“You don’t ever have to thank me,” I said gruffly before taking her lips in a soft, gentle kiss. I wanted to ravage her mouth and take her on the kitchen floor, but I was not going to make that mistake again.
Go. Slow. Now more than ever.
“I’ll carry this up for you. Make yourself a plate, too,” I instructed her, taking the tray. I didn’t wait for her answer. I knew she would listen to me when I told her to do something.
We were slowly coming to an understanding. Tonight, I would hold her in my arms all night. She needed me as much as I needed to hold her. Things would be different in a lot of ways. But the number-one way was that she was going to let me take charge and take care of her.
She was mine, and I would do whatever it took to protect her, dammit.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Melissa
I closed the book I’d been reading to Mom. It was the Thorn Birds. The book was one of her favorites growing up, so it had become one of my favorites, too. We’d even watched the television mini-series together. It was heart wrenching and totally satisfying to watch. I was loving reading the book to her while she rested, even though we’d both read it multiple times before. Maybe it was even more enjoyable because of the familiarity. And the book had one of my favorite love stories ever, even though it didn’t exactly end well.
Basically, if you wanted drama in your life, you should fall in love with a priest.
I had my own brush with unrequited love. But just like Maggie, my love had eventually wanted me back. I just hoped it was enough to last a lifetime instead of causing a lifetime of regret.
Mom had drifted off again. I hoped she would sleep most of the way through the night. The new pain medication seemed to do that for her, at least. Watching her sleep so peacefully was a blessing. She needed her strength. A stupid, foolishly hopeful part of me couldn’t help praying that she could still beat this.
Even though I knew deep down that it was a childish dream.
It gutted me that the doctors had stopped fighting the cancer. It had won. It was over. Now they were just trying to give my mom some comfort.
I couldn’t protect her from this anymore. I couldn’t save her. All I could do was ease her pain and protect her dignity while she died. And, God forgive me, but I wanted to keep her with me for as long as possible.
I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, inhaling her scent. I wondered how many more times I would be able to do that. I forced the morbid thought away and wandered downstairs. Nick was watching TV very softly in the living room. He stood up immediately and came to pull me into his arms. I sighed and leaned my head against his big, warm chest. I wasn’t even scared about relying on him too much. His arms made me feel that safe.
The man was very, very good at hugs.
“Ready for bed?” he asked in a low voice. I nodded. I was tired. I guess I really had needed the nap the day before. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, turned off the TV, and took my hand. I followed him docilely up the stairs. Was he . . . putting me to bed?
He handed me a fresh nightie and helped me undress. His hands were gentle as he pulled my clothes off, sending shivers up and down my arms and legs. He stared down at me with so much heat in his eyes I was immediately warm, even though the farmhouse was perpetually drafty. I swallowed when he gruffly ordered me to lift my arms over my head. My nightgown floated over me. Then he settled me in the bed, pulling the blankets up to my chin.
“Scoot over,” he said, and when I did, he kicked off his boots and crawled in with me. It was a tight squeeze, but I instantly felt better with him beside me. He didn’t make any move to touch me. He just slid his arm under my neck and turned off the light.
I closed my eyes, but lying next to Nick was doing things to me. My breath was shallow and I couldn’t lay still. He groaned and turned on his side, pulling me against him.
“Nick . . .”
“Get some sleep.”
I sighed and wiggled a little bit more. I wanted him to kiss me. As tired and worried as I was, I wanted him. I wanted more.
“Melissa,” he warned. I bit my lip and blinked up at him. He was so gorgeous it made me dizzy. And he was here, in my bed, where I’d dreamed about him all these years.