Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Later that afternoon, Jack left them to join the Kings in their search for the man responsible. Thankfully, Laz texted Gio soon after to let him know he was outside the door with Cookie and Chip, offering Gio and Sacha a distraction.
“The pups are here,” Gio told Sacha. He put up the left railing to protect Sacha’s wound but kept the right one lowered.
He placed one of the pillows there. Chip shouldn’t jump on Sacha because he’d been trained not to, but given how distraught he’d been, Gio didn’t want to take any chances. “Ready?”
Sacha nodded, and Gio went to the door. Cookie and Chip lost their furry minds when they saw Gio, and Gio made sure to give them both love. Then Chip’s ears perked up, and he realized Sacha was inside.
Despite knowing better than to pull on his leash, no one and nothing was going to keep Chip from getting to Sacha, and he all but jerked Laz off his feet.
Chip’s ears were flat as he whined, and the back of Gio’s eyes stung when Chip pranced next to Sacha’s bed and made noises that sounded like he was crying.
“It’s okay, boy. Daddy’s okay.” Sacha put his hand on the pillow Gio had placed at his side. “Paws up.”
Chip stood and put his front paws on the pillow, his tail wagging furiously as he stretched his neck to cover Sacha’s face in doggy kisses. He whined, half-barked, and howled, sharing his doggy woes with his daddy.
Sacha loved on him and leaned over so he could kiss his head.
Chip was happy, but at the same time, so anxious that he started bouncing and pawing at the pillow.
He wanted up on the bed with Sacha. Gio was about to take his leash when Cookie trotted up to the bed and stood on his hind legs, his body pressed to Chip’s as he started licking Chip’s face.
Gio’s heart squeezed in his chest. He had all three of his boys back.
Chip lay his head on his paws and gazed adoringly up at Sacha, who chuckled and murmured to their boys.
Cookie got down, his tail wagging happily as he trotted over to Gio, mouth open with that happy Golden Retriever smile Gio loved so much.
He hugged Cookie and praised him for being such a good boy.
Over the next two days, their family visited, along with several members of the Four Kings Security family, like Saint, Ryden, and Jay.
Sacha’s health improved, but his grumpiness didn’t.
His sweet man was ready to be back home, and so was Gio.
Thankfully, they hadn’t had to wait much longer and the hospital finally released Sacha.
As soon as they opened the door, they were greeted by two wagging furry butts.
Since Colton had a key to the house, he and Ace had dropped off the pups after Gio called to let Colton know he and Sacha were on their way home.
Since he couldn’t bend down or lift anything heavy until his doctor cleared him to do so, Sacha walked to the couch.
Their furry companions flanked him, Cookie on one side and Chip on the other, both not taking their eyes off Sacha.
Gio helped Sacha sit, and Chip hopped onto the sofa, sniffing Sacha all over as if he had to make sure every inch of his human was still there.
He sniffed at Sacha’s wound, inhaling deeply and huffing several times before licking Sacha’s face.
“They didn’t miss you at all,” Gio teased.
“I need a shower, but this isn’t what I had in mind.
” Sacha laughed, trying to pet Cookie and Chip at the same time.
“Okay, thank you. That’s enough.” Chip dutifully lay down, his head on Sacha’s lap, big puppy eyes staring dotingly up at his human.
Cookie sat on the floor and rested his head on Sacha’s knee, his fluffy tail wagging slowly.
“You two are ridiculous.” He yawned. “Recovery used to be easier.”
“Well, you’re not in your twenties anymore, love,” Gio teased, bringing Sacha a water bottle. “Remember to hydrate.”
Sacha took the bottle of water, his eyes narrowed at Gio. “Is that your way of saying I’m getting old?”
“I’m saying you’ve…matured.”
“Makes me sound like cheese,” Sacha grumbled.
“More like a fine wine.”
“I don’t drink wine.”
Gio leaned in and brushed his lips over Sacha’s. “Mmm. But I do.” He chuckled at Sacha’s grunt when he pulled away.
“Just for that, you have to shower with me and sponge me down.”
“Oh no,” Gio mock gasped. “That sounds awful.” As if he would refuse.
“Smartass.” Sacha shook his head, amused. “Come on, sexy nurse. Bathe me.”
Gio chuckled and stood, swatting Chip’s butt playfully. Chip shot off the couch and took off, ears flat as he darted around the living room.
“Really?” Sacha side-eyed Gio. “You just had to go and give him the zoomies?”
Oops. Chip puppy-pounced in between zooming and used the furniture for his doggy parkour. Fortunately, their living room was spacious, and the furniture was sturdy.
“He’s just happy you’re home,” Gio replied, cringing when the loveseat skidded several inches after Chip bounced off the backrest. As soon as Chip expelled his pent-up energy, he flopped onto his side, panting.
Cookie looked down at his brother like he didn’t know what to do with him.
If he knew how to shake his head, he probably would have.
Gio helped Sacha into their bedroom, smiling at the happy sigh Sacha let out. The man had no idea how endearing he was.
“I’m so happy to be home,” Sacha murmured, then went quiet.
Gio walked over and wrapped his arms around him. “Is something wrong? Are you in pain? The nurse said you could take one of the pain pills when we got home.”
“I’ll just take some of the regular stuff. You know how much I hate the strong pain meds.” Sacha shook his head and smiled up at Gio. “I’m good. Just tired and achy.”
“Okay. Let’s get you showered and then into bed.
We could both use a nap.” He led Sacha into the large en-suite bathroom and carefully helped him out of his clothes.
Once the water was adjusted to the perfect temperature, Gio undressed.
It wasn’t like Sacha to be so quiet, but then again, he’d just been released from the hospital after being in a coma, so Gio tried his best not to worry too much.
Who wouldn’t be exhausted after the events of the last few days?
They stepped into the shower together, and Gio was mindful of the waterproof bandage sealing Sacha’s wound.
Neither of them said anything, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable.
Gio kissed Sacha’s cheek, his brow, and caressed his body.
He used his touch to express his deep love for his beautiful man.
After he rinsed them, Gio shut off the water and turned, stilling at the tears in Sacha’s big blue-gray eyes.
“Love?” Gio cupped Sacha’s face. “You’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
Sacha smiled, and it reached his eyes, forming little creases at the corners. “I think the meds and tiredness are just making me a little emotional. I’m good.”
“Okay.” Gio trusted Sacha. If he wanted Gio to know something, he would say so. Sacha had never been one to mince words, especially not with Gio.
As soon as they were dry, Gio helped Sacha get into his pajama bottoms and a comfortable T-shirt, then he did the same.
A heartbeat later, they lay in bed together, and somehow the world seemed a little brighter.
Sacha snuggled up against him, and warmth flooded through Gio.
He adored moments like these, when the world faded away and it was just the two of them.
The bed moved, and Gio smiled as Chip appeared. He stood over Sacha, snorfled through his hair, then licked his cheek before lying down, pressing his body against Sacha’s back. Cookie lay at Sacha’s feet, curled up.
“Who needs blankets when you have dogs?” Sacha murmured, sliding his bare feet under Cookie. “Mmm, toasty warm.”
Gio brushed Sacha’s hair away from his face. His hair was a tousled mess, but it was always like that. There was nothing about Sacha that Gio didn’t find irresistible, but he especially loved his stunning blue-gray eyes. Sensing his thoughts, Sacha muttered in response.
“Are you gonna nap or just watch me sleep? Cause you know how I feel about that.”
Gio chuckled. “It creeps you out. I know. I got distracted.”
“By what?”
“Thinking about your eyes and how beautiful they are. How beautiful you are.”
Sacha opened his eyes. “Can I confess something?”
“Of course.” That was new. Sacha didn’t usually ask for permission to be honest about anything; he just always was. It was one of the many reasons Gio loved him.
“When we first got together, I…I didn’t think it would work out.”
Gio blinked at him. “Really?”
Sacha’s cheeks flushed. “Yeah. I mean, I knew you loved me. I believed it wholeheartedly, but love isn’t always enough. Every once in a while, my insecurities would creep up, and I’d wonder why you wanted me.”
“Like what happened with Miriam at Winterhaven?”
“Yeah. That was kind of when I realized I was letting my insecurities get the better of me, and that wasn’t me.
But I’ve never loved anyone like this, and I worried that one day it would all be too much for you—me, the job, the army of brothers who love to meddle in everyone’s business, my argumentative dog. ”
Gio ran his fingers through Sacha’s hair. “I wish you had told me.”
“Why? It’s not like you could have done anything about it.
I had to figure it out on my own. Gio, I’ve been fighting all my life.
” Sacha took Gio’s hand and laced their fingers together.
“But it wasn’t until I fell in love with you that I realized the war was over.
I didn’t have to fight anymore. You’re my home, my safety.
There’s nowhere else I would rather be.”
A lump formed in Gio’s throat, his heart squeezing. Sacha rarely allowed himself to be so vulnerable, but when he was, he stole Gio’s breath away every time.
“You’re my home too,” Gio replied softly. He kissed Sacha, savoring the love and comfort radiating from the man he loved. He lost track of how long they lay together, kissing and dozing in and out of sleep. Gio almost fell asleep again when Sacha spoke up.
“How long do you think I have before the Boyfriend Collective is activated?”
Gio held back a smile. “Oh, my sweet Sacha. You’re adorable. Zero minutes is the answer.”
Sacha’s eyes popped open. “What? Why haven’t they descended?”
“Because this isn’t like when you broke your leg. They could have lost you. I could have lost you.”
“But they didn’t. You didn’t.”
“I know. They’re giving you time to recover in peace, and when the shock has passed and they believe it’s safe to love on you, they’ll descend in full force.”
Sacha’s groan was loud, and Chip popped up to check on Sacha by licking his face all over, making Sacha curse and Gio laugh.
Despite Sacha’s grumpy grumblings about dogs sticking their tongues up his nose and their family fussing over him, Gio knew that deep down, Sacha wouldn’t want it any other way.