Be With Me(20)

“Bul y,” she muttered.

“When it comes to you, baby, I don’t mind being labeled a bul y. Now take the damn pil , and I want you to drink your hot chocolate so there’s something more in your stomach. You didn’t eat much of your soup.”

He held up his hand when she would have spoken.

“I’m not finished. And when you’re done with the hot chocolate, you’re going to carry your ass up the stairs, and you’re going to get into your bed.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hutch’s stern expression faltered, and a half grin cracked his lips. “I’d watch that smart mouth of yours.”

They al watched as she downed the pil , and then Cam guided her over to the couch. Sawyer handed her the mug, being careful that she didn’t spil it.

Hutch went back to clear the table while Cam took a seat beside her.

“We’re going to run back to Houston tomorrow morning first thing. I’m going to cal Birdie to come over and stay with you.”

“But—”

“No buts,” he said firmly. “Birdie wil stay with you until we return. Hutch is going to start back as soon as he picks up his ride, while Sawyer and I pack up the office and get the things we need to bring back here.”

“You’re such a pain in the ass,” she grumbled.

He smiled and cupped her cheek. He stared at her mouth for a long moment before he final y lowered his head to hers.

She lost herself momentarily in the sensation of his touch. His kiss was warm and gentle. Undemanding.

Soft and coaxing. An invitation to respond.

Her hand tangled in his hair, pul ing him closer even as she fought the notion that what she was doing was wrong.

Final y she pulled away and rested her forehead against his. She closed her eyes as her breath came rapidly.

Cam’s hand came up to touch her cheek, his forehead pressed to hers.

“Don’t you dare regret it,” he said. “I don’t want to see self-condemnation in those eyes when you open them. Just let it happen, Reggie. Stop overthinking it.”

She rested her hands on his shoulders then slid her uninjured hand over to curl around his neck.

“I’m so scared, Cam,” she whispered. It nearly kil ed her to say it, to admit it, but there it was.

He cupped the back of her neck and dug his fingers into her hair. “You don’t have to be afraid, Reggie. Never with us. Don’t you know we’d never hurt you?”

She pressed closer to him, hugging him. She rested her cheek against his chest and held on tight.

“I don’t want to lose any of you,” she choked out.

“And I’m so afraid of what wil happen. I just want things to go back to the way they were.” Cam wrapped his arms around her. “We can’t go back, Reggie. Only forward. But there’s no reason why forward has to be a bad thing.”

Her eyes drooped as the drugs seeped through her system. She held on to Cam, for now not wanting to let go. It had been so long since she let them close.

“I missed you,” she said again.

Cam took a deep breath against her, and some of the tension escaped him. “I missed you too, Reggie darling. I’m not sure you realize how much. You’re important to me. More important than I think you’l ever know.”

When he moved as though to pul away, she clung to him. “Don’t go. Not yet.”

“You need to be in bed. It’s been a hel of a day for you.”

She drew away just enough that she could see into his eyes. “Hold me for just a bit, Cam. I’m so tired of feeling lonely.”

He leaned back against the couch and took her with him, cuddling her close against his body. The painkil ers were pul ing her under, tugging her into sweet oblivion. But she wasn’t ready to escape yet.

She wanted to live just a little longer in the moment.

Feel Cam’s arms around her where she felt loved and cherished.

She struggled to stay awake, but his hand stroking over her head lul ed her. As her eyes fluttered, she saw Hutch and Sawyer standing a few feet away, watching her. She wanted to say something, to make sure they didn’t feel left out. She anxiously searched their expressions for anger or resentment, but al she found was warmth.

She kept her unfocused stare on the two of them until the edges of her periphery started to fade and blacken. She blinked once more and then surrendered to the dark.

Chapter 9

Sawyer opened the front door and ushered Birdie inside. He hugged her and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

“Thanks for coming, Birdie. Reggie is stil asleep, and we’re going to go ahead and take off so we can get back as soon as possible.”

Birdie smiled and patted his arm. He grinned at the gesture. It was so reminiscent of when he was much younger, just a boy with an attitude, confused by Birdie’s quiet acceptance.

She had befuddled him from the start. Unlike other foster parents who couldn’t wait to lay down the law and rein him in, Birdie had smiled at him. Not just any smile but one ful of love and understanding. She managed to get her way by using that smile, because who could look at her and not feel guilty?

Sawyer wrapped an arm around Birdie and urged her toward the living room. She felt fragile and slight against him. A curl of panic circled his stomach. He didn’t like to think of Birdie getting older. She was too important to al of them.