Fidelity (Infidelity #5)(46)
“You’re beautiful,” Nox whispered, his handsome face coming near my ear.
I spun toward him. “Did your dad really say my mom would be downstairs and out of the hospital bed already?”
“That’s what he said.”
I shook my head, recognizing an emotion I hadn’t felt in nearly two weeks.
Happiness.
In this home, under Nox’s protective gaze, and with my mother safe, I was happy.
More than happy. I was excited—almost giddy. It was as if sometime during the morning, a seed of anticipation had cracked open deep inside my soul. Its roots were spreading through me, pushing away the stress and gloom. No longer entrapped, I was like a young girl on Christmas morning, eager to go downstairs and see what was under the tree. “I can’t believe she’s that much better. I was so scared.”
A strong arm surrounded my waist and Nox pulled me against his chest. “Never again. No more scared.”
I leaned back, our hips touching, and my lips in a full grin. “What if I told you there’s something else that scares me?”
“Tell me and I’ll make it go away.”
“That’s the thing. I’m not sure I want it to go away.”
Nox’s brow furrowed as his lips quirked to the side. “I’m confused.”
I lifted myself up on my tiptoes and brushed my lips to his. “Me too. That’s what you do to me.”
As I began to pull away, Nox brought me closer. “Tell me what scares you.”
“You.”
His embrace stiffened. “Me?”
I looked down and ran my fingers over his belt buckle before looking back up through my lashes. “This… last night you said…”
“I said your ass is mine,” he said, finishing my sentence. “And it will be. Is that what scares you?” His question was laced with concern.
“Part of it.”
“Princess, if you want to go see your mom, stop talking in riddles.”
“The idea scares me…” The warmth I’d felt earlier in my cheeks burned hotter. “…because as much as I shouldn’t want what you described, I do. I trust you.”
His smile returned as his phone vibrated.
“I want so fucking bad to ignore that,” he said as he pulled it from his jeans.
DELORIS flashed on the screen.
“Where are you?” Nox asked.
I started to walk away when he stopped me. “Charli, where’s your handbag from last night?”
Spinning a full circle, I looked about the room. “I’m not sure. I had it when we got here. Why?”
“Deloris wants to know if the phone your stepfather gave you is in it.”
The happiness that had sprung to life evaporated as dread filled its place. “Shit, it is.”
“She’s been listening to audible surveillance. They know where you are and are speculating that your mom is with you. She believes they’ve tracked your phone.”
“YOU DON’T NEED to carry me.”
Adelaide’s voice might be weak, but the sparkle in her eyes wasn’t. The blue was glowing—electric—as if her eyes were telling their own story. They were saying that her body would still need to heal, but inside she was alive.
The reality was that I’d carry her anywhere—everywhere. As it was, I was only carrying her down the steps to the first floor. Dr. Rossi had said it was good to get her out of bed. I’d told Lennox that she’d be downstairs.
This morning, after she’d awakened, after we’d talked and kissed, I gave her privacy. It wasn’t that I wasn’t willing to be with her as Dr. Rossi disconnected her from the different tubes and helped her bathe. But I hadn’t earned that right.
Stealing a woman—even one I love—didn’t give me the right to take what she wasn’t willing to give. With her in my arms and the memory of our kiss, I was content to accept anything she offered. Who was I kidding? I’d push for more, as I had the kiss, but not too much. She deserved to make the decisions. After all, she’d been the one to send me away.
While Liz and Dr. Rossi helped her, I’d made my way to another room and showered. Through the night and morning, sleep had only come in small snippets, but I wasn’t complaining. Having Adelaide safe and with me gave me more energy than hours of rest.
After Adelaide was disengaged from her connections and showered, I’d joined her again as she tried to eat. It wasn’t much, just broth and Jell-O, but it was food, it was in her stomach, and thankfully it stayed there.
With each passing moment and instance, I appreciated Eva Rossi’s candor. Subjects I would have preferred to avoid to shelter Adelaide, Eva attacked head-on. She was straightforward about Adelaide’s heart stopping and the CPR. Then as Adelaide nibbled her first meal, Eva explained that the DTs should be done but her body needed help to heal. She recommended daily vitamin shots and lots of rest. She also emphasized that from this point forward, Adelaide would need to consider herself a recovering addict. She didn’t beat around the bush. She said no wine. No alcohol of any kind. Even painkillers were discouraged. The high dosages of alcohol and opioids her body had been forced to metabolize had left her liver enzymes too high. The only way to a full recovery was without further assault.