“How long have you wanted her?”
She gasped in a breath. “Issy, what are you talking about?”
“Love, I told you to hush.” Archer’s voice was firmer this time. A hint of steel.
“Don’t give her orders. She’s not yours.”
“I know she’s not mine,” Archer said in a low voice. “Issy, think before you say anything more.”
“Think? Think about what? Are you trying to take her from me? Like Evelyn?”
“That’s not fair. You know I had no interest in Evelyn. She fixated on me. And nothing has happened between me and Caley. And before you say another word, you might want to remember that your submissive is injured and in a very vulnerable place right now. You might also remember that you promised we wouldn’t argue in front of her.”
They both turned to look at her and that was when Issy’s blurry image softened.
“Baby doll, don’t cry. I’m not upset with you.”
“I…I don’t u-understand why you’re m-mad. Archer’s been here, t-taking care of me. I…there’s…he’s not…” A sob broke free and Issy strode forward. He carefully drew her into his arms, rocking her back and forth.
He spoke to her in a quiet, reassuring voice. “I’m sorry, baby doll. Shh, hush now before you make yourself ill. I’m so sorry I gave you a fright.”
She drew back and looked up at him. “I’ve missed you so much. I’m glad you’re here. I love you, Issy.”
He drew in a sharp breath but before he could say anything, she continued on. “You don’t have to say it back. But I realize now that I can continue to live my life, scared of what might happen, hiding away, keeping myself safe or I can actually be brave, take a risk and find true happiness. Even though I’m scared something will happen and I’ll lose you, I know that I would forever regret it if I didn’t tell you how I feel. If I didn’t take a chance. I’d take a few weeks of happiness with you over a lifetime of loneliness without you.”
“Baby doll, fuck, I love you too.” He cupped her face between his hands. “I have never been so terrified as I was when I found out that you’d been injured. You are everything. And I plan on having forever with you, but even if I don’t, know that every moment I spend with you is the happiest of my life.”
He kissed her. It was soft, gentle and exactly what she needed. When he drew back, he wiped the tears off her cheeks. “I should have been there, I’m so sorry I wasn’t. That’s never going to happen again, because you’re going to be grounded until you’re fifty.”
“Grounded, why?”
“For running back into a burning fucking building and taking thirty years off my life.”
“Oh, that.”
“Oh, that,” he repeated. “But we’ll talk about that later. Just suffice to say that I am not letting you out of my sight for a long time. How are you feeling? You look tired and as though you’ve lost weight.”
“I’m all right. Archer has been looking after me.” She glanced around, worry filling her. “Where is he? Where did he go?”
“He left soon after I pulled you in for a hug,” he told her calmly.
“Issy, I don’t understand why you were so angry at him. What did you mean about how he wants me? Archer doesn’t feel anything towards me.”
Doc wiped his hand over his face. He was tired, hungry, he’d spent the last few days thinking about his girl, wanting to be with her, torn with his need to do his job and be with the woman he loved. So when he’d stormed into the hospital room and seen his brother leaning over his girl, the look on his face one of love and worship…
Well, yeah, he’d lost it.
Fucking idiot.
“Issy? You don’t think that I…that Archer and I…”
“Baby doll, of course I don’t think that. I wasn’t thinking…I’ve been frantic these past twelve hours, trying to get to you, worried about you. I hate that I wasn’t here for you. Taking care of you. I’m angry at myself about that.”
“But why? You had to leave. You had to go help Zander and you couldn’t have known something would happen.”
“I left you in a cabin on your own, with no one around for miles, in a house that was damn well falling down around you.” He shook his head, berating himself.