The way he seized up made her think, just for a moment, that she\u2019d given him a heart attack or something.\u00a0 Then he sucked in a breath and his arm tightened around her.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d\u00a0 Wonder mixed with pain and fear in his voice as he slowly turned to look at her.\u00a0 His breath warmed her ear as she stared at her hands, resting limply in her lap.\u00a0 \u201cYou are?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded, squeezing her eyes shut.\u00a0 \u201cGods help us, I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen\u2014how long have you\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot long,\u201d she said, finally starting to relax.\u00a0 She leaned into his arms, forgetting for a moment that he was hurting at least as much as she was, not much stronger than she was right then.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m still half trying to figure out how Jacqueline figured it out, but I guess she\u2019s got some kind of healing gift.\u00a0 She figured it out.\u201d\u00a0 She turned toward him and slid her arms around him, buried her face in his neck.\u00a0 \u201cI told my cousin before I told you.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cameron laughed weakly, wrapping her up in a tight hug and holding her there against his chest.\u00a0 \u201cI was mostly unconscious.\u00a0 Hard to tell anyone anything when they\u2019re in that state, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess so.\u201d\u00a0 Gods and monsters, this feels so much better than it has any right to.<\/i>\u00a0 Neve sighed and sagged.\u00a0 \u201cStill, Cam, I should\u2019ve told you first.\u00a0 You had a right to be the first to know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWater under the bridge,\u201d he told her.\u00a0 \u201cI know now.\u00a0 That\u2019s what\u2019s important.\u201d\u00a0 He rested his chin against her temple.\u00a0 \u201cThough how we\u2019re going to handle it in the long run is another story entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed weakly.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t I know it.\u00a0 We\u2019ll figure it out.\u00a0 Somehow.\u201d\u00a0 She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, straightening again to give him a long, hard look.\u00a0 \u201cYou look like shit,\u201d she finally said, a wry smile twisting her lips.<\/p>\n
Cameron laughed.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t look too hot yourself.\u201d\u00a0 He kissed her jaw and stretched again.\u00a0 \u201cChrist.\u00a0 You\u2019re right, I do need to stop having chunks taken out of me.\u201d\u00a0 He held her silently for a few long moments before he sighed and shifted, moving as if he intended to get out of bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing if I\u2019m any better this time than I was the last time.\u201d\u00a0 He swung his legs over the side of the bed with a slight wince.\u00a0 \u201cHow many days did I sleep this time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFewer,\u201d she said, brows knitting.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think you should get up, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at her sidelong.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not like I\u2019m intending to try to fight or anything like that, Neve,\u201d he said softly.\u00a0 \u201cBut you sure as hell can\u2019t gainsay me wanting to help, can you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Neve caught her lower lip between her teeth, watching him as he sat there at the edge of the bed, arms trembling slightly as he gripped the edge of the mattress.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she finally whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI guess not.\u00a0 But that doesn\u2019t mean I have to like the risks you\u2019re about to take.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRisks?\u00a0 I\u2019m not about to take any risks.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to take a walk down the frigging hallway, Neve.\u00a0 Nothing more strenuous than that, I promise.\u201d\u00a0 He cupped her cheek with one hand and kissed her cheek, his thumb brushing against her jaw.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d he said, a smile lighting his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not going to abandon you\u2014you\u2019re stuck with me whether you like it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
She gave a nervous little laugh and put her arms around him.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad you didn\u2019t make me stay behind,\u201d she said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cI know I say it, but sometimes I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019ve said it often enough.\u00a0 I\u2019m lucky you let me be with you this far.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re going to be stuck with me for a long time to come if I\u2019ve got anything to say about it.\u201d\u00a0 He kissed her soundly and stood, shaky and wavering on his feet at first before he straightened fully.\u00a0 He winced as he did, putting one hand against his side with a soft hiss.\u00a0 \u201cHurts a little more this time,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI think it does, anyway, but that might be because I\u2019m awake sooner.\u201d\u00a0 He turned slowly, watching her as she sat amidst the tangled blankets.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo on,\u201d she said softly.\u00a0 \u201cBring me back something hot to drink, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to come?\u201d<\/p>\n
She shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to rest a little longer.\u00a0 I\u2019ll wait for you here where it\u2019s warm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cameron smiled a bright, rakish smile.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you\u2019ll be here to warm me up when I come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neve had to laugh as he leered at her.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll think about it anyway.\u00a0 Shoo.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stole one more kiss.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf that,\u201d she said softly.\u00a0 \u201cI have no doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The way he seized up made her think, just for a moment, that she\u2019d given him a heart attack or something.\u00a0 Then he sucked in a breath and his arm tightened around her. \u201cReally?\u201d\u00a0 Wonder mixed with pain and fear … Continue reading