Chapter 45
Audrey
The hospital room door quietly creaked as I slowly pushed it open. Inside, the room was dimly lit, only the light from the small lamp near his bedside illuminating the room. Shit, I thought as the sound caused Max to stir in his bed.
His eyes cracked open, immediately traveling to my shadow lingering in the doorway. A smile spread across his lips as he stared at me with a half-lidded gaze. “Audrey,” he whispered. “There you are.”
I let my jacket fall off my shoulders as I approached him. I set it and my tote bag down on the chair next to his bed. I slipped my hand into his and leaned down to kiss his forehead. “Hi Max,” I murmured against his skin.
His other hand grasped the side of my neck, bringing my lips down against his.
My body melted under the heat of his slow, lingering kisses.
His lips moved intentionally against mine, absorbing each and every moment they shared with mine.
His tongue traced the outline of my lips, wiping away traces of my lip gloss, before requesting silent access for entrance that I happily granted.
He pulled me closer as our kisses deepened, damn near pulling me onto the bed with him.
I savored his sweet taste, sucking gently on his tongue and exploring his mouth with my own.
After almost losing him, I knew I couldn’t take moments like this for granted.
If I was going to kiss him, I was going to do it right.
Passionately. Eagerly. Sensually. Longingly. As if every kiss would be our last.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered between our kisses. He trailed kisses around my cheek for a moment, originally making a bee-line for my neck.
“Aht, aht,” I scolded, gently shoving him back against the bed. “You’re not starting anything you can’t finish.”
“Oh, I’m finishing alright.” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me onto the bed with him.
I giggled as he bombarded my face with kisses. “Okay, okay. Stop playing before you hurt yourself.” I said, grabbing his face and holding it still. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” he admitted. “But the pain meds make it bearable.”
I trailed my fingers across his face, tracing every nook and cranny and committing it to memory. “You really scared me, Max,” I murmured. “For a moment, I thought… I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Did you think I was going down that easily? God is going to have to do better than a bunch of punks with a gun if he wants to take me out.”
“I’m serious, Max.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in the crook of his neck. “I can’t lose you again.”
He sighed. “Audrey, look at me.”
I turned my head to look up into his sincere eyes.
“I am not going anywhere. If God wants my soul, he’ll have to fight me for it. And we both know the odds aren’t looking too good for Him on that front.” He pushed one of the stray curls hanging in front of my face behind my ear. “Like it or not, but you’re stuck with me for a long time.”
I smiled at the confirmation.
“Are you hungry?” I asked. “I brought some of your favorites from Dad’s restaurant - all soft foods, though, so Ms. Tati won’t murder me.”
“Man, anything is better than the pudding and Jello she’s been feeding me all day. I’m starving.”
I giggled. “I’ve got some barbecue pulled pork, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese.”
“Sounds like heaven to me.”
I pulled over the food tray attached to his bed and made him a plate.
Max didn’t waste any time gobbling up the food. He even devoured the second plate I made for him. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was starving.
Once his belly was nice and full, he lay back against the bed with heavy eyelids. I threw a sitcom on the television for him to watch while I cleaned up our mess and tucked the covers around him. “Wait,” he said, grabbing my wrist when I reached for my coat. “Will you stay with me? Please.”
I couldn’t say no to the frown on his lips and the crease between his brows. Not after all he’s been through over the past few days.
Max scooted over the best he could as I climbed onto the bed.
I curled up next to him and lay my head on his shoulder. I kept one ear on the television and one on his breathing. The latter slowed with every minute, letting me know he was falling asleep.
He leaned his cheek on the top of my head. “I love you, Audrey,” he mumbled, barely conscious.
I wrapped an arm around his lower torso, careful of his bandaged wounds, and gave a soft squeeze. “I love you too, Max,” I replied, holding him as tightly as his wounds allowed. “I love you, too.”