“Casey?” G.T.’s groggy voice sputters. I jump quickly, wiping my face to wash the tears away. I instantly miss the warmth of his hand in mine.

“Hey.” I say softly brushing his silky hair away from his face.

“You’re really here?” he asks, his eyes glassy, must be from the meds.

“Right here.” Placing my hand on his bearded cheek, I relish the feeling of his coarse hair under my palm. His hand reaches up and covers mine.

“Don’t leave me. Please.” His words almost a plea, but being heavily medicated I will not read anything more into his words, even if deep inside I wish it to be true.

“I’m right here.”

“Tired. Come lay with me.” I shouldn’t. It will only cause me more pain, but I can’t help my damn self. His pleading eyes suck me in and damn if I can crawl out from their spell. And to be completely honest, I need this.

I smile. “Yeah.” I kick off my shoes and crawl into bed under the covers feeling his body heat even though we are not touching. Laying my head on the empty pillow, I keep my body far away from his.

“Get over here.” His words are demanding and send fire through my body. Dammit if I don’t love his forcefulness, but don’t budge. I can’t make myself move.

“I don’t want to hurt you. I’ll just lay here.” I stare at his handsome profile. His nose with a slight bend from the fight he had when he was younger, it just never set right, his strong jaw angled just perfectly.

“Now.” The intensity in his words makes my body move on its own accord. I can never turn my body’s reaction to him off and part of me craves him. I move close and he reaches out, his good arm pulling me even closer to his body. My head rests on his arm as I lay on my side, hand on his rock hard chest and my legs next to his. I itch to move them over his, but keep them where they are. His arm holds me tight against his body as I wiggle to get comfortable and it doesn’t take much.

I sink into the comfort that he is providing me. I’ll only lay here for a little bit, I tell myself. But his warmth is too much and my eyes begin to get heavy.

The creak of the door as it opens rouses me from the most peaceful sleep I’ve had in months. Opening my eyes slowly, my Angel is draped over my body, her arm close to her as if she knew instinctively not to touch my wounds. Her legs entwine with mine and her chest slowly rises and falls telling me she is in a deep sleep. Casey’s beautiful face rests on my arm. Her blonde and now black hair sweeps across the bed in a huge curtain. Cherries. Damn woman always smells like damn cherries, and I fucking love it.

My eyes jet to the noise at the door and see Doc standing there, waiting.

“I heard she was back.” Doc says quietly staring at my girl. I want to gouge his fucking eyes out for even looking at her¸ string him up and beat the ever-loving shit out of him.

“What do you need?” I growl wanting him to leave, shut the door and allow me to forget the outside fucking world.

“Ma called. Said you passed out. Now I can see why.” He smiles reaching into his bag.

“Stop fucking looking at her.” I warn his eyes shooting to mine.

“Down there, big boy. I don’t want your girl. Just nice to see you a bit more alert.” He places the stethoscope in his ears and begins to place it on my body listening to me.

“Don’t wake her up.” I glare in his eyes.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He says smiling only causing my anger to turn red hot. Who the fuck does he think he is?

He checks my bandages and dressings thoroughly and I watch my beautiful Angel sleep peacefully in my arms without even a stir as Doc works. Her porcelain skin is so light against my tan and the little bit of freckles across the bridge of her nose is the only color gracing her face. I love those fucking things; it’s where I came up with Angel for her. Her freckles are Angel kisses and she is my Angel.

Casey’s tiny frame is pressed up against mine and I relish in the soft curves of her body. Never have I wanted a woman to lay with me like this. Never. Casey is the only one. Ever. And dammit if I didn’t want to stay like this forever. Damn sap.

“No infection. Keep taking the antibiotics. You need to rest.” Doc says pulling my eyes to his. He looks down at Angel and I glare. “I mean it. If you just rest a day, I guarantee, you’ll feel a shit ton better and will be able to get up and move without passing out. Your blood’s trying to replenish itself. You need to stay still to accomplish this.”

“Fine. You can go now. Thanks.” I grunt needing him out of my fucking room and away from my girl.

“Maybe she can keep you in line.” Before I can fire off a retort, Angel’s body moves slightly as she begins to wake. I grip her body tight, expecting she will want to bolt especially if she knows someone is in the room and I’m not letting her go.

“Hey Angel.” Her eyes slowly flutter open and widen as she looks at me. Her green eyes utterly pull me under and she doesn’t even know it.

“Hey. How ya feeling?” She says trying to pull out of my grasp.

“Don’t. Move.” I demand feeling her body tense then relax into me. She’s always been so in tune to my commands, her body instantly following them and I’m banking on that shit now.

“I was just telling your man here that he needs to stay in bed and rest.” Casey gasps turning her head quickly to the man standing at the door. She tries again to get out of my grasp, but I hold tight.

“I told you not to move.” I say again to her, my arms flexing around her. She lays her head on my chest, but the stiffness in her body doesn’t leave this time. Every muscle in her body is on high alert. Thanks a-fucking-lot Doc.

Casey’s soft voice questions the man causing her tension. “Doc. Is he okay?” Concern pours from her voice as my arm pulls her as tight to me as possible. I bend giving her a kiss on top of her head feeling her soft hair on my lips. As soon as my lips touch her head, her body freezes and I’d give anything to wipe away what I’ve done to this woman.

“He will be if he rests. He’s gotta stay in this bed for twenty-four hours so his body can get his blood supply back up to where it needs to be. He needs to take his antibiotics, pain meds and rub this salve on his wounds so they don’t get infected. Princess has been doing that for him thank God.”

“What happens after the twenty-four hours?” Her words come out muffled from lying on my chest.

“Reevaluate. See where he is. Right now, his wounds are healing wonderfully. The salve I gave him is some ancient Native American stuff I got while working with a colleague of mine. It works wonders, if the patient rests.”

“He will. I’ll make sure of it.” The confidence swarms her voice.

“You will… Will you? How you gonna do that Angel?” I ask looking down at her as her eyes lift to mine.

“I have my ways.” Her smile is as bright as the sun shining as she bites her bottom lip making my dick rise to the occasion. She must have felt it as her leg slowly moves away from my growing dick. I need her to stay with me and not run. I know if I push that’d be the first thing she’ll do as soon as she can. Bolt and she has every right to.

“Make you a deal, Angel. You stay with me, in this room, for the next twenty-four hours and I’ll stay put. Promise.” I grin, waiting for her response, but she surprises the shit out of me at how quick she gives in.

“Done. See Doc. I have my ways.” She smirks laying her head back down on my chest.

“Princess has everything. Talk to her. And Casey?”

“Yeah?” She answers Doc.

“Good luck.” He turns finally leaving my fucking room, closing the door behind him. I need to lock it, but fuck I am not moving an inch with this hot body next to me.

“So, you’re gonna take care of me huh?”

“Yep. Now let me get up so I can get to work.” She tries for the third time to pull away.