“A hot bubble bath would be nice.”
A soft smile crossed his handsome face. “Well, you keep getting better, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Okay.” When he turned to leave, I called out to him. “Noah?”
“Yeah?”
I was being needy and selfish, but I couldn’t help it. I felt better when he was around, and I really didn’t want him to leave. “Will you come back?”
“Yeah, as soon as I can.”
He gave me a quick wink, then turned and walked over to Doc. After he talked to him for a few minutes, he disappeared out into the hall. I felt like I was sinking into a pit of despair, and I hated it. I had always been fairly independent and able to take care of myself, but this whole thing had taken its toll on me, and I was feeling more vulnerable than I ever had before. I just wanted this nightmare to be over, or at the very least, to feel a little better. Maybe then, I wouldn’t seem like such a burden to Noah and his brothers.
I was really starting to feel sorry for myself when Doc walked over and placed his hand on my ankle. “You doing okay, kiddo?”
“Been better.”
“I’m sure you have, but be patient. You’ll be back on your feet soon enough.” He gave me a little pat. “I’ll move you over to your room when we get that fever down a little more.”
“How much more?”
“Well, it’s hanging around the one-oh-two to one-oh-three mark. I’d feel better if we could get it down to at least one hundred. Then, you’d be feeling a lot better too.”
“Okay.” As I watched him check my IV, I thought about what I’d heard Noah say, and the more I did, the more curious I became. “Hey, Doc, can I ask you a question?”
“You can ask. Not sure I’ll be able to answer.”
“I overheard a little of what you and Noah were saying earlier, and he mentioned something about Detective Mathews. Is he the one responsible for what happened to me and Thomas, or is there someone else involved too?”
“Sorry, doll. That’s club business.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I can’t get into it with you.” He cocked his eyebrow and shrugged. “We don’t discuss business with anyone outside of the brotherhood, especially women.”
“So, you keep secrets from your wives?”
“You mean our ol’ ladies,” he corrected. “And yes, we keep some secrets, but it’s only to ensure the safety of our loved ones.”
“Safe from what?”
“Can’t get into that either.”
“So, you Ruthless Sinners really are as dangerous as people say.”
He reached over and grabbed the thermometer. As he ran the scanner over my forehead, he looked down at me and said, “Regardless of how dangerous we may or may not be, you’re safe here with us, and you can trust Shotgun and the rest of my brothers will do everything they can to get you back home.”
“I appreciate that. I don’t fully understand why—especially when it comes to Shotgun. There are times when I think he can’t stand the very sight of me.” My eyes drifted up to the ceiling. “I can’t really blame him, though. I do look pretty terrible.”
“Oh, come on, now. It’s just a few bruises. They’ll fade soon enough.” He returned the thermometer to the counter, then turned back to me and said, “And don’t give too much thought into the whole Shotgun thing. It takes time for him to warm up to folks, but I got a feeling he’s already warmed up to you. Probably more than either of you realize.”
I yawned and shook my head. “I don’t know about that.”
“Well, I do.” Doc’s voice grew soft like he was talking to himself. “Never seen him act like he does when he’s with you.”
“Hmmm.” I closed my eyes. “Not sure if that’s good or bad.”
“It’s definitely good. He’s been needing a woman like you to come into his life.” He gave me a pat on the leg. “Get a little rest while I go grab you a bite to eat.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I’d already dozed back off and was dreaming of Noah. We were in his room, on his bed, and every nerve in my body was tingling with anticipation as he hovered over me, his mouth just inches from mine. His lips brushed against mine. Not innocently like a tease, but hot, fervent, and demanding. I wanted to pull away, fearing I might lose myself in his touch, but I couldn’t seem to resist him. I wanted Noah too much and could no longer think straight. A light moan escaped my lips, and that was it. The dam broke, and all of our inhibitions faded away. Noah’s fingers dove into my hair, grasping the nape of my neck as he pulled me closer and delved deep into my mouth. I’d never felt anything so incredible, so all-consuming, and I wanted more. I reached for the hem of his shirt, and he took over, quickly pulling it over his head. My hands began to wander on their own, roaming over his chest as they explored the curves of his perfectly defined muscles.