78. He and I Will Have Words if This Continues #2
“The plan to keep a low profile for you and your family was literally shot to shit yesterday with multiple fatalities. It’s public knowledge, so I’m not divulging anything I shouldn’t by letting you know that Braxton took out Bronwyn, while Bright eliminated the threat to Colt.”
Kimp’s eyes spring open, and his shocked gaze flits from me to pin his daughter. He squeezes her hand, eyes imploring.
“Idiot,” Bright states.
He’s determined this time when he points to the vent again and then to the door. It’s obvious he’s losing patience and wants it out.
“I’ll ask.” Colt and I go to the nurse’s station and request a consult to remove the vent, returning after a few minutes, giving Bright and her dad another private moment.
“It’s been requested, Kimp. Everything here happens on hospital time. They rush when you’re in danger or need attention, but other than that, it seems they’re far more cautious. That said, they let us in here last night after midnight and let us stay, with a baby. We’re grateful.”
He nods. It’s all he can do. Except he rolls his wrist as well, prompting me to keep going.
“Not much more to tell for now, anyway. Emberleigh is at the county hospital and stayed overnight for a concussion. Brax is with her. She should be discharged today. They’re also on hospital time, so we’re all learning patience.
“Cyler is at the ranch. He’s communicating with Brax. I have more bandwidth, but the appearance of him talking with the family’s attorney is one we can’t afford. Besides, it provides no benefit, and Braxton needs the distraction.
“While we’re doing the Ranger wrap-up—horrible name, by the way—Exton and Willa will arrive in a bit.”
Kimp’s eyes roll to the ceiling.
Bright looks at me with all the playful sarcasm she can muster and announces, “This tube down his throat situation has its advantages. I can see that now.”
Kimp narrows his eyes, and Brighton’s full-bellied laugh feeds my soul.
“Love you, Pop. To the moon and back.” She grabs his hand and her tone goes serious.
She continues on a hushed whisper, “I was out of my mind yesterday, and you all trapped me, in essence, so that I was stuck. Almost lost my shit when that ambulance left your house and I couldn’t help. I wouldn’t have survived losing you.”
Kimp squeezes her hand, before gesturing with it from himself to her. I’ll never know, but I’m guessing he’s saying the same thing back to her.
Colt stirs and whimpers.
A knock sounds at the door.
And the hospital waiting game finally reaches an end.
By the time I leave to get Exton and Willa from the Austin airport, Kimp is free of the vent, but they’ve connected him to a tube providing oxygen via nostril prongs. They’ve threatened a mask if he doesn’t continue his recovery progression.
“Eli.” His gravelly whispered voice sounds like he screamed with strep throat at a college football game. “Thank you.”
I look at the man who I plan on being my father-in-law sooner rather than later. “I’ll do anything for your family, Kimp. Just do me a favor and get better. Your kids need you.”
His eyes hold mine as he reiterates, “Appreciate you, Eli.”
I grip his shoulder and give it a squeeze. “Love you too, Kimp. I’ll be back with Exton and Willa. Your family needs to be together right now.”
By nightfall, Kimp has been moved to a regular room. No doubt because of his continued medical improvement. Though I’m sure the overflowing family, multiple coffee runs, and the party trays from the local grocery store contribute more movement and noise than benefits most ICU patients.
It’s a relief to see Braxton and Emberleigh, but no one is more excited than Colt who squeals and opens and closes his hands, stretching for Braxton when they arrive.
Good thing since Emberleigh beelined it to Kimp and is having a come-to-Jesus with him in front of everyone.
“You promised. Rangers don’t break promises. ”
“I’ve never said that.” Kimp smiles. “But I like it. We can go with that.”
More quiet words pass before he raises his hand to her cheek and thanks her again for helping him.
“So, what’s the latest?” Braxton asks the room, but it’s Brighton who answers.
“He’s here for several days due to fever after surgery. They’re administering IV antibiotics and watching. The real concern is the internal stitches.” Brighton is matter-of-fact. Her emotional highs and lows are behind her. Kimp is safe, and she’s back to being in charge.
“I’m getting tired of being spoken for while I’m in the room,” Kimp fake grumbles.
“You can tell the next person who asks. Promise. Layton will want to hear it from you anyway.”
“He better not be skipping a game.”
“He’ll be here Sunday night after his game. I forgot our jerseys, but we can have a watch party right here.” Braxton adds.
A moment later, he asks me to grab a coffee with him. It’s a ruse, but he needs reassurance that his family is safe. While I can’t promise that, especially with the challenge to the conservancy that he still doesn’t know about, I reiterate that I will protect his family in every way I can.
But first, I need to take care of his sister. Another thing that I’ve got to talk to him about. We just need a moment when we’re not embroiled in one crisis or another. And yesterday put us square in the crosshairs of the public’s curiosity.
Brighton
It takes very little to convince my family I’m dead on my feet and need a decent night’s sleep in my own bed.
Eli acting as my chauffeur works out better than I expect.
I can only assume Exton and Willa are riding the adrenaline wave, and Braxton and Emberleigh are so distracted with Colt and her concussion that neither couple notices the unusual arrangement.
Eli takes my hand as we arrive at the elevator, threading our fingers and bringing my knuckles to his lips. “How’re you holding up, darlin’?”
“By the skin of my teeth and sheer will…?” It comes out like a question. I lift my shoulders for a moment as if that’s a more in-depth explanation.
When I sink into the plush leather seats of his Audi, he looks over at me, eyes wide.
“What?”
A smile plays on his lips. “You just moaned and I'm kind of jealous. I like to be the one making you moan.”
“Not tonight, dear, I have a headache.” I roll my eyes for dramatic effect.
“Bright, you’re dead on your feet. It wouldn’t even be fun tonight.” He exits the hospital parking garage and glides onto the well-lit Austin streets.
“Hey!” I slap his shoulder. “Don’t insult me. I’d make it good.”
“With your snores? No, thanks.” He grabs my hand before asking, “You hungry? Want anything?”
“Yes. I’m game for anything we can eat in the car because I’m not willing to delay sleeping in my own bed.”
“Our bed. I’ll let that slide tonight since you’ve had a long day. So El Arroyo is out?”
“You mean man. You’re offering me amazing Mexican food on a night when I can barely function? Cruel and unusual…”
“Next time then.” He turns into the closest fast-food drive thru, and we eat as we make our way.
“Wake up, darlin’. We’re home.”
“What?”
“You fell asleep. We’re here, and Luna knows it. Brace yourself.” Eli unbuckles me and offers me a hand out of the car. In his other hand is a tablet and my bag from the hospital.
I stumble to the front door and let myself in, greeted by an excited Luna, whose dog sitter left a few hours ago. Her whole body wiggles and crouches to spring. She’s the embodiment of happy. “Hey, Luna. I missed you, my girl. How was your day?”
She walks with me into my bedroom where I begin stripping. I want to fall into bed, but I hear the shower running and Eli’s voice calling me.
“I don’t care. I think I’ll collapse right here. No need to move me.”
“You won’t regret it and you’ll sleep like a baby,” he says, grabbing my hand and leading me into the shower.
There’s no sex, no frivolous, extraneous touches. He holds me to his chest and washes the day away. Eventually I step out, dead on my feet, and dry off with as little effort as possible before face planting into bed.
I have no clue what happens after my head hits the pillow. Sleep takes me.
First thing in the morning, I wake with Eli’s face between my thighs and his mouth exactly where I want it.
I’m usually an early riser—ranch life demands it, but the events of the last few days have been overwhelming and exhausting.
After the adrenaline spike from the attack, worry for my family, waiting followed by even more waiting, and a late night that ended with early morning rounds for Pop, I should be wired. Or dead.
But I’m neither, and since Eli woke me the best way I can think of, I won’t complain.
I reach between my legs and cradle his head, lifting my heels to open myself wider for him. Without shame or forethought, I press my pussy into his face. “Eli— Faster.”
His chuckle rumbles through my core and vibrates low in my belly, building deep inside me a beautiful, vast hunger.
When I finally crest the wave, Eli surges up and inside me, drinking deeply from my mouth. He’s everywhere, but I need him closer so I circle my limbs around him, cradling him inside my body, moving with every thrust, taking him and being taken by him.
When he comes, rutting deeply and grunting loudly, I hold him to me and feel contentment for the first time in my life.
It’s elation and peace.
He moves to roll off me, but I clutch him tighter. “Just one more minute.”
We stay like this until it becomes evident we can’t. We finally move—me to the bathroom, and Eli to the kitchen.