His eyes widen slightly just a brief second before he throws his head back and his laughter bellows through the room. I smile at the sound and enjoy this carefree version of him. Until he stops and hits me with his narrowed eyes—hard and serious. He moves closer, careful not to jar the bed, but places both hands on either side of my body and leans in.
“Make no mistake, Emmy. Once I get you home and healed, I’ll be spanking that ass until it’s bright pink and you’re begging for me to make you come. Then I’m going to eat you until you’re screaming for me to let you come. When you think you can’t take a second more of just the mere thought of the pleasure that I’m going to give you, only then will I think about giving that to you, but it will most definitely be after I spank the sass out of you.”
He leans back, his ass hitting the chair and his arms crossing over his powerful chest. I gulp. I have nothing for that. No smartass comeback and no witty reply. Absolutely nothing.
“Jesus Christ, you two could make a nun come.”
My eyes widen in shock and Maddox just shakes his head, a small smile dancing across his lips. I can’t look—knowing that our moment wasn’t just for us is pretty freaking embarrassing.
“Cat got your tongue, Em?” Dee laughs.
I turn and watch her push her way past Axel with a shove, followed by a laughing Izzy.
“It was pretty damn hot, girlfriend.” Izzy laughs, looking over at Maddox with a wink before throwing her hand up.
He acts like he’s annoyed, but I can see the happiness in his eyes. He shuffles to his feet and slaps his hand against hers.
“How are you feeling?” Beck asks, walking into the room and pulling Dee into his chest.
“Pretty good. Sore, but the pain meds are way too good for me to complain.” My joke falls short and they all look at me. “What? Do you want me to break in half and cry? I fought because I had a reason to,” I snap, looking over at Maddox. “I’m not going to let those jerks have one second of my thoughts. I’m a fighter. A survivor. And you will all do damn well to remember it.”
“Well, hell yeah, chick!” Dee yells, earning her a stern look from Beck. “What? You all should know better than to think that our little Emmy wouldn’t bounce back.”
“There’s bouncing back and there is denial,” Melissa says sharply from the door.
I can see Greg standing right behind her, his eyes scanning my body from head to toe—his frown matching the ones the others are wearing.
“Would you guys stop? I made a promise to myself a while ago that I wouldn’t live in the past. The past I can’t control, but the future is all mine. I’m choosing to let this make me a stronger person—to not let it win in any way. One step forward, right, Axel?”
The meaning of my words sinks in and his handsome face breaks out in a huge grin. “Yeah, Em . . . One step forward and never back. I get you.”
“Well I don’t get her. What the hell are you two talking about?” Dee snaps.
“Clearly someone didn’t get their coffee this morning,” Izzy mutters under her breath.
“Or maybe someone is hormonal and doesn’t understand when her friends speak in some code!” Her eyes go wide and she slaps her hand over her mouth.
All of our eyes go from her to Beck, who is just standing there with one proud-ass grin on his face.
“Well . . . okay then,” Izzy says, hiding her shock. “When did you find out?”
“A few weeks ago. We just haven’t had a chance to say anything. Clearly my big mouth doesn’t understand that this isn’t a good time.”
“Oh shut up. This is a great time.” Did I really just say that?
“Really? You laid up in the hospital is a great time?” she snaps, folding her arms over her chest.
“You want to pick a fight with me over this? I’m the one in the bed, which means everything I say goes.”
“That makes no sense, Em. How much of those drugs do they have you on?” She moves forward and pokes my IV bag.
“That’s not the pain meds, you window licker,” Melissa huffs. She walks farther into the room and moves to my right side. The side that Maddox hasn’t left since last night. Then she stands next to him and waits. When it becomes clear that he isn’t moving, she actually shoos him. Reaches her hand up and waves him off. “Seriously, you overgrown ape. Move so I can see to my girl.”
“Not your girl, Melissa. Remember that. I’ll give you a second with my girl, but only a second.” He backs up slightly, giving her just enough room to move in and give me a hug. Well, kind of a hug. More like a pat on my shoulder and a pressing of her cheek against mine.
“You really want to go home with that caveman?” she asks with a huge smile on her stunning face.
“Ah, he’s nothing but a big teddy bear,” I joke.
“Sass, Emersyn,” he scolds.
“Over the top, Maddox,” I counter.
He grumbles under his breath but steps back and allows the girls to move closer. As he steps in the corner, the guys walk over to speak with him. I remind myself later to ask him what they’re talking about.