did?”
I nod. “But it was worth it. We got to spend almost two more years together thanks to the treatment.”
Deciding I’m no danger, Pigeon wiggles out of Molly’s arm and cautiously comes over to me.
Settling fully on the ground, I scoop her into my lap. She’s a little thing. She hardly weighs anything. But she’s also beautiful and, by all accounts, a sassy girl who isn’t afraid of speaking her mind.
“Just like her mama,” I murmur.
“What’s that?” Molly leans closer to me.
“Nothing.” I glance down at the cat, who is now making biscuits on my leg. “Would you like a little help?”
“You don’t mind?”
“Of course, not.” I give an encouraging smile. “Does she have any favorite treats? And maybe a favorite blanket?”
“She does.”
“Good. We’ll need both of those. And, do you have a hanger?”
“A hanger?”
“Trust me.”
Molly jumps to her feet and runs out of the bathroom. She returns a moment later. By then, I have Pigeon purring and the fluids up off the ground.
“Here, attach the fluid bag to the hanger like that,” I instruct. “Then hang it to your shower curtain rod. It’ll help the fluids flow more quickly which means you and Pigeon can get this over faster.”
“That’s smart.” Molly does as I’ve instructed. Then, under my guidance, she makes a little bed for Pigeon on the ground and sets out some of her favorite treats.
Once the cat is happily perched on the makeshift bed chowing down on her treats, I show Molly the best place and way to insert the needle.
Pigeon doesn’t make so much as a peep as the subcutaneous fluids start to do their thing.
Molly practically collapses against the bathroom wall. I settle in next to her, and she turns her head to look at me.
“I…” She shakes her head. “I don’t have words. Thank you hardly seems like enough.”
“It can be overwhelming at first.” I reach out to take her hand. I stroke her knuckles with my thumb. “But if anyone can figure out how to do it, I know you can.”
Molly stares at me for a moment. Then, without another word she narrows the distance between us. She presses her lips to mine. I groan as their soft fullness firmly mold against me.
With a groan, I slide my hand to the back of her neck, angling my head to deepen the kiss and get a better taste of her.
Warmth and excitement flow through me. It’s more than desire, though there’s plenty of that. There’s more than want or need, though God knows I want and need her so much I hurt.
What strikes me most as our mouths move together is a sense of rightness. A feeling that this is where we were both supposed to be all along.