CHAPTER SEVEN #4
“I’ll live. The pain meds Stan gave me—” she stopped talking. It seems that Demerol gave her loose lips. Her eyes widened.
Lance stared at her angrily. “I see that we still have some issues to work out.”
Stan bit his lip to keep from grinning. Tammy was strong willed. “Good luck with that.” He got up and left the ambulance.
“How much pain are you in?” His expression became concerned.
“Not much now,” she answered sheepishly.
Lance leaned over and put his elbow on his knee to support the arm holding the shirt. He cursed.
At that moment Stan came back, put several bags of equipment away, checked the IV and sat next to Lance again. Rob got in behind the wheel.
Stan opened a package of sterile gauze, moistened it with sterile saline and told Lance to replace the torn shirt piece he held over his head wound. “I’d actually appreciate it if you could wear it again. I have an urge to go to the gym.”
Lance didn’t feel the humor and just turned his head to looked at him.
Stan’s smile faded and he gave Tammy he’s-a-tough-audience look.
She lifted her brows as to say what-do-you-expect? They were just about killed. It was her ex-fiancé, and she didn’t tell Lance the truth about the injuries she received. Yup, things weren’t looking up.
Once at the hospital, the doctor on call restitched the wound after he determined there was no further intervention needed. Lance got six stitches.
“I’d like to keep you overnight for observation Tammy,” the doctor said.
“She’s going home with me. Jake’s going to take the night and stay with us at the house. She needs to be around family right now,” Lance interrupted appearing in the doorway. He had a bandage over his left eye.
“I suppose Jake could handle her well enough.” He winked at Tammy
“You do realize I’m capable of making my own decisions.” She glared past the doctor at Lance.
“Not tonight,” he said sternly.
She bit her lip to stop from saying something she’d regret.
He waited seeming to know but seemed satisfied and turned to the doctor. “Thanks.”
“Take care of her. She’s one of the best.”
“I know she is,” he said still looking at Tammy, his expression unreadable. He shook the doctor’s hand before he left. He then entered the room and stood next to the bed. “Colt’s coming to get us.”
“You are so bossy!” She was aggravated, hurt, devastated and exhausted.
“Yes. I told you I was,” he said calmly.
The lawyer. She sighed and stared at the white panels of the ceiling. “How am I going to tell Melanie?”
“I phoned your brother and told him. He’s going to sit her down and tell her.”
She should have been angry over his control over things, but she was surprisingly relieved. She knew why. She was so used to being in control of her emotions, but this was happening to her, and Lance was amazing. He was her rock. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.
“Hey baby.” He leaned over and kissed them away.
His mouth lingered on each cheek longer than expected.
His lips were warm, and the shift in him warmed her heart.
He knew exactly how to take care of her.
Her eyes met his when he lifted his head.
She knew they were raw with emotion. All her feelings, her weaknesses, everything was visible for him to see.
It was something she never revealed to anyone in her life.
She knew he could see it. He smiled slightly and nodded ever so subtly.
“You’ll get through this love. You are made of really tough material.”
She circled her arms around his neck and wept. Finally the impact of it all had taken her down. Lance moved his arms around her and embraced her.
“Hey.”
Colton.
Lance released her and turned to his brother.
“You guys okay?” Colt’s eyes went to Tammy. She was a mess. There was dried blood on her face, her clothing, and it looked like she was crying.
“She’s had enough is all. Enough of tradgedy and me on the tail end barking at her.”
Colton nodded. “Yeah well, welcome to the family.” He grinned at Tammy. “I parked out front. Is she allowed to go home?”
“I didn’t give the doctor much of a choice.”
“Of course you didn’t.” Colt smiled that lop sided Hartley smile. “Let’s get her out of here then.”
A nurse came in at that moment and discontinued Tammy’s line and wished her luck while squeezing her hand. She looked at Lance. “I’m not even going to ask that you use a wheelchair, Mr. Hartley. We didn’t see anything,” she said quietly before she left.
Tammy saw her blush when talking to him. She knew her quite well and the woman wasn’t easily embarrassed, but no woman was immune. Especially now that there were two Hartleys in the room, she didn’t have a chance in hell. She was between two gorgeous bookends.
Lance nodded his thanks as the nurse left. Colt held open the door and Lance bent over and picked Tammy up, holding her close, and walked out to the truck. She clung to him. He slid her in the passenger side to the middle and slid in beside her. Colt got behind the wheel.
Lance slid his arm around Tammy and pulled her against his chest. No one said anything all the way to the house.
Lance kept her face turned into his shoulder when they passed the accident scene.
There were still investigative vehicles there, including Duncan’s car.
There were a few people down in the ditch but the van was on the bed of a tow truck on the road.
It looks like they already removed Richard’s body.
Once at the house, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the house to his room. The rest of the family was there, waiting in the entrance, but he shook his head as he walked by and they respected his wishes to leave her alone.
Once his room, he undressed her slowly leaving on nothing but her panties.
“Stay here.” He went to his dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and went back to her.
“Lift your arms.” She did and he carefully slid it over her head and then pulled back the sheets and put her to bed.
“You’re safe now babe. Go to sleep. I’ll be in in a bit.
I need to ease the worries of our loved ones. ”
She only shut her eyes as he tucked the blankets around her. She felt really safe. He was right, this was the place to be.
The next day she awoke draped in Lance’s body. He was spooned against her from behind with his arm and leg over her. She shifted and winced. The pain meds had worn off.
“You all right?”
She maneuvered to face him. “I hurt.”
He nodded and rolled over to his bedside table. She heard a pill bottle shaking and he sat up and handed her a glass of water and two white pills. She took them.
“Your brother phone last night. Melanie is doing okay. The news was hard, but she seems to have come to terms with the fact that you can’t save everyone no matter how many sacrifices you make or how much you try to help.”
She lay down and stared at the ceiling releasing a shuddering breath. “I used to be envious of the attention that she always had.” Her eyes went to his. “How ridiculous is that. She never really had it as easy as I did breaking away from all that control.”
“They’re coming for the wedding.” He smiled slowly.
She shifted her eyes to his and for the first time in what seemed like forever, smiled from ear to ear. “Thank you. I know it was you.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I love you Tammy. I would do anything for you.” He caressed her cheek with two fingers.
God he looked so beautiful. The sunlight shone through the window and lit up his bare chest, his mussed hair and his beautiful brown eyes. “I have so much baggage.”
“You have no baggage. You have people trying to give theirs.” He bent down and kissed her.
She circled her hand around the back of his head and kissed him back. It was eager and wanton.
He lifted his head. “Tammy—”
“—I need you Lance.” Her eyes searched his. She knew he didn’t want to make love to her because of her injuries, but she really needed him right now.
He stared at her for a moment. There was definite darkening of desire in his eyes. Finally he nodded, bent his head again and captured her mouth with his. He groaned. “We’ve got to take it easy even though I want to ram into you.”
She nodded unable to speak as his tongue met hers. God, this man could kiss!
He was gentle and Tammy completely understood his urge to take her roughly. She really wanted it to.
“Christ, you’re wet already!” he growled. “Roll over baby, on your knees.” He lifted back and helped her.
She felt that familiar tightening in her pelvis. Just him telling her how to position herself nearly had her orgasm. What was wrong with her?
His hands smoothed over her bottom, between her thighs, over her back and down again.
“Lance—”
“Shh,” he chuckled. “I know you’re eager. I just love this view.”
She could feel the mattress shift with his weight as he moved up against her. His body was hot and she could feel the hairs of his thighs tickle her own. She leaned back against him.
“Patience darling.” Again, a deep heavenly chuckle. He smoothed his hands over her hips and adjusted her against him. Then he slid into her slowly. A visceral melting groan rumbled deep in his chest. “God, you’re just so tight.”
She could have responded, but then he started to move. It was a slow and teasing motion. One that had her moving back against him.
“Stay still,” he murmured giving a sharp thrust.
She gasped and near collapsed at the agony of pleasure that evoked.
“I’ll end this for you soon if you don’t behave.”
She shook her head. “Please,” she begged.
“Grasp the headboard.”
She did. It wasn’t easy, her legs started to shake from the pleasure he aroused. In fact, her whole body started shuddering. The muscles deep in her pelvis started to do that heated tightening and he seemed to sense she was near, changing pace.
“Fuck, you’re so damn tight and wet,” he groaned.
She gasped as he moved forcefully.