Touched (22 page)

“It’s been two days, Emerson. Shouldn’t he be awake by now? I’m so worried.” Jade voice is strong and sounds like she’s right next to me.

“Girl, they said it would take time but his heart is much stronger. Don’t forget he’s a fighter. It’ll be all good.” Emerson. Humph, that’s odd. I wonder why he’s in our bedroom.

“Hey, at least he’s out of ICU now and in a regular room where we can all be around him together. There’s power in numbers and in prayer.” Tabbie’s here too? I can feel someone move some of my hair from my face, a gentle touch. What in the hell is going on?

More talking but their voices starts to fade. I’m so tired.

“And you missed your birthday but we will celebrate when we go home. I have such a surprise for you. You’re going to love it. I have some other news too and I think you’ll be excited although I’m really nervous but happy. I hope you will be too.” Jade’s soothing voice in my ear makes me want to open my eyes so badly. I want to see her, touch her and make sweet love to her. I need her. “I know you’ll be so happy. Everyone’s been trying to get me to go home and get some rest but I just can’t leave you. I won’t leave you. You’re getting so much stronger but you won’t wake up. Please wake up. I need to see your beautiful blue eyes, your lips on mine and I need your strong arms holding me.” She sighs, her light breath on my face and I can feel her warm body next to mine. Dammit eyes, open! Sleep begins to pull me under.

A shot, Jade screaming, fear, bullets flying. Angel.

A soft crying and whispers. “When is he going to wake up? I can’t take it anymore. I want him back, in my arms. I need him to come back to me.” Jade’s crying.

My eyes slowly open. They feel so heavy still. I’m confused when I see Jade sitting next to me weeping, Emerson’s hand is on her back and looking around. Tabbie is sitting in a chair with tears in her eyes, and Ralph’s standing behind her, a sad look on his face. What’s going on? I try to speak, but my throat is scratchy and only a garble comes out, but it’s enough that everyone’s eyes snap to me. A small smile lifts my lips when Jade’s hand cups my face, and she begins to shower kisses all over, her wet tears land there but her softness makes my heart beat faster.

“Oh, my God! Knox! You’re back!” Her face away, barely, but far enough I can see her beautiful eyes better. “Let me see those gorgeous blue eyes. Yes. There they are. So blue, so alive. Oh, my God! Thank you for coming back to me.” She begins kissing all over my face again, and I choke a little when I try to laugh. Then she’s off me in a second, and I try to tell her to come back, but she’s there again. “Here, baby. Drink some of this. It’s water.” Her small hand moves behind my head, helping me raise up as my lips form around a straw, and I begin to suck in some delicious water. “There that’s good.”

She removes the straw and I smile, then everyone in the room starts to talk at once until the door opens, and Phillip walks in. “Ah, our patient has decided to wake up today. Good.” He looks over at everyone and then clears his throat. “Give us a moment will you? It’s time for a checkup to see how our patient is doing.” There’s some sighs and then everyone starts to walk out except for Jade, who is still lying on the bed beside me. “Jade, you know you can’t be on the bed when I examine him. Those are the only rules I’ve insisted on.” He smiles at her and walks to the end of the bed, picking up a chart. My eyes move to her when she sighs but looks at me with such love in her eyes, leans over and kisses my lips, and I can’t help but press mine against hers harder. “Ahem! Ok, you can have him back in two minutes if you’ll just unlock yourself from him.” There’s a little laugh in his voice and my lips feel cooler when hers leave them. I watch as she sits up and then stands from the bed.

“Wait,” I choke, my voice a little gruff. She stops and turns, puts her knee on the bed and brings her face close to mine. Raising mine a little, I press my lips to hers and kiss her as hard as I can muster. “I love you.” Her chin quivers, a little and a fresh tear drops between us. “Don’t cry, Angel. I’m here now.” She nods, sniffs and moves back off the bed again but immediately sits down on a chair next to the bed.

“Well, if you are done making out, may I examine you now?” Phillip’s humor is enjoyable. “Mr. Dunway, good to have you back with us.” He pulls down my covers and pulls up the ugly gown I seem to have on and lifts up a huge bandage. He presses around, causing me to wince a little, his eyes moving to me quickly as he lays the bandage back down and pulls the gown back over me. I watch as he checks some equipment behind me, and then his fingers are on my wrist as he places a stethoscope against my chest. Finally, he removes it and takes a step back. “You’re getting stronger by the day. How would you feel about walking with assistance a little later today?”

I look over at Jade when I hear her happy gasp and receive the biggest smile. She reaches her hand out, and I take it in mine. I can’t seem to grasp it too hard as I feel so weak. Finally, my eyes return to Phillip. “I’m ready. I need to get stronger yet and get the hell home with my girl.”

He chuckles. “Good. How about we start with a light lunch?” My stomach takes that moment to growl loudly, and they both laugh. “Yes, well I guess that gave me my answer.” He starts to walk away. “I’ll let your nurse know. Good to see your eyes open, my friend.” He walks out the door, closing it behind him and Jade’s in the bed before I can turn around.

She cups my face again, her mouth presses against mine, and I actually moan, just feeling her. “I’m so happy you came back to me,” she whispers.

She starts to move back, but I slide my hand under her long hair, grabbing the back of her neck and pull her back to my mouth, the IV straining with my move but I don’t care. “Mmmm, I’ll never leave you. Remember that. Never.” Our kissing begins to get heated but then my mouth decides to let out a huge yawn breaking us apart.

Her face is full of worry, and she frowns. Her finger touches around my moist lips and she sighs. “You need to get your strength up and you’re tired, darling.” She adjusts herself and lays down next to me never removing her hand from my arm, always touching as her head snuggles against my shoulder.

“Talk to me, Angel. I had so many vivid dreams but now I can’t remember them. I remember hearing your voice always next to me.” I turn my head until we are face to face and stare into her beautiful eyes and my brows lower in confusion. “It seems there was something about a sandbox and a picture?”

Her brows raise as she smiles so bright. “You heard me.”

I smile back, my finger lightly rubbing over her chin, jaw and around her cheek. “I think I heard you but it seems like I was dreaming.”

“Do you remember as a little boy playing in a sandbox at a park with a little girl?” She asks, still whispering but with hope in her sweet voice.

My heart starts to race as memories and so many feelings sweep through my mind, my heart and my soul. “Yes,” I whisper back. Why do I feel so nervous?

“It was me,” she whispers softly, her chin quivers as her eyes fills with tears.

“What? What do you mean it was you? I… She was my first love, my first girl and…” I’m so confused. What is she telling me? It couldn’t be her. Could it?

Her hand lays against my face, her wet eyes searching mine. “Yes, Knox. It’s me.” My eyes now fill with tears as I grab her arms and pull her into me, my hand holding the back of her head firmly, the other cupping her face as I hold on tightly.

“Oh, my God! Angel, my angel. It really is you but how…?”

The side of her face rubs against mine. “Fate, Knox. It’s fate that brought us back together and love, love reached us both and bound us forever.” My eyes close, the tears meshing with hers, and I squeeze her even tighter. Her warm lips press on my face and make their way over to my ear. “Be careful that you don’t hurt our baby.”

I push her back just far enough to see her bright eyes and the huge smile on her glowing tear streaked face. “Baby?” I whisper.

She giggles and then bites her lip. “Yes, my love. We’re pregnant.” I can’t get her back close to me any faster, her laughter in my ear is sweet music. I’m going to be a daddy!

“Angel, I… I couldn’t be happier. I’m going to be a daddy.” I kiss all over her face, and her giggles continue as I make my way all around. She finally pulls back and settles down next to me, sitting up with her legs crossed but not releasing my hand. “When did you find out, are you ok? You took a hard hit. Is the baby ok? Is it a boy or a girl? Oh, that’s doesn’t matter to me. When will the baby be born? Are you taking care of yourself? Are you eating properly?” She laughs again as she presses her finger against my mouth, shushing me immediately and my mouth forms into a smile against her finger, then I kiss it.

“Please don’t turn into, Amber,” she giggles then her smile turns sad. “I’m sorry you weren’t the first to know but when I passed out…”

“WHAT?” I shout.

“Shhh. Don’t get all riled up, it’s not good for you right now.” She smiles again and I relax, but only a little. She’d better start talking or I’m getting up and taking her home to take proper care of her and our baby. “I wouldn’t eat or sleep. I was so worried about you and I ended up passing out. At first, Dr. Whiteman thought it was my head injury but ran some tests and found out I was pregnant. I’m not very far along so they can’t determine a due date yet but they will be able to in several weeks. Are you happy? Truly happy?”

My hand presses against her neck bringing her mouth to mine again, and I kiss her with all the passion and love I’m feeling. Her soft moan enters my mouth. My other hand holds her face as my fingers thread into her hair, and I’m lost in her. We turn our heads in unison, our lips sticking to each other’s when we hear someone clear their throat. A nurse is walking into the room carrying a tray of food, and she walks over placing it on the bedside table, moving it over me. Jade giggles and sits up but never leaving my side.

“Now, this side is yours, Mr. Dunway. All light foods and this side is Miss Morley’s. She needs to eat more for herself and the baby.” The nurse points to each side of the tray and then scowls at Jade. “You need to get nourishment in you. Got me?” Jade’s eyes are wide, but she nods and gives her a smile. “Good.” She starts to leave us but keeps talking as she walks. “If you need more, use the nurses button and I’ll bring it. That tray better be empty of food when I get back.” She closes the door behind her, Jade and I look at each other and laugh.

“I like her. She’s tough like you but hard on you like I am,” I smirk.

She lightly smacks my arm and then dives into her food. “I am starving! Oh, my God! This is so good,” she says with a mouthful.

I give a sad look at my side of the tray and pick up my spoon, taking a small bite of my Jell-O then look over at her side. “You’re side looks so much better than mine.” She looks over at me, fork raised and gives me a frown.

“Eat, darling. If you’re a good boy and eat everything, you can have more and then you can maybe graduate to better food with more substance.” My face lightens a bit at her words and I start to eat more of my less than substantial food. “Hey, once we get home I’m going to fix you the biggest meal and we will have a belated birthday party for you.”

My eyes brighten. I’d forgotten I aged a year in the last few days. “Oh, I’d forgotten. What did you get me,” my eyebrows waggle at her and am delighted when she giggles around her fork.

“Now, now. Not going to tell you or it would ruin your surprise.” She leans over and kisses me, her mouth doing wonders for my appetite, but it’s not food I’m wanting anymore. “I can’t wait to give it to you, my love.”

My mouth presses harder against hers, our breathing becomes labored in its intensity. “I can’t wait to give it to you either.” Her panting is only spurring me on and my cock twitches as I notice her nipples strain against her shirt.

She sets down her fork and lays her hand against the side of my face. “All in good time, darling. Let’s get your strength up first. When we make love, we going for a record time.” Our mouths smile pressed together, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life and hope it never ends.

C
HAPTER
S
IXTEEN

Two days later we are finally ready to leave the hospital. Thank God, Tabbie brought us some clean clothes and bathroom necessities the other day. Now that Knox is getting stronger, even though he has a ways to go yet, I finally tore myself away from him long enough to take a shower and make myself more presentable. We can go home and begin our lives all over again at last. He’s just as stubborn as I am, refusing to get in the wheelchair until I promise him I’ll sit on his lap if he’ll do as he’s told. His gorgeous smile and strong arms around me was worth the small ride into the elevator along with a bunch of kisses until we get outside. There’s a mob of paparazzi all over the place but also officers to keep them back. Of course, he shrugs off Ralph’s help getting in the SUV and almost falls, but he finally manages and we snuggle together all the way home. My arm is through his as we walk into the front door, and I quickly look to see if my surprise is in place before leading him to the living room. I almost fall over when he stops abruptly, and I look back at his shocked face. His eyes are wide, his mouth open as he grips my arm tightly. “Do you like it?” I ask in a small, insecure voice.