24. WINTER
WINTER
A groan escapesmy lips as I wake and try to sit up, but the pain that causes stops me in my tracks. As my entire body aches with just that slight movement. I inhale deeply and the smell of antiseptic lets me know exactly where I am.
I’mproven right when my eyes flutter open a moment later. The bright lights hurt my eyes for a moment until they adjust to the room. Familiar white walls greet me, as does the hospital bed I’m currently laying in.
Amoment later my eyes land on the flowers, balloons and cards that are on the table right across from my bed. As the fog begins to clear and I look again, focusing better this time, I see that there are even more flowers and balloons all around the room. Definitely more than one person could ever need, in fact.
Ihave a terrible headache and I’m starting to feel a little nauseous, while the pain in my body seems to increase the longer, I’m awake. I go to move my hand and that’s when I realize that I’m not alone in the room like I thought.
Imust really be out of it to not have noticed that Mason is in a chair next to my bed, asleep with his head on the edge of it and he has my hand in his. I try to slowly pull my hand out of his, but the slight movement causes him to wake up and he flies up into a sitting position.
“Oh my God! You’re awake baby! It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for you to wake up,” he says with what definitely sounds like relief in his voice.
“Wha-what happened? My body feels like it’s been run over by a truck,” I say trying to joke but my voice sounds scratchy.
“Close enough,” he says, and then I hear him mutter quietly. “Too fucking close for comfort.”
“Did you say something else?”
“Nope. Do you need anything while I go get the doctor?”
“Something to drink please. My throat feels dry and itchy.”
“I’ll be right back baby,” he stands and maneuvers his body so that he’s hugging me. He kisses the top of my head and then rests our foreheads together, as he just stands there for a moment like he doesn’t want to let go. I feel something wet land on my cheek and I know it’s tears.
“I’m fine,” I tell him as I lift the hand that’s not currently in a sling to his face. I feel his entire body shudder at my touch.
“I was so fucking scared when that guy slammed into you. I can’t lose you, not now and not ever.”
“Well, I’m here and I’m fine. What happened?”
“I don’t want you to worry about anything, baby. It’s all being taken care of,” he tells me, before bending down and placing a soft and quick kiss on my lips, then pulling away and heading for the door.
Heisn’t even gone a minute when the doctor walks into my room. GuessMason just missed him.
“MissCrowne. How are you feeling?”
“My entire body aches and I’m feeling a bit nauseous.”
“Well, that’s normal after you’ve been in an accident. I’ve given you a small dose of morphine for the pain, but not to worry it’s not enough to hurt the baby. Well babies, since you’re pregnant with twins!” the doctor says dropping that huge bomb on me.
“The what?” I ask, stunned.
“Babies. You’re having twins and you’re about eight weeks from my calculations,” he tells me.
Ifeel my stomach drop at his words. But then I do the math in my head and let out a relieved sigh that the baby’s conception happened a whole month before Antonio took me. I don’t know what I would’ve done if the baby, well babies were Antonio’s. And we’ll come back to the whole I’m pregnant with twins thing later, after I’ve processed.
“Uh, can you do me a favor and not mention this to anyone else, Doc? I want to plan a surprise.”
“No problem,” he says as he looks over my chart. “Everything looks good so far and you should heal without any issues,” he says just as the door opens again and Mason, Hunter, and Gray walk in the door.
“Oh, hey, Doc, I was just looking for you,” Mason says to the doctor.
“Everything is going well and she can leave tomorrow.”
“That’s good news. And not to worry, I”ll take great care of her.”
Hunterand Gray both rushed to my side the moment they got into the room.
“Oh my God! ThankGod you’re awake and alive! You scared the fuck out of me!” Hunter says as he hugs me to him.
“How long have I been here for? I had the strangest dream that Dad was still alive,” I mumble into his chest. When he pulls away a little to look down at me, I see the pinched expression that’s currently gracing his face and I frown. “Please don’t tell me that was true!”
“It’s your second day here and um, it’s true sis.”
“Oh right, now I remember! I currently hate the two of you!”
“What? No, you don’t. You love me and because I’ve been such a great big brother you’ve forgiven me,” he says with a pout on his face and puppy dog eyes.
“Get away from me you big jerk!” I grumble, but my tone lacks any heat to it. But he respects my wishes and moves to one of the chairs in the room. Once he’s moved, Grayson is the next one to find himself in my space. He hugs me tightly, being careful with all the wires hooked up to me and the sling on one of my arms.
“I’m so glad you’re okay sis. You almost gave me a damn heart attack!” he says in a shaky voice and I cling to him a little tighter. I’ve been so busy staying mad that I forgot how soft and sensitive he really is.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry,” I whisper softly in his ear and he just hugs me closer, before kissing me on the top of my head.
“Can you get away from my girl now you big oaf!” Mason mumbles a moment later. Grayson straightens up and looks down at me and we both roll our eyes, bursting out into giggles.
Amoment later Mason pulls him away from me and points to another chair for him to sit on before he gets into the bed with me.
“Lie back and rest some more, baby. And don’t even bother telling us to leave because we’re your shadows for the rest of the day. In fact, until you’re ready to leave this dump,” he tells me while fixing us so that my head is on his chest and my hand with the sling isn’t being bothered.
Withmy head still on his chest, I move it to look up at him. He still looks sad but a moment later he smiles at me and the sadness vanishes, making me wonder if it was really there.
“Sleep,” he whispers before kissing my forehead.
Iclose my eyes and think about the babies in my stomach. How the hell am I going to tell him that we’re going to be parents? I’m scared and don’t even think I have what it takes to be a mother. DoI even want him to know that they’re his? How would he even be as a father? Would he be a good one? My thoughts keep me troubled one after the other until I eventually fall asleep from exhaustion.
* * *
It’s beentwo weeks since Mason brought me home from the hospital and saying that things were tense around the whole house would be an understatement. Obviously, I know it’s mostly because of me, but I just don’t care right now. They all deserve to get a taste of my mood swings. Or maybe it’s just these fucking hormones that’s messing with me… Not going there right now since I still haven’t told Mason about the babies yet.
Plus, I’m pissy because they’re at it again with that damn therapist. She’s been here more times in two weeks than I think is warranted, but do they listen to me? No. They’re all men and they seem to think they know what’s best for me yada, yada, yada.
Anyway, according to said therapist—who’s going to be here later today, again—I have every right to feel however I want to. I’m allowed to be as mad as I want, for however long I want to be and they can all just suck it, my father included.
Lookslike said therapist might be good for something after all. I’ve been letting my displeasure be known throughout the house in the time that I’ve been here. From my father—who I really hate right now—to my brother, to Grayson and then Mason, who gets the worst of my mouth. They’ve all been yelled and cursed at, at some point, but they’re still all here annoying the hell out of me.
Thefirst thing I had beef with them over was the whole therapist thing. Even though I’m kind of warming up to her now, I was pissed in the beginning. My father, who is supposed to be dead but isn’t, is a whole other source of rage that consumes me. My brother for keeping that shit a secret and of course, Grayson and Mason for everything that happened after their father set me up.
Iknow those two have been trying to make things right but I still don’t know how to feel about all the shit that went down. Haven’t worked my way through that shit yet. MaybeI should consider doing that in today’s session.
Ihear a sound coming from outside my door and let out a groan. After we made it home, I told them all to leave me alone because I wasn’t ready to talk to any of them. But of course, they didn’t listen. Those damn assholes!
They’veall been taking turns checking in on me every hour on the hour, since I’ve mostly been in bed, resting, so that I can heal. Mason opens the door and I see him balancing a tray with food in his hands. Oh great, here we go again… He was already up here this morning with a big as hell breakfast that he made me eat and he’s been squirrely all morning. I wonder what the hell is going on with him.
“Hey, baby, how are you feeling? I’ve got your lunch for you,” he says as he walks over to my bed. He puts the tray on the small rolling table and then he pulls it to him, as he sits on the edge of my bed.
“I’m not?—”
“Don’t start, please. We literally go through this every single day.”
“Well, if you’d listen to me then we wouldn’t have to now, would we?” I grumble.
“You’re being a brat again,” he says with a smile on his face, his expression one of longing and I poke my tongue out at him.
“Well, you deserve it…”
“I know, baby.”
“Ugh, let’s get this over with then,” I grumble as he takes the bowl of pasta and twirls it on the fork before bringing it to my mouth. Damn it! It’s my favorite—chicken Alfredo. He’s playing dirty because he knows I can’t refuse when it comes to this dish. I open my mouth and he puts it inside while I chew.
“There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?” I just grunt and continue to chew while trying to ignore his ass.
Howcan one person be so annoying? Like can you be annoyed to death? OnceI’m done eating, he hands me my glass of juice along with the pills I need to take and I down it all in one go. He puts everything back onto the table and then he looks at me with his wicked and charming smile on his face.
“What the hell are you grinning at?”
“It’s time for your bath before the doc gets here,”
“Oh joy,” I grumble at him as he gently lifts me up into his arms and walks us into the bathroom.
Hesets me down onto the edge of the tub and gently takes the sling off my arm before he starts to undress me. After that’s done, he helps me into the tub and makes me sit in the middle, before grabbing the retractable shower head and turning it on.
Oncethe water is warm enough to suit him, he brings it closer to me and starts to wash my back and around my stomach and legs. There are still some bandages around my collarbone so I can’t get them wet.
Hetakes his time washing me, especially between the legs and my breathing turns labored as I start to get turned on from his fingers playing with my pussy.
“What’s wrong baby?” The ass asks.
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure? You’re breathing pretty heavily here,” he says and I give him a death glare. If only looks could kill…
“I-I’m fine,” I stutter as his finger touches my clit.
“I don’t think you are. I think you’re lying to me. Do you need me to help you come baby?” he questions as his fingers keep moving up and down my slit. I’m already soaked as hell.
“Yessss!” I finally scream out.
“Turn around, lay back and spread your legs for me,” he instructs and I obey.
Assoon as my legs are spread a little, his fingers circle my clit before he slides them down until they’re at my hole. He pushes inside me and a moan slips out. I start leaking more, as he pumps in and out as pleasure courses through me.
“Ahhh,” I moan. “That feels so good!”
Hepulls his fingers out and I make a sound of disapproval which just makes a smirk appear on his face. He then pushes those fingers into his mouth and sucks them clean of my juices. He lets out a sexy growl as he tastes my juices and I squirm in my position, needing to get his fingers back inside me.
Idon’t have to wait long, as he does what I want in the next moment. He fingers me, increasing his tempo a little more with each thrust, until he’s really fucking me with his fingers. A moment later he pulls them out of me and then he brings the shower head up to my clit. He turns it on and the pressure on my clit instantly makes me scream with how good that feels. In no time I’m exploding as my orgasm crashes over me, panting for breath as he rests his forehead against mine.
“You are so fucking beautiful baby. Even more so when you’re coming on my hands,” he says, kissing me on the forehead, as he continues to bathe me.
Hehelps me out of the tub and he dries my skin before putting my panties on. He then sits me on the counter and slowly pulls off the bandage on my collarbone, cleaning and then redressing it.
Healso puts lotion on my entire body and then my clothes. I feel like a girl could definitely get used to this sort of princess treatment. He goes to lift me up again, but I stop him.
“I can walk.”
“Fine,” he pouts like I took away his favorite toy or something. He lets me go but follows closely behind me, I’m guessing in case he thinks I’ll fall or some shit, who knows with him?
Hetakes me into the sitting room where my therapist is already sitting on one of the couches. We opted to have these meetings here at the house to avoid public speculation plus we have the bonus of privacy. I take a seat on the couch opposite hers and Mason gives me a kiss on the head.
“Call if you need anything babe,” he says and I nod my head before he turns to leave the room.
“How are you doing today, Winter?” the doc asks in her calm and cool voice.
“Same as always doc,”
“Do you want to start talking about your relationship today?”
“Not really. Everything’s still the same between us. Well, there is no us as of right now and I wish he’d get that through his thick as hell skull,” I say exasperatedly.
“I know you said that you don’t want him anymore but anyone who looks at the two of you can tell that there seem to be strong feelings for each other. Do you think that you’re punishing him for the things he’s done?” she asks and I take a moment to think about that.
Isthat what I’ve been doing? I mean I know he’s been apologizing every single day. He’s been taking care of me, even though I don’t need that much care. He’s still leaving flowers and those notes every day despite knowing that I haven’t read any of them.
They’reall still in a jar, sitting in my room upstairs. He’s also been doing other little things for me. Feeding me, making sure I’m always comfortable and not in any pain, watching over me like a hawk. He watches television with me on the nights when I can’t sleep and sometimes, he even reads or sings to me. Then there are the times when he walks with me around the garden to make sure I get some exercise and fresh air. I don’t think I’ve ever been taken care of this well in my life before.
He’snever not too far away from me in case I need something. Never mind my dad, brother and Grayson are around to help. Is she right? HaveI been unconsciously punishing him?
“I don’t know doc,”
“Let me ask you this. Can you live without him? I mean what if something happens to him or he decides to walk away, how would that make you feel?”
Ithink about Mason not being here anymore and I feel an ache in my chest at that thought. Fuck! What the fuck is wrong with me? I don’t want him around me but when I think about what she just said I can’t even think about living without him either. Ugh! I really need to sort through my shit. I look up at the clock and see that it’s now been an hour since we’ve been in here and suddenly, I just want to get out of this room.
“Time’s up doc. See ya when I see ya,” I tell her before hightailing it for the door.