Chapter 34 Forest
FOREST
“You could have died.”
Sheldon sighed, not in an exhaustive way but a sweet, my fiancé cares about me way. “But I didn’t. No major organs were hit.”
“That’s not as comforting as you think it is.” It helped, but I was still upset over everything that had happened.
After passing out on the way to the hospital, Sheldon didn’t wake again until he’d come out of surgery. He was very lucky. The fact he took a bullet to rescue me, well, I’d never forget what he’d done. The truth was, I would have done the same for him.
I snuggled in closer, careful not to touch where he was injured.
A month had passed since he was hurt, yet I still treated him like he was fragile. I couldn’t help it. After watching what I had, I worried about him.
“I have to go back to work soon,” he said.
“Not yet.”
“Eventually, you’ll need to let me out of your sight.”
I scoffed.
My job was very lenient with my situation. They’d let me continue to work from home while Sheldon recovered. I was sure Jordan had something to do with that, and how well I did at work. They loved me at the shop. Never had everything been so organized.
“We have to leave in a few,” he reminded me.
“I know.”
We were heading to Oleander’s parents’ house tonight for dinner. Oleander was coming too, and so was Micah. He and I had grown closer since he’d been knocked out protecting me. He would also be my guard when I went back to work.
There had been no talk about giving me a second guard again, which was fine with me. After what happened with Winnie, I didn’t want anyone else. I had started seeing Arden to help me. Too much went down I couldn’t forget.
Sheldon patted my thigh. “Come on, or else Colleen will start calling.”
We stood, Sheldon slowly. He wasn’t in a lot of pain, only sore, or at least that was what he said. Who knew what he really felt? He kept most inside.
The front door opened as we were putting our shoes on. Oleander walked in. “Do you need a cane?”
I was about to holler at him for poking fun at Sheldon, but Sheldon was already throwing a pillow from the couch at his best friend. “I’ll kick your ass any day.”
“Sure you will.”
Together, the three of us entered the elevator and rode it down to the garage, where Micah waited in one of the Navigators. We climbed in and buckled.
“I can’t believe I get to meet your mom,” he said. He’d heard enough about her and how she would call Sheldon or Oleander and give them cryptic messages. Other guards wanted to meet her too.
“You’re going to love her,” I told him. “And Ollie’s dad. They’re wonderful people.”
“Mom wants to look Sheldon over again to make sure he’s healing properly,” Oleander said.
Sheldon smiled. It was small, but there. We’d been to visit since he’d gotten hurt. We even stayed for a weekend so she could cook all his favorite meals.
The vibration of Sheldon’s phone startled me. He had it in his pocket where his leg rested against mine. No, there was no space between us. There wouldn’t be until he went back to work. I was plastered to him like a fucking octopus.
He pulled the phone out, his eyebrows drawing together. “Yeah?” he answered.
I couldn’t hear what was said, only the mumbling of a man, so I had to rely on Sheldon’s words.
“Uh huh.”
“No.”
“That’s a you problem.”
“Do whatever you want. Consider this the end of our chats.” He hung up and looked out the window.
I tapped him on the leg. “Who was that?”
“The prison. My father’s dead.”
Oleander whipped around in the seat. “Seriously?”
“I wouldn’t joke about that.”
“How do you feel?”
Sheldon shrugged. “Not as relieved as I thought I would. I don’t really care.
He was never a parent to me like he should have been.
They asked if I had plans for his burial or a funeral.
I don’t want to see him ever again, corpse or not.
They can do what they want with him. He’s not my responsibility. ”
Lacing my fingers with his, I gave them a squeeze, drawing his attention to me. “It’s okay to be upset.”
“I’m not.” He dropped his head to my shoulder and closed his eyes.
Oleander’s gaze met mine. There was nothing either of us could do, especially right now. Sheldon wouldn’t want to turn around and miss out on dinner with the people he considered his family. His father hadn’t been that ever.
Sheldon would mourn though, not for his father.
He’d mourn for his mother again. The man who killed her was finally gone, as he should have been many years ago.
How he’d hung on this long was anyone’s guess, considering the state of his body.
I figured it was spite that kept him alive.
Another day, week, month, where his son was aware of him still breathing.
All we could do was be there for Sheldon.
The rest of the ride was quiet as Micah drove us to our destination. Colleen stood in the doorway as we exited the vehicle. She hugged her son first, then came to Sheldon, cupping his cheeks in her hands. A single tear slid from Sheldon’s eye.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, already knowing what had happened. I’d seen Oleander on his phone in the SUV. “Your mom can rest now.”
Sheldon nodded.
Her gaze moved to me. She offered a kind smile. “Hungry?”
“Always.”
Davis was there with hugs as we entered the house.
Introductions were made between them and Micah.
The conversation shifted to happier topics.
I had a feeling that was all the emotion Sheldon was going to allow himself to show.
It wasn’t that he was cold inside or buried it all deep.
Sure, he pushed a lot away, but he didn’t want to cry over a man who was nothing but cruel to him and his mother.
Watching Micah interact with Colleen and Davis during dinner was fun.
He ate up the attention they gave him, while Sheldon was relieved not to be asked questions about his injury and how his recovery was coming along.
It was obvious how much he loved these people, but he was over talking about getting hurt.
Colleen didn’t bring up our spirit guides, but she did have a lengthy conversation with Micah about herbs and their healing properties.
We found out Micah had a bit of a green thumb and a little garden in his apartment.
I had to spend more time with him outside of him guarding me.
He was a nice man who took his job seriously.
Seeing the other, relaxed side of him was nice.
“When’s the wedding?” Colleen asked.
“Subtle,” Oleander coughed.
“Please. I don’t need subtlety. Sheldon and Forest are getting married. We’d like to help plan it.”
“You’re not paying for anything,” Sheldon stated.
“Who said we were?”
“You would if I let you.”
Colleen crossed her arms. “You act like you know me so well.” A simple cocked eyebrow from Sheldon had her sighing. “Fine, but the offer stands. If you need help, we’re here.”
“I have more than enough. Besides, Forest doesn’t want an extravagant ceremony or reception.”
I shook my head. “He’s right. Neither of us does. We’ve talked about it and want to do something simple, then head out on a honeymoon to a place where no one knows us and doesn’t care who we are.”
With a smile, Colleen said, “Now that sounds like a wonderful plan, but you better not leave us out of the ceremony. I don’t care if it’s you two at the courthouse, we’ll be there.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Sheldon told her.
“You couldn’t if you tried.”
That got a smile from Sheldon and me.
The rest of the time we were at their house, we talked about the wedding. Somehow, she convinced us to have it in their backyard. Actually, it didn’t take much for us to agree to that. It was beautiful here and magical, if I was being honest. It felt like a second home.
When we were finally on our way back to the city, Oleander turned in the seat and said, “I’m surprised she didn’t try to convince you to give her a grandchild while we were there.”
“Hard pass,” Sheldon said.
Oleander laughed. “Not even with Forest?”
My love turned to me. “I adore you and would literally tear the world apart to get to you, but there is no way I will ever want a child.”
I leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “I’m good with that.”
“You have to be because I won’t let you go. There will be no small humans getting between us.”
“What about pets?”
“You want a dog?”
I shrugged. “Celeste is cute.”
“Celeste is far too smart. I don’t want a pet that secretly plots my demise.”
“Okay, we can revisit it another time.”
Sheldon’s arm went around my shoulders, pulling me close. His breath coasted over my ear as he whispered, “No one will ever take you from me. I’ll be damned if I share you with anyone else, human or animal. Got it?”
I shivered and blushed, because I still did that. Sheldon drew heat up to my cheeks simply by speaking. “All yours.”
“If we weren’t in this car, I’d be on my knees with your cock in my mouth.”
“Fuck,” I breathed.
Luckily, Micah and Oleander were talking in the front seat, not paying us any mind. Although I had no doubt they knew exactly what Sheldon was doing to me. How could they not? They were trained to always be on guard.
Sheldon’s hand slid up my thigh, over my jeans until he got to the button and popped it open.
I quickly gripped his wrist. “Unless you want to see me come in front of your best friend and my guard, I wouldn’t do that.”
He immediately withdrew his hand.
“Forgot where we were for a second, did you?” I chuckled softly.
There was a quick bite to my ear. “You make the entire world fall away.”
“I’m going to ride you when we get home.”
He hummed. “I want my hands on your body and my tongue in your mouth while my cock is buried deep in that tight ass of yours.”
“Fuck.”
“Oh, we will.”
For the rest of the ride to the building, I was as hard as steel.
It took everything in me to walk to the elevator, ride it to our apartment, and make it to the door.
My hands went to the front of my jeans as I roughly pulled them down the second we were inside.
There was no time for me riding Sheldon. I had to have him now.
He grabbed lube from the kitchen and quickly slicked his dick while I kicked my clothes off and bent over the kitchen counter. The stretching didn’t last long. I was far too impatient.
Sheldon slid inside of me slowly, burning a path as he did so. Once we found our groove, I begged him to fuck me harder.
His hand went around my neck as he drew me upright, still making love to me. “You’re so fucking perfect, Forest. So fucking mine.” Teeth sank into the side of my neck. A hand went around my dick to start jerking me. Skin slapped. And I was done for.
“Sheldon!” I cried as I came. My eyes slammed closed as my breath stuttered. Ecstasy tore through me. I had never craved anyone as much as I did him. Never loved another. Never wanted someone with every fiber of my being like I did Sheldon.
His hand was coated with my cum when he drew it away, only for him to put one of his fingers in my ass alongside his dick, fucking me with my own cum. That shouldn’t have been as hot as it was. It was also when Sheldon let go. His teeth were still in my neck while he moaned out his release.
This was my life. Sheldon was the man I was going to marry. We came together in a whirlwind I wouldn’t want to change, except for the whole me getting kidnapped and him getting shot part. Outside of that and the stalking, we were perfect. We always would be.
“I love you,” he whispered against my skin.
“Forever,” I panted.