Page 66 of Possessed By You

“I really just want to sleep,” he says. His eyes are black and blue, but I can tell he’s exhausted by the way his body is slumped. The bandage is plastered across his abdomen, reminding me of the impaling story the nurse said, and I shield my gaze so he can’t see how affected I am by it.

It hurts him to get into bed, clearly, but he braces through it silently. I’m more at ease when he’s down on his back. I close the manuscript and set it on the night stand.

“I want you here with me,” he says, demanding my time.

I smile softly, staring at him. “Is that so?”

“I’ve had a week without you in my arms. I don’t want another second.”

His words fill my broken heart with love and admiration. I ease onto the mattress so as not to jostle him and crawl over to his outstretched arm, lowering down beside his body. He circles my back and pulls me into his side.

I cover his leg with mine, resting my cheek into the nook of his arm.

His chest is scattered with scars from the defibrillator, and I can’t help but study them. They are a new part of my husband.

“You are burning hot,” he says sleepily.

I giggle. “I can move, Ben…”

“Go to sleep.”

I don’t. I watch him, allowing myself a moment to relax, because he’s home, and he’s alive.

***

“I’ve never felt so lazy in my life. This past week has killed my body,” Benjamin complains as I switch through channels on the TV. Neither of us wants to watch anything, but there’s nothing else to do.

“It doesn’t look too bad to me.”

“You are the best ego booster.”

I press my lips to his warm pec. “I’m here all day, every day.”

The rest of the day consists of absolutely nothing. We’re in and out of sleep until the sky becomes dark. Now wide awake, I glance at the clock. It’s 8 p.m.

I’m in the bath when Benjamin fills the doorway to the bathroom, stunning me that he’s out of bed.

“You okay?” he asks.

“I’m good. You shouldn’t have gotten up. You could have hurt yourself.”

He smirks and lowers the toilet lid to sit down. “I believe we’re getting a glimpse of what it would be like to grow old together,” he jokes, clearly in pain.

“God, let’s hope not,” I say. “I couldn’t sleep anymore. It’s frightening how much I’ve slept in the past couple of days.”

He nods. “My sister is in New York. She just called.”

I perk up. I love his sister. “Really?”

“Yes, she landed about an hour ago. She heard about the accident on the news and is pretty ticked off I didn’t call her about it. She’s getting situated in the hotel and wants to come by tonight.”

“Okay.”

“Are you all right with that? I know you’re probably not up for company, that you’re tired and—”

“I adore your sister. Of course she can come.”

He presses his lips together, appearing uncomfortable. I’m not sure why. “Cindy also called.”