THIRTY-NINE
Saraya
My whole body hurts, and I can't open my eyes because they hurt, too.
I'm so out of it; I have been for a while now.
I want to open my eyes, but then I get tossed into sleep again and again.
I've heard a voice the few times I've been somewhat alert, and I want to talk to them.
I want to find out why it feels like I've been hit by a bus.
It hurts my head whenever I try to think about what could have happened.
Finally, after many tries, my eyes open to a dimly lit room.
The low lighting still hurts my eyes, but they adjust after blinking a few times.
Realizing I'm in the hospital, I stare at the ceiling briefly until a weight on my hand draws my attention away.
I pull on my hand, but the grip only tightens.
My eyes land on a dark head of hair, and then suddenly, I'm staring into a pair of dark gray eyes.
The hand they're holding is numb, and as they tell me how they're happy that I'm awake, I try pulling my hand out of their hold again. This time, it's freed.
"Who are you?" I ask after seeing what a wreck they are.
Their smile slowly disappears, and they ask me to repeat myself. So, I do.
"I asked who you were. Do I know you?"
The grogginess still has hold of me, as well as the throbbing in my head.
I can hear them saying something, but I'm still too out of it to pay them much attention, much less notice the hurt look upon their face.
On top of everything, I'm parched. I bring my hand to my throat and instantly, a cup with some water and a straw in it is held to my lips .
I take a long drink, but they pull it away and say, "Not too much, little lamb, you'll make yourself sick."
I relax onto the pillow and groan, "Hm, what happened?"
"You really don't remember?" they ask.
"No, the last thing I remember is being dropped off at the club, but even that hurts to think about."
"Wait a minute. If you remember getting dropped off, then you must remember who I am; I'm the one who dropped you off."
I'm confused.
"Of course I remember, Nyx. You're the biggest pain in my ass." It hurts too much to smile, so I don't even try.
"But—you just asked me who I was, and if you knew me…"
"Yeah, because you look like total shit, and I've never seen you look like this before."
Relief overwhelms his handsome features, and he runs a hand over his face sighing. "Thank fucking God. Do you know how I felt when you asked me who I was? I thought you had amnesia!"
"Oh, my bad," I say with a little smile. "I'm sorry. My thoughts are all over the place. I didn't mean to make you think that, but…"
"But what?" Nyx narrows his eyes at me.
"It is kind of funny. I could have kept it going to see what you would do to get me to remember you," I reply with a smirk.
"Oh really? You think it's funny to tear my heart out not once but twice in one night?"
"Well, maybe not that part…" I pause. "Did it really hurt that much?" I ask. It's still hard to believe that his feelings are that deep.
"I threatened the lives of two of my best friends; what do you think, Raya?"
My eyes widen as I gasp, "You didn't!"
"I did, and I would do it again. I'll threaten anybody who risks your life. Jesus, Raya, you have me so fucked up that I was trying to run into that burning building to get to you."
A lump forms in my throat, and tears threaten to fall, but I keep them at bay. Suddenly, words spill from my mouth that are long overdue.
"I love you, Phoenyx. I've never stopped loving you, and I'm sorry that I didn't say it when you said it—"
My words are cut off by Nyx as he shoots up from the chair he's sitting in and commandeers my mouth.
He's gentle yet brutal as he pushes his tongue past my lips.
The kiss heats up fast, and soon, I forget all about my head hurting.
I don't even realize he's gripping my jaw until he pulls slightly away from me.
"Don't you ever fucking scare me like that again, do you hear me? I love you too fucking much to lose you now." His eyes burn into mine as he waits for my response.
His hold isn't tight, but it's enough to know that he means business, so I nod and whisper, "Yes."
Nyx continues staring into my eyes as he again brings his mouth to mine. This time, the kiss is gentle and passionate as we gaze into each other's eyes. It's so intimate, and I can feel the emotion behind his kiss. Who'd have thought that Nyx Beckam could love like this? Phoenyx, yes, but Nyx?"
He pulls away too soon for my liking and presses his forehead to mine. He states in a low, menacing voice, "I will find whoever did this, and I will make them suffer."
"Nyx, don't get yourself—"
"What?" he cuts me off. "Don't get myself in trouble?
Do you honestly think that I worry about that?
Granted, the Feds frown upon murder, but they don't bother us too much unless the crime is getting out of hand like it was with our fathers.
As for the local PD, we're taking care of that.
I've told you that I would burn shit down for you, Raya.
Don't ever underestimate the shit I would do for you. "
We're interrupted by the door to my room opening before I can respond to him. A nurse walks in with a cart and starts stocking up a few drawers before turning to us.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to get Ms. Abbott's vitals and give her some meds."
I feel the loss of Nyx as soon as he pulls away, but he doesn't get off the bed. When the nurse raises her brow because of this, he sends her a challenging look in return. I start to roll my eyes, but it causes my head to hurt.
"Just ignore him. You won't get him to move, so just save it." I smirk and find Nyx doing the same when I glance at him.
"Oh, he's one of those boyfriends, huh?" the nurse jokes.
"Fiancé," Nyx corrects her.
"My apologies, Mr. Beckam, and congratulations." The nurse winks at me and begins checking my vitals .
She has me take some painkillers, then leaves us alone once again. Nyx doesn't waste any time as he yanks the blankets down my body and pulls up the gown they put me in.
I try grabbing at it, but I'm not fast enough. "What are you doing?"
"Shush. I'm looking you over. I need to see where all your injuries are. Mara said that you were pinned under a shelf in the coat room."
"Mara said that? Did she…" I can't finish my sentence because it's hard to believe that she would have saved me.
"Yes. She was on her way down when the bomb went off. She found you and dragged you out the back door, where she found Adrik, and he carried you out. Mara is here getting stitches now."
"She's here? Why wouldn't she just go back to the Hall?"
"Because you needed to be here, and I only trust Mahony to work on you, so she had to come here if he was to stitch her up."
"Oh, I see."
"Hey." He lifts my chin, making me look at him when he says, "They all care about you—even Mara. I know she has a shitty way of showing it, but give her a break—she's trying."
"Yeah, trying to get into my pants," I say dryly.
Nyx laughs. "Yeah, that, too, but she still cares. And for the record, I will never allow her into your pants." He cups my pussy through the gown. "This is all mine. Nobody, and I mean nobody, will ever touch it again but me."
"I don't want anybody but you touching it," I whisper as I gaze into eyes that have taken on a stormy appearance.
"Good girl."
Those are the last two words I hear him say as I yawn and close my eyes.
I'm fighting to stay awake, so I give up and let sleep take me.
However, I feel Nyx cover me up and lie down before I fall asleep.
He pulls me into his arms, holding me tight against his chest. I just barely hear his soft words as they follow me into sleep.
"Sleep well, little lamb. I won't let anybody else hurt you."
"Will you put me down? I can walk on my own, you know!" I scowl at Nyx as he carries me into Nyte's Hall from the car .
"The doctor said to take it easy, so I'll carry you if I want to. Just be a good girl and take it like you take other things." He smirks.
" Phoenyx !" I gasp.
"Well, you asked for it." He kisses my forehead as he continues up the stairs.
"I'm going to tuck you into bed and have you rest while I talk to Jessica about something to eat.
I need to talk to Cray and Zilas—smooth things over with them, and see if they've heard anything.
I'll bring you some food, and we can hide away together until you're well enough. "
"I want you to have the guys come to the room. I need to hear what they've found out as well. Please don't keep it from me." I plead with my eyes.
Nyx studies me, his lips tight, but then he nods. "Okay. I'll have them come here."
I smile, tell him, " Thank you ," and then I shut my mouth as he takes me into his room. Well, I guess it's our room now.
Dr. Mahony allowed Nyx to bring me home against his better judgment.
One night in the hospital was enough for me.
After all, it's just a bump on the head, a massive bump, but a bump all the same.
Only once Nyx gave his word that I would not leave my bed did the doctor finally give in.
I guess I owe Nyx for breaking me out, even if it means he'll be coddling me for the next few days.
Sleep isn't as kind to me as Nyx is, though. The last few times I've napped, I've had nightmares about me burning alive. The events of last night are slowly coming back to me. I have yet to remember what the guy who came in looked like, and my dreams haven't been any help.
I haven't been asleep all that long when I'm jarred awake once again. This time, I felt like my whole body was on fire, whereas before, it was just my back. Looking around the room, I don't find Nyx, but I'm not alone.
"Amara. What are you doing here?"
This is my first time seeing the little psycho in anything but leather. Mara is sitting in the armchair beside the doors leading to the terrace. She's wearing a cami and booty shorts, showing off the bandage on her forearm and thigh.
She shrugs. "Just thought I'd swing by and see how you're doing."
"Thank you."
She scoffs, "It's not a big deal, I was walking by the wing anyway. "
"No. I mean, thank you for saving me. You could have just left me there. You'd be rid of me for good and not by your hand."
"Ha! Do you honestly think I would be able to deal with Nyx had you died? We would all be on suicide watch for God knows how long," she states.
"He wouldn't…"
"Yes, Raya, he would. He loves you that much."
The conversation is heading toward uncharted waters concerning Mara, so I change topics. "Are you sure it's not because you wouldn't be able to try getting in my pants any longer?"
She glowers at me briefly, but my smirk wears off on her, and then both of us are amused. Shrugging, she stands and slowly walks over to me. "I think you would be jealous leaving this world, knowing I'd find my place back in Nyx's bed. Of course, only after the bereavement period."
Instead of getting pissed because I know she's just trying to rile me up, I give her a shrug of my own and reply, "I doubt he'd take you back into his bed after knowing what heaven feels like being inside me." I sit up and lean against the headboard as she sits on the edge of the bed.
Amara, being the bitch that she is, runs her hands over the mattress. "I've got some fond memories of being in this bed. Memories of all the dirty and filthy things I let Nyx do to me."
Okay, she almost has me coming unglued with this last comment, but again, I smile. "Oh, that must be why Nyx ordered a whole new bed for us. He had said that he wanted fond memories of just him and me."
Mara's smile drops, but then she bursts into laughter, and I can't help but join in. It feels weird doing so and it looks even weirder seeing Mara laughing the way she is. It isn't her typical evil laugh or the seductive one she uses on the men.
"Did Nyx really say that?" she asks.
I shake my head. "No, but it sounded good."
She laughs even harder. "Well, if it makes a difference, it was seldom done in his room, with me anyway. That doesn't mean he hasn't had subs in it. Maybe you would be better off buying all new." Mara titters.
Once we sober up, I ask, "How's your arm and leg?"
"They're fine. Adrik is just overreacting and making me take the next two days off, but let me tell you—as soon as we find out who that fucker is, my lazy days are over. I'm going to split that fucker from his puny dick all the way up to his puny brain! I— "
"Won't be doing anything, Mara," Nyx cuts her off as he walks back into the room. "That motherfucker is mine."
"But—"
"No! He tried taking my most treasured possession from me. I will handle it," Nyx growls.
Keeping my smile hidden, I say, "I'm not a possession, Nyx."
He puts the tray he's carrying down and then turns to me. His hand slides to the back of my neck, and very carefully, he grips it and states, "You belong to me, and I to you. Therefore, you are my possession—a most cherished one at that."
"O-okay," I say softly, turned on like no other.
"Mara?"
"Yes?"
"Leave—now."
Nyx's tone leaves no room for argument, and Mara takes her leave but not without turning our way once she's at the door, and grinning back at me.
My eyes come back to the man still holding onto me.
I lick my lips. Nyx is too delicious-looking for his own good, even if his beard is a bit overgrown, and his hair could use a good trim. He's fucking hot, and he's all mine.