Page 172 of Lost Lyrebird

I blink, trying to fight the pull that’s dragging at the edges of my consciousness.When my eyes open again, she’s still there, leaning over me.

“Not uh,” I tease weakly, my lips curling into a faint smile.“Call me baby.”

I open my eyes, fighting the heaviness, and see her—reallysee her.She’s right there, and I realize that the kiss wasn’t a dream.“Do that again,” I beg.

She does.Her lips meet mine again.This time, I let go of her hand so I can cup her face, but the weight of my arm feels strange, like it’s not my own.My strength returns slowly, and finally, I cup her cheek, my thumb trails over her smooth skin as I hold her face.She’s close enough that I can feel her breath on my lips.

I’ve missed this so fucking much.

“Fuck hell, Lil’.I missed you,” I breathe, pulling back to my lips, just a peck.It’s all I need, this small connection to her.“But I don’t remember.”I groan, “That doesn’t make sense, does it?”

She laughs softly, that low, sexy sound that sends warmth through me.“Your mind and body know, baby.I get it.”

“Yeah,” I murmur, my voice trailing off.“That.”

The moment feels too perfect to be real, and I want to stay lost in it.But then there’s a clatter, a burst of chatter from the doorway, and reality crashes in.

“Oh, fuck.He’s awake.Hey, love birds,” Bodie’s boisterous shout has Lily pulling away just enough to glance toward the door.

My hand falls back to hers, and she laces her fingers through mine.I shift in the bed, angling my head enough to see him.

Bodie, with a large bag in his hands, grins as he takes in the scene.That’s when I realize Mateo’s in the room, sitting quietly in the corner.Dozer and Raven follow Bodie in, their arms full of takeout bags and coffee.The delicious scent, when it reaches me, makes my stomach respond with interest.

Bodie sets his bag down on the table beside me.When his gaze connects with mine, his smile dims.

“How’re you feeling?”

“Like shit.Drained,” I admit, but it’s not just the physical pain—it’s the weight of everything.The mess I’ve made and dragged everyone through.

“I bet.”

Lily squeezes my hand and says, “I’ll give you two a second to chat.”She flashes me a slight grin that tugs at my heart, then lets go of my hand.

I want to cling to her, keep her close, but I know better.Clinging to her like a desperate man isn’t a turn-on.Going against my instincts, I let her go, for now.

“You gave us a scare, man,” Bodie says, claiming my full attention.

“Guess I’m getting pretty good at that,” I mumble, the fog in my brain lifting a little more.I try to swallow, but my throat is dry, and I wince as I shift further up on the bed.I search for the remote.He finds it and hands it over to me.I raise the top of the bed so I can sit up fully.

Bodie chuckles, though there’s no humor in it.“Yeah, well, I could do without the practice.Nearly gave me a heart attack, man.I’m too young for that shit.”He takes a seat in the chair Lily vacated and leans back in it while running a hand through his messy waves.

I glance over at Lily, who’s standing off to the side, watching us quietly, her arms crossed like she’s holding herself together.

Bodie follows my gaze, then leans in, lowering his voice.“You found her.”

I shake my head, because that doesn’t feel quite right.

“What?”he asks.

“Nothin’, man.Can’t really voice the shit going on in my head at the moment.”

He nods.“Yeah, I get it.Don’t push yourself to either.Just relax and know you’re a lucky son of a bitch.”He leans forward and places his hand on my arm.“She loves you, man.Wouldn’t leave your side.”

I close my eyes for a second, letting his words sink in.Lucky.Yeah, maybe I am.Because if this is reality and not a dream, if she’s here and calling me baby, then fuck yeah, I’d say I’m lucky.But only in this.

There’s still the massive issue of how I got here in the first place, and what I’ll do when whatever they have pumping into my IV to numb the pain wears off.

“And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re finally together, no matter how it came about.”