Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 27069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
She yawned. “Oops. Sorry. Tired.”
“Just rest, baby,” he murmured.
“But I should get the nurse for you.”
“I’m fine.” He had a killer headache and every movement hurt. But as long as she was all right, then so was he.
It wasn’t long until she was breathing more deeply. He had no idea what time it was, but he figured it was still early. So he closed his eyes. He’d just get a few more minutes of sleep.
Spike woke up as someone slipped into his room. A nurse had been in and out all night. It was nearly impossible to get a decent sleep.
He couldn’t wait until he was at home. Then he could take care of his girl better. Spike knew that she was upset by everything that had happened. He couldn’t even imagine how he would react if he’d been in her shoes, waiting for her to come home and she didn’t return.
Yeah. He’d fucking lose it.
So she was holding herself together remarkably well.
However, this time it wasn’t a nurse, it was Damon. And he was holding two takeaway coffee cups.
“Where have you been?” Spike grumbled.
Damon raised his eyebrows. “I stayed here all night, but I needed to go home to check on Effie and Grady and shower. Then I figured I’d get some coffee. I didn’t really sleep so I need the boost.”
Okay, so he hadn’t left.
And you’re being a grumpy fuck.
Spike grunted. “Sorry. I just don’t like that she slept in a chair all night.”
“I get it. I got them to bring in a bed.” Damon nodded over to a cot that Spike hadn’t noticed. “But she kept getting out and sitting next to you. I think she wanted to touch you.”
Spike sighed. “Yeah, she can be stubborn.”
“Really?” Damon drawled. “Pot, meet kettle.”
Spike glowered at him. Asshole. “Give me the coffee.”
“These aren’t for you. Caffeine isn’t good when you have a concussion.”
“Who the fuck says?” he demanded, then regretted it when Millie stirred and sat up.
Fuck.
“Baby doll, go back to sleep,” he told her in a gentler voice
“I . . . what? I fell asleep? Drat.” Her head moved around as she climbed off the bed. “Damon?”
“Hey, sweetheart,” Damon said, his entire body softening as he moved over to Millie. “I got you coffee.”
“You did?” She reached out and took the coffee cup. “That’s why you’re my favorite.”
“I’m your favorite,” Spike grumbled, knowing that he was acting like a jealous ass, but unable to stop himself.
She spun toward him, then tripped. On what, Spike had no idea, but pain flooded him when he attempted to catch her.
Thankfully, Damon grabbed her, managing to keep her upright while still holding his coffee.
“Oh drat! Sorry!” she said. “I tripped.”
Spike attempted to breathe through the pain. Fucking hell. It felt like he’d been run over by a train. Then a van. Then another train.
“Over what?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“Nothing. My own stupid feet. Oh, Daddy, are you all right?”
Stupid feet?
Nope. Not having that.
“None of you is stupid,” he said. Or he attempted to. But he was also trying not to vomit. So maybe it came out garbled.
Then he felt her cool hand on his face, soothing him. It helped break through the pain. He focused on her touch and not the stabbing agony in his brain.
“Just breathe,” she said in a quiet voice. “I’m here. I’m sorry I’m such a klutz. I’ll try to be better.”
Fuck that.
He wanted her just the way she was.
“You’re perfect. Never forget that.”
She didn’t say anything.
“And I’m keeping track of every time you’re down on yourself. There’s going to be a reckoning if you keep this up.”
“You just concentrate on feeling better.”
He could do that. And keep an eye on her.
That was his job.
Damon took the coffee mug from her hand as he led her to a chair out in the waiting room. Probably a smart idea. She wasn’t sure how she hadn’t spilled that coffee all over herself when she’d tripped over nothing.
Stupid idiot.
The nurse had come in and kicked them out of Spike’s room. Millie didn’t understand why she couldn’t stay.
“I wanted to stay with him,” she said with a small pout.
“I know, sweetheart. But I’m guessing they want to get him into the bathroom.”
“So? I could have helped.” It wasn’t as though he hadn’t helped her in the bathroom plenty of times.
“I know,” he soothed as he led her to a chair and waited until she’d sat to hand her coffee back to her. “But you know how Spike is. Independent and stubborn.”
She snorted. He had that right.
“You know he’s going to be a terrible patient, right?” Damon asked as he sat next to her.
Millie took a sip of her coffee. Ahh. Nectar of the Gods. She felt yuck. She needed a shower. A change of clothes. No doubt she looked a fright.
But for now, this coffee would have to suffice.