21. Knight
Chapter Twenty-One
KNIGHT
She was in my private hospital room, standing at the window with her IV cart, looking out at the sunset. It was almost as romantic as the first sunset I’d spent with her.
“So pretty,” I said, sounding like death that had gotten rolled by an asphalt truck.
She turned and came towards me, forgetting about the cart, jerking the needle in her arm before she remembered and dragged it with her, looking irritated but also relieved as she searched my face for signs of permanent damage.
She perched on my wide hospital bed and stared at me, into my eyes, like she didn’t ever want to stop, like she loved me and would devour anyone and anything that came between us. Desperate.
I didn’t know what to say. We still had to deal with so many issues, and she was on IV. Did that mean something was wrong? Did she lose the baby? I couldn’t tell what was going on with her stomach in that hospital gown, and I couldn’t say anything that might scare her away.
“You were unconscious for almost a whole day,” she said, words accusing, her eyes large and intent, like she might burn a hole through my face.
“And I missed you in that hospital gown?” I tsked and shook my head. Ow. I didn’t feel a lot of pain, but I felt Lucas’s wrath. Guy was more psycho than I expected. And now Jezebel had him. I almost felt pity for him.
Trixie licked her luscious lips and leaned closer to me. “They cut your suit off you. That doctor, the pretty one. I think I’m going to stake him over an anthill and let them devour his flesh. He did it to make me flinch. You look so good in suits, and that orange tie…”
I snagged her around her waist, pulling me onto the bed as gently as possible.
Ow. But having her in my arms was worth any pain.
And my arm was casted, so it wouldn’t hurt the healing to have her close to me.
I shouldn’t touch her, shouldn’t do anything until she clearly said that she wanted me back in her life, permanently, and that I was still cued up as her fake baby daddy.
I slid my hand over her rounded stomach and let out a small breath. “You still have the baby.”
She stared at me, a flicker of terror in her eyes. “I got an ultrasound. The baby…” She swallowed hard. “It’s a girl,” she whispered.
I stared at her and then felt the smile build up in my chest and swell through all of me. “We’re having a princess? We can do matching outfits! She’ll be so cute in leather. And coveralls! Custom coveralls in polka dots and pickles.”
She shook her head. “I don’t love pickles on clothes, but the tiger lilies. I like them. They’re my favorite flowers. And I don’t hate florals, so I was thinking I could get a tiger lily apron to wear. Maybe a dress. And you could have a tie that matched.”
I stared at her, heart beating while the most beautiful woman in the world gazed up at me like she didn’t want to go anywhere else.
My heart lurched, stopped, and restarted. “And matching socks, too.”
Her lips twitched in the prettiest smile. “And matching shorts.”
“In public or private? I could wear lily-printed shorts in the ring if you don’t mind. The opening cage fight is coming up soon. And your ring. I’ll be wearing your ring. If that’s okay.”
My heart pounded as she blinked her beautiful eyes at me, and for a second they flickered with heat, life, and devastation. My dragon. She’d consumed my heart when she walked through flames and pulled me out of that twisted wreck. I’d never get it back. I’d never want it back.
She picked up my hand and curled my fingers over hers. “I don’t mind. Actually, if you don’t like the ring, I can make you a different one. Or I can buy you something better. But I want you to belong to me.”
I held onto her hand, loving her touch, soft, calloused, veined with heat and life. My dragon.
“I love you,” I whispered, heart thudding horribly. Could I say that? Could I mean that?
She leaned over and brusher her lips in the softest, sweetest brand that ever burned a man. When she pulled back, steam curled from her mouth. So hot.
“I love you.” She snuggled up next to me, her hand on the least bruised part of my body. “Now get better so I can take you camping in the honeymoon tent.”
I closed my eyes, and every care I’d ever had drifted away. My dragon was in my arms. She’d devoured my heart, and I was home.