Wounds to Bear (Heart of The Bear #1)(8)

He moved the inch that separated them and kissed her.

Jenna moaned, her nipples aching to be touched, her body on fire. If a simple kiss caused this kind of reaction—God, was she in trouble.

Roman eased away, his breathing just as uneven as hers. “Shit,” he whispered.

“Yeah.”

“Tuck your company in fast.”

She shook her head, and wrapped her arm around his waist. He felt like a walking heater. “Bed, sleep. That’s all you’re getting tonight.”

“I just want you next to me, Jenna.”


The quiet request left her knees weak. “Okay.”

He let out a sigh, and leaned against her. “That was easier than I thought.”

“Let me make this clear for you, Roman Black.” His eyebrows raised, but he kept quiet. “I’m not easy. I’ll sleep in the same bed with you, because it will keep you from getting out of that bed. But I’m not—we’re not—”

“Having hot, mind-blowing sex?” Her blush roared back, deep enough that he couldn’t help but notice it. “I’m good with that. For now. But it’s not off the table, Doc. Not by a long shot.”

She met his eyes, the need in them leaving her breathless.

God help her, she was in worse trouble than she thought.





***





While Roman took long enough to call Leo and Chrissy’s parents to let them know their kids were okay, and safe, Jenna checked on them.

Chrissy stood next to Leo, watching him as he filled a bowl with stew.

“Hey,” she said, her voice quiet.

Chrissy ran straight at her and wrapped both arms around her waist. Leo turned to her, the bowl of stew in his hand. “It’s cold.” He sounded heartbroken.

“Here—I can fix that.” Jenna tousled Chrissy’s hair, then eased out of her embrace and took the bowl, covering it with a paper towel before she stuck it in the microwave. “How hot do you like it?”

He gave her a shy smile. “Burn my mouth hot.”

“Me, too. I know the exact time for that.” She punched it in, and felt a small hand take each of her own.

They stood on either side of her, watching the microwave with intense focus. Jenna bit back a smile and watched with them. Once it dinged, she carefully freed her hands.

“Why don’t you sit down? I’ll get this ready and bring it over to you.”

“Okay.” Leo took Chrissy’s hand, helping her up on the chair before he sat on the other side. Watching him take care of her, when Jenna knew he must be as exhausted as she was, lodged tears in her throat. “We’ll eat first, then we can go to sleep. Okay, Chrissy?”

“Okay, Leo.”

Jenna blinked back the sting of tears, and divided the stew into two smaller bowls.

“Here we are.” She set them on the table, along with clean spoons. “I want you to eat, but be careful.” She winked at Leo. “It’s burn your mouth hot.” He giggled, and Chrissy echoed him. “I’ll be in the bedroom, fixing up Uncle Roman’s shoulder. You just come on in if you need me, okay?”

Leo studied her, his dark brown eyes serious. “Is Uncle Roman going to die?”

“No, sweetie.” Jenna crouched down to eye level, rubbed his back, and reached over to take Chrissy’s hand. “He’s going to be just fine. He did a little too much trying to find all of you, and his shoulder needs a fresh bandage. A good night’s sleep, and just like you two, he’ll be good as new.”

“You rhymed!” Chrissy bounced in her chair. “I rhyme all the time.”

Jenna laughed, already madly in love with the sweet girl, and the boy who changed from sober adult to giggling kid in the blink of an eye. “I did, didn’t I?” After another kiss for each of them, she stood. “Now finish your late, late, late dinner, then I’ll tuck you both into bed.”

She left them blowing on their stew, Leo testing Chrissy’s with his finger.

“Thank you.” Roman held out the phone to her. “Chrissy’s mom is out with Jedidiah’s group. Word will be sent their way. I figure as soon as they hear, they’ll be headed straight to us.”

“I’ll leave the doors unlocked. Now it’s your turn for some treatment, Uncle Roman.”

She set the phone on the coffee table and led him into her bedroom, leaving the door open so she could hear the kids. Carefully, she helped him take his bloodstained shirt off, crouched to pull off his hiking boots, then retrieved some supplies from her exam room to clean and rebandage his shoulder. The bullet wound had the ugly flare of an infection surrounding it.

“I’m going to bandage your shoulder, and you’re getting an antibiotic. No argument,” she said, when he opened his mouth. “If I don’t stop this infection, it’s going to get worse. Your body is too busy fighting the infection to heal, and you’re exhausted, Roman. Even though you’re doing your level best to hide it from me.”

He gave her a poor imitation of a smile. “Busted.” She bit back her own smile as she repaired the damage he caused to himself. “You’re not going to give me—animal tranquilizers.”

“I always keep people medicine handy, since they tend to hurt themselves almost more than their pets.” She stood, throwing the old bandage in the wastebasket near the door. “Let’s get you out of those jeans, so you can be more comfortable.” She held out her hand.