“Thanks,
man,” she heard him say to the bouncer as he placed her in the passenger seat and quickly did up her seatbelt. Then he bolted around through the pouring rain and hopped into the driver’s side.
“Where’s Adam?” she asked after he’d started the truck and pulled out onto the road.
“At home getting you a bath ready.”
“Oh,” she said, still shivering despite the heater being on full blast.
“Damn it, Marly, what were you thinking?” Zac growled. “Do you know what time it is? It’s two in the morning. What were you doing drinking? You told us you wouldn’t drink. And then you left the club by yourself. Anything could have happened to you.” Zac blasted her, his voice hard and harsh. She winced, she’d hoped he’d wait until tomorrow to scold her, but she should have known better.
“I wasn’t thinking,” she said, feeling very sorry for herself.
“Damn right you weren’t thinking. Bet you’re regretting your disobedience now, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” she muttered quietly, still feeling light headed with alcohol. Did her nose normally feel this numb?
“Urgh.” Reaching over with one arm, he dragged her closer across the long bench seat. “You know I’m only mad because you scared me, right? I thought something bad had happened to you, I was going out of my mind. But no matter how mad I am I still love you.”
She leaned into him, taking in his scent, secure in his love. “I know,” she said quietly.
“Doesn’t mean I’m not going to blister your butt in punishment,” he added.
She sighed, sitting up as he pulled his arm back to change down gears. They turned off the main road onto the gravel road leading to their ranch. Her hand went across her stomach as she began to feel sick once more.
“Zac,” she said in a strangled voice. He looked over at her. By that time she had her hand over her mouth.
“Damn, shit, hold on, sweetheart.”
As soon as he pulled over, she had the door open, her hands fumbling with the seatbelt before she pretty much fell out onto the ground. Gravel scraped her knees, but she was too caught up in her misery to worry about skinned knees as she heaved, throwing up until her stomach was empty.
Zac kneeled beside her the whole time, rubbing her back, his hand on her forehead.
“Ohh,” she groaned in misery, sitting back on her bottom.
“Crap, look at your knees,” he said.
Marly didn’t want to look down, didn’t want to see what was causing the stinging, fiery pain she could now feel.
“Come on, sweetie,” Zach said sympathetically, pulling her up in his arms. “Let’s get you home.”
When they finally got to the ranch, she was beyond miserable, shaky and in pain, she just wanted to crawl into a ball and die.
“Wait for me to come around and get you,” Zac ordered, running around to pick her up and carry her inside. The rain had finally stopped, but she was still shivering, her clothes damp.
“What happened to her knees?” Adam asked.
Marly opened her eyes to find Adam peering down, his eyes filled with concern.
“Had to stop so she could throw up. She pretty much fell out of the truck before I could get around to grab her.”
“Bloody hell,” Adam swore, surprising her. Adam wasn’t much of a swearer.
“I’m sorry, Adam,” she whimpered.
He looked at her calmly. “I bet you are. Come on, bath first then I’ll see to those knees. Then its bed for you, young lady.”
“Yes, sir.”