Forever Pucked (Pucked 4)

“I was scared tonight,” she whispers.

“C’mere.” I slip my hand behind her neck and urge her closer. She puts her head on my chest, and I hold her with the arm that works. Breathing hurts. Thinking hurts. Everything hurts.

There are still a lot of missing pieces, like what happened to put me in this kind of pain, but I’m too tired to think any more.

The nurse comes back and gives me water, which I sip. I feel sick. Then she hooks another bag up next to the IV, presses a button, and I feel nothing but warm. Violet moves away from me, and I want to protest, but my tongue isn’t working.

-&-

I wake up sometime later confused, disoriented, and in pain. It’s still night, and it takes me a good minute or two to remember who I am and where I am. Violet—my fiancée, who I said was my wife, because she will be eventually—has pulled a rolling cot up beside my bed.

Her arm is stretched out, fingers gripping the sleeve of my hospital gown. I check the clock. I don’t think I’ve been asleep very long. The nurse keeps coming in, checking me, shining a damn light in my eyes. Last time I told her I wasn’t in pain. I wish I’d lied because I sure am now.

“Violet?” It comes out as a rasp.

Her eyes pop open, and she sits up. “Alex? Are you okay?”

“Can we get the nurse?” The words slur together.

Violet strokes my hair. “You in pain?”

“Yeah.”

She presses the button, not to call the nurse, but to release a dose of painkillers. I’d forgotten we don’t need the nurse for that.

Violet sits on the edge of the bed, stroking my hair. It feels nice. The medication is starting to work. She presses her warm lips to my forehead. “I love you, Alex.” She moves as though to get up.

I grab her wrist. “Lie with me.”

She looks at the bed. There’s hardly any room for her, but I don’t want her away from me.

“I don’t know that the nurse will like that,” she says.

“Fuck the nurse.”

“She’s not really my type. I prefer dick, yours specifically.”

I smile, even though it ramps up the pain in my face. I tug her wrist, and she swings her feet up, carefully stretching out beside me. She adjusts the covers, easing one leg over mine because there really isn’t room for two bodies in this bed. She’s right up against the bedrail, but at least she’s not out of reach anymore.

She settles her head on my chest, and I suck in a breath as the pressure causes a sharp pain to shoot down my side.

“Are you okay? Am I hurting you? Maybe I should go back to the cot.”

“No.” I keep my arm around her.

“Alex.”

“No.”

“You’re so stubborn.” She eases back down, but puts her head in the crook of my arm and my shoulder, which doesn’t cause pain.

I grunt because she’s right. I want to tell her I already spend half my nights without her beside me, and I’m not willing to lose more, but the medication is making me groggy again, so I close my eyes instead.

The next time the nurse comes in to check on me, she gives me a look. I’m holding Violet’s boob, and her hand is conveniently covering my dick. Whatever. I don’t care. I have what I need right beside me.

My sleep is repeatedly broken, and I’m exhausted and in even more pain when the sun starts to come up. Every time I wake, I’m confused again, and I have to wait for some of my memories to return. At least I can remember who I am and who Violet is, but except what people have told me, I still have nothing tying me to why I’m lying in this bed.

I’ve taken a hit before, but the memories have always come back, even if it took a while. That I still have nothing from this one is scary. I’m aware that too many hits is bad news.

My parents stop by early in the morning. Violet’s still half-asleep, curled up along my side, as they enter the room. I’m still holding her boob. I move my hand to her ribs and give a slight squeeze. She nuzzles me, and the hand tucked under her chin unfurls and smooths down my chest. I don’t have an extra one available stop her from sliding her fingers under the sheets and grabbing my semi-hard junk. I’m in too much pain for a real hard-on, thankfully.

“Violet, baby, wake up. My parents are here.”

Her eyes fly open, and she retracts her hand like she’s been bitten by my dick. “Robbie! Daisy! Hi!” Violet pushes up to a sitting position, throwing the covers off. Which would be fine, since she’s completely dressed, except that my hospital gown has ridden up during the night, and now my semi is on display.