Her mouth was so dry. Ick and when she swallowed all she could taste was vomit.
Slowly, she rolled over. She felt like she been run over by a truck. Her whole body ached. Even her tongue felt gross. She attempted to pull herself up. She needed a drink. And a tranquilizer.
“Easy, baby gir
l,” a low, raspy voice said. “Let me get you what you need. You just lie there.”
She recognized the voice, but she still wasn’t sure whether she was actually awake. “So, I’m still dreaming, then?”
She opened her eyes and looked up. She couldn’t see much since the room was so dark.
“You’re not dreaming, Ellie. Well, unless you think you’re in a nightmare,” he teased.
“Not a nightmare. Not unless you’re going to leave again.”
He sighed. “Do you think I can turn on the light without causing you any pain?”
She moved her head slowly from side to side. “I think so, if I adjust my eyes slowly.” She put her arm over her eyes as he switched on the bedside lamp. Then she moved her arm carefully away and blinked, opening her eyes slowly. She looked up into Bear’s concerned face. God, she’d missed him.
“Can I have a drink?” she asked in a croaky voice.
He immediately reached for the glass on the bedside table. It had a straw in it which he held to her lips. Huh, whoever knew she’d kind of miss the sippy cup.
“You’re always having to take care of me.”
He smiled. “I enjoy it. How are you feeling?” His gave her a concerned look.
“I’m all right. Migraine is gone. I just feel exhausted. You look tired.” There were dark crescents under his eyes.
“I haven’t been sleeping,” he admitted. “Not since the night I left you here.” He reached out and grabbed hold of her hand, running his thumb over the back of her hand.
“Clint called you?” she guessed.
“Yep.”
“You came because I was sick?” She wished it was because he’d missed her so much, he couldn’t be without her.
He studied her for a moment. “That’s part of the reason. When he called me, I jumped straight in my truck and drove here. I was worried about you the entire drive. But I was also happy.”
“Happy?” That seemed a weird reaction to her being ill.
“Because I was going to see you again. I’ve missed you, Ellie.”
Tears dripped down her cheeks. He reached up and wiped them away. “Hey, shh, don’t cry.”
“I’ve missed you too. I know this is what I said I wanted. To be on my own. To be my own boss. But it’s been awful. This house is huge and it gets scary at night. And I’m so lonely. I miss you. I miss you so much.”
“It’s okay. I’m here now, baby girl. I’m not going anywhere.” He ran his fingers through her hair, his touch a comfort she had desperately missed.
“You promise?”
“I promise. I made a mistake leaving you. I wanted to give you space. To give you what you wanted, the chance to be alone. I didn’t want you to go from one controlling relationship to another.”
She frowned. “What do you mean? What controlling relationship? You mean like what my parents did to me? Bear, you could never be like that.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “No, not like that. But what I want isn’t exactly normal.”
“Maybe not. But I like what you want. In fact, I think I need it.”