Chapter 6
Chapter Six
“Bodie.”
Bodie jerked awake, chest pinched tight, smoke, earth and death burning a line down his throat. The sweat-damp sheets clung to his skin, a lingering roar pounded in his head.
He blinked, the dream fading into the soft outline of Rowan’s face, shades of gray coloring her skin from the filtered moonlight brightening the skylight and windows.
She furrowed her brow, staring at him as if she’d seen a ghost before relaxing a bit.
He scooted back until his shoulders rested against the headboard, the cool bedroom air easing the burning fire raging beneath his skin.
She sighed and reached out to smooth some of his hair off his forehead. “Nightmare?”
He let his head droop toward his chest. “I guess. Did I wake you?”
“I was on my way in to check up on you when you started yelling. I wouldn’t have woken you, but you were thrashing against the blankets, and I didn’t want you to aggravate your leg.”
He glanced at the clock on one of the side tables. “It’s two. I thought you were gonna allow yourself to actually sleep?”
She shrugged. “It’s complicated.”
“Sleeping’s complicated?”
“More than you’d know.” She brushed her thumb along his cheek, the gentle caress making his heart thump hard against his ribs. “You okay?”
He leaned into her touch for a moment. “Fine. Sorry for the noise.”
“Not a problem.” She stood, her feet hushed against the hardwood floors. “Do you need anything? Water? Pain killers?” She nudged his left leg. “A solemn oath of vengeance?”
“The vengeance sounds promising, but we’ll hold off for a bit. See if justice might work, instead.”
“You’re a real buzzkill when you’re all serious.” She took a step back. “Get some rest. I’ll look in again in a couple hours. Until then, sleep.”
“Rowan.”
She stopped at his door, glancing back over her shoulder. “Change your mind on the pain meds?”
“You don’t have to sacrifice your sleep to keep checking in. Sure, my leg’s sore, but I’m fine. Not going to drop dead on you.”
“You signed yourself out of the hospital. I think I’m more of a voice of reason, right now.” She winked, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Besides, the view’s even better than when you were hiking up that ridge in front of me.” A step. “Two hours, Page. Sleep.”
She slipped out of his room, leaving the door slightly ajar like he’d done when he’d first gone to bed. Only, the room seemed colder, now. Almost lonely without her in it. Odd, when he’d never really lived with anyone since joining the army. And certainly not with someone like her.
A hard lump settled in his chest as he shifted on the bed, stared up at the ceiling. He still couldn’t believe Evan was gone. That his buddy had survived years of missions in shitholes most people didn’t know existed only to get killed in a national park.
On Bodie’s watch.
The event played over in his head, each loop more graphic than the last until he tossed the covers aside, swung his feet off the edge.
Pain seared through his leg, old and new wounds blending together into one fiery ache.
He’d grab some meds, walk it out for a bit, then try to catch a couple more hours of sleep.
He glanced at the unit charging on the other nightstand, the steady green light glaring up at him. He could sneak downstairs — see what kind of security features he was up against. Maybe run it through some of his algorithms.
Except where he’d promised to give Rowan the night. To wait. And after all she’d done for him and his teammates, he couldn’t let her down, now.
Fatigue weighed heavy on his shoulders as he slipped on a crew-neck shirt and some sweats, cursing the pull in his leg before limping to the hall.
He looked over at her door, wondering if she was tucked beneath the blankets when hushed noises drifted in from his kitchen, a distinct rattle drawing him down the corridor.
She leaned against his counter, mug in one hand, gaze focused out the window on the far wall, a few lights shining in the distance along the coastline.
The other crew at Raven’s Watch must have caught a rescue, the blinking lights of the chopper rising above the hangar before fading into the darkness.
He knew the moment she realized she wasn’t alone, her shoulders tensed before she turned and looked down the hallway, her gaze landing on him. The corner of her mouth quirked, her eyes crinkling a bit before she shook her head.
She held up the cup. “Want one?”
He nodded. “It won’t help either of us sleep, though.”
She shrugged, then walked over to the cupboard, grabbed another mug and poured him a cup. “Cream? Sugar?”
“Both.”
She mixed them in, added a bit more sugar than he might have used, then rounded the counter, offered him the cup. “You take any meds, yet? Because you should based on how tense your muscles are.”
“That was next on my list.”
“I’ve got some in my room.” She paused. “Unless you somehow filled a prescription while we were being chased?” She smiled at his guarded sigh. “Didn’t think so. Take a seat.”
She darted past him down the hall as he made his way to the couch, sank onto the cushions a few moments before she appeared beside him. She dropped some pills in his hand, waited until he knocked them back with a gulp of coffee, then settled in next to him.
A comfortable silence stretched between them as more lights blinked near the horizon, the helicopter eventually returning to the hangar. The pain killers finally kicked in, his leg easing to nothing more than a dull ache as he rested it on the chaise part of the sofa.
Rowan sat beside him, mug cradled in her hands, eyelids occasionally drooping, but she kept blinking herself awake, the odd side-eye sliding his way.
Bodie sighed. “Rowan. You’re exhausted. Go back to bed. My leg’s feeling better, and I’m sure I’ll drift off shortly.”
She continued to stare out the window for a minute before finally glancing his way. “You tired of my company, already?”
“Do you always deflect questions and comments? Or am I special?”
“You’re something, and…” Her voice faded, a few lines slowly creasing her brow.
“Is the bed uncomfortable? The pillows too hard or soft? Not enough blankets?”
“The bed’s great. Nicer than mine, actually.
It’s just…” She blew out a rough breath, fluttering the hairs around her face.
“Let’s just say you’re not the only one who has nightmares.
Once they start…” She shifted slightly, then twisted to face him.
“It’s easier out here. Open spaces. No expectations of lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling while I count how much sleep I could still get if I drifted off right then. ”
He gave in to the urge to tuck some hair behind her ear. “I don’t suppose those dreams have anything to do with all the files you’re gonna share?”
“Like I said. This case is personal. But you should really try to get some sleep. Let your leg heal before we’re running from more mercenaries because there’s not a chance this is over, yet.”
“Which means, you need sleep, too.” He leaned over and grabbed a blanket out of a basket on the side of the couch, then motioned her closer. “I don’t bite.”
She arched a brow but shuffled against him, leaning her head on his shoulder as he draped the blanket over them before flipping on the TV, starting an old movie.
She laughed. “The Princess Bride?”
“It’s a classic.”
“As you wish.”
He smiled, relaxed against the cushions as the movie began, his muscles easing for the first time since that resounding click.
Rowan started fading before they’d gotten ten minutes into the film, finally turning slightly and burrowing against him.
Bodie lifted his arm, tugged her into his chest, the gentle weight of her against him oddly peaceful.
As if she quieted all the voices in his head.
He mulled the thought over, drifting off as the movie played in the background, when she twitched, mumbling nonsense in her sleep. Her hand moved across his chest, brushing against his ribs before she blinked, staring up at him still mostly asleep.
Rowan smiled as she slid her fingers across his neck and behind his head before tugging him down enough to slant her lips over his — taste his mouth.
He hesitated for maybe a heartbeat before he was all-in — had his hand fisted in her hair, the other cupping her cheek.
She didn’t rush, repositioning a couple times as if she needed more contact until she finally eased back — hummed to herself, then drifted off, more of her body wrapped around his.
Bodie stared down at her — thick eyelashes resting against porcelain skin, her lips slightly kiss-swollen.
He still had his hand tangled in her silky hair, his thumb resting against her cheek, all the adrenaline from the kiss kicking his pulse into triple digits.
A hint of coffee lingered on his tongue, along with something sweet he guessed was all her.
He’d never been overly romantic or believed in love at first sight.
But there’d been something about the way she’d kissed him — how his stomach had jumped as warmth spread through his core — that had him questioning if this might be the start of something more.
Something long-lasting.
Like what his buddies at Raven’s Watch had found with their partners. All the happy endings he’d witnessed over the past couple years.
The idea bounced around in his head as he gathered her close, drifting off into a numbing haze only to have his cell buzz a few hours later.
Not overly loud but enough it roused him — Dalton letting him know Wade had stabilized, would be out of the ICU later today.
Rowan must have felt the vibrations because she scrunched her face, deep lines furrowing her brow.
He rubbed her arm, lulled her back for another thirty minutes until she blinked, stared up at him, all that blue making him smile. He’d never seen eyes that color, that mesmerizing.
She smiled back, snuggling against him until she obviously realized she’d virtually wrapped herself around him — one arm draped over his ribs, her leg tangled with his.
She inhaled, a deep flush coloring her cheeks, but she didn’t jerk away.
Instead, she simply shook her head, gently lifting her leg off his as she moved her hand to the side.
Not fully off his torso but not hugging it like she had been.
He raised his arm to the back of the sofa, still brushing her shoulders, but not cinched around her. “It’s still early if you want to crash for another hour.”
“Unfortunately, if I go back to sleep, I’ll feel like I got hit by a truck when you wake me, again.” She swept her gaze the length of him. “Looks like I made myself at home.”
“Not complaining. And that was my arm wrapped around your back.”
She chuckled, seemingly reluctant to break that last bit of contact before she drew in a deep breath, pushed to her feet.
“Mind if I have a quick shower? I have a feeling ATF might want to do their last sweep of the site, today, and I swear I’m still cold from traipsing around there the past few days. ”
“You mean from sleeping in that hide.”
“That, too. It was colder than I’d anticipated.”
He stood, tested out his leg. “Be my guest.” He followed her out, then down the hallway, stopping outside her door before crowding her a bit — loving the way she leaned against the wall without a hint of uncertainty.
He moved in close. “Just answer me one thing. Did you plan the kiss or was it more a spur of the moment kind of thing?”
She froze, a few cracks in her bravado showing through as she darted out her tongue and swept it across her bottom lip. “Kiss?”
“On the couch. Not too long after you’d fallen asleep.” He got impossibly closer. “Ring any bells?”
She stared up at him, swallowed. “I…”
“Guess you really were exhausted.” He eased back, gave her some breathing room. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ll have a quick one after you — just don’t tell Chase.”
“Bodie.”
He stopped. “Rowan.”
“You’re serious? I kissed you while we were…”
He shrugged. “Guess it was another kind of dream.”
A light blush bloomed on her cheeks. “I…” She pushed out a breath. “Not sure, exactly, what I should say. Guess it depends on whether it might be worth repeating.” She smiled. “While I’m awake.”
“Definitely worth repeating. In fact, one the best I’ve had.
” He nodded toward her room. “Go shower. We can see what kind of security we’re up against on the body cam, first, get my system working on it, then head for the station.
Chat with Greer and the others. See if Special Agent Kaine has made her way in. But I’m holding you to that do-over.”
“As long as you acknowledge, you still owe me a six-pack. I won’t be long. And Bodie…”
He arched a brow.
“It was one hell of a dream.”