“I’m meant to protect you.”
“You do.” Before he can say anything, I shift closer and bury my head into his shoulder. His lips brush my forehead. “I thought you were going to die.”
“Not likely. Wouldn’t leave you.”
“Good. Don’t ever leave me.”
“Never,” he promises gruffly. “Never, princess.”
***
Hunter ushers me into the hotel room with a hand to my back. A sumptuous bed with purple pillows awaits. I long to sink into it. It’s been an exhausting few days, waiting for Hunter to recover and be discharged from the hospital. I turn and motion to the bed.
“Sit down. You must be tired.”
He shrugs and winces. With his arm in a sling, he’s been getting grumpier and grumpier about not being able to look after himself properly. Thank goodness it’s only sprained. Even the bump to his head is easing. Looking sulky, he throws himself onto the soft bed.
“Mitch is going to bring along some stuff later.” I throw down the plastic bag with our battered leathers in. Thankfully Mitch and Hunter’s other close friend, Connor, brought along a few changes of clothes to the hospital.
I glance around the suite. Mitch must have paid a decent amount for the room but I won’t tell Hunter that. Last thing he needs to be worrying about it paying Mitch back when we’re both too poor to pay for a hotel. But until the police finish forensics on Hunter’s bike and track down Lucas, his house is too dangerous.
“You hungry?”
“No.”
I smother a giggle at his petulant tone. “Tired?”
“I’ve been in a bed for days.” He glowers at me. “Stop babying me.”
Coming to stand in front of him, I thread my fingers through his hair and press a kiss to his lips. “I’m going to take care of you whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t need looking after.”
“You could have died!”
“And leave you?” Hunter nuzzles against the cotton of my top. “Never.” He lifts his head to stare up at me. “I should be looking after you, not the other way around. I can’t believe I lost control of the bike.”
“It wasn’t your fault. The brakes were cut.” I shudder when I consider Lucas sneaking around and deliberately damaging Hunter’s motorbike.
“Poor Harley.”
“I’m sorry, Hunter.”
“Not as sorry as I am. I had a buyer lined up for it and everything.”
“A buyer?”
“Was trying to make ends meet after I told Carl to stuff his job.”
“Oh, Hunter…” If I wasn’t already convinced I was mistaken about Hunter, I would be by now.
“I should have realized something was wrong. Fuck I was so stupid. Too busy worrying you wouldn’t ever forgive me.”
I shake my head. “Not your fault,” I tell him again. “Quit playing the hero and suck it up, O’Reilly. I’m going to pour you a bath.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” I spin away before he can protest any longer and begin pouring the bath. When it’s full, I turn off the tap and go back into the room to lead him in.
An eyebrow rises as he eyes the bath. “Bubbles?”
“Yes, bubbles.” I resist the urge to laugh at this expression. “You need bubbles right now.”
Hunter takes a step forward, eyes me from under his dark brow and loops his uninjured arm around my waist, pulling me sharply into him. I barely smother a gasp.
“The only thing I need right now is…” he lays his lips on my neck “…you.”
Warm, rough kisses send my nerve endings tingling and I almost forget I’m meant to be looking after him. Palms to his chest, I push him away gently. “You need to relax and heal.”
His lips twist but he relents and lets me untie his sling. “Where did you get them anyway?”
“The bubbles?”
“Yes, the bubbles. I don’t recall ever have a bubble bath in my life.”
“The hotel gift shop.”
He laughs. “You’re really something, princess.”
“What? I was worried and I wanted to do something for you.”
“I like that.”
“What? That I wanted to do something for you?” I run the sling between my hands. I’m still trying to absorb everything that happened—all the feelings I’m having. Am I still mad at him? No, I don’t think I can be. I get it. Hunter is just like me—has made the same mistakes as me. He was driven to do things he didn’t want to and he regrets them just as much.
“No, well, yes… but that you were worried for me. It means you care.”
“Oh, Hunter, I… I more than care.” To my dismay, tears well in my eyes—tears I thought I’d already shed.
He closes the distance once more and swipes a thumb under my eye. “Don’t cry, Jessie baby, I’m okay.” With a tilt of his head, he motions to the bath. “Are you going to continue taking care of me then?”