Chapter 137

The longest day of their lives had finally ended and everyone was finally able to get some much needed sleep. Their bodies, heavy with the weight of exhaustion, found rest wherever they could. Sabrina had gone home; Alex having sent a car for her as promised. She let them all know that she would be back in the morning. Spencer had knocked out in Jess’s room. Their conversation had carried them late into the night. She had asked the nurse for some kind of sleep aid. After her ordeal, she feared fitful slumber would be hard to come by for a while.
“To keep the nightmares I’m sure will come away,” Jess explained with a sad smile after the nurse left the room.
“I…,” Spencer didn’t know what to say. He could see the haunted look in Jess’s eyes. It was something he would never forget. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m expecting some kind of social worker or something to come and talk to me,” she continued, not looking at him. “They’ll probably make me relive it. I’m… I’d like to ask you to leave the room for that. Vulnerability isn’t my strong suit. We haven’t even been on a date yet. I don’t want to scare you away.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Spencer said, scooting towards her. “I’ve never been through an ordeal like yours, and I’ll never be able to understand what you’ve gone through. But, I’m not afraid of vulnerability. However, I won’t intrude on yours. If… that’s what you want. You need to heal in your own way. If that includes me, okay. If not, I understand.”
Jess sat up and stared at him. Her eyes were soft, her heart full of warmth from his words.
“Hmm,” she mused. “Hot, smart, and sensitive? How are you real?”
Spencer looked down at his lap and chuckled.
“You’re going to have to stop complimenting me like that. You’re going to make me blush.”
“I could do a lot more to make you blush,” she wiggled her eyebrows.
“Seriously, though,” he looked back at her. “We’re just getting to know each other. I don’t want to overstep any boundaries. But… there is a way I think I can help you.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“I hear your father is a building contractor.”
“He is… or was. He’s too sick now to run the business. Once I’m recovered, I plan to try and save it. Why are you bringing that up?”
“I want to add your business as a preferred vendor for my firm.”
Jess’s eyes lit up. She practically sprang up from the bed.
“Spencer…”
“Don’t try to say I shouldn’t. I want to. I, um… researched your family’s business and I was impressed with the work. It won’t guarantee a ton of projects…”
“But it’s something,” Jess smiled. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
***
“Let them give you something so you can sleep,” Will pleaded. Though his voice sounded less concerned and more annoyed.
“I could say the same for you,” she quipped. “You need sleep too.”
“That might be true, but I wasn’t the one who was kidnapped and tortured.”
“Well, I wasn’t the one who…” she stopped. …watched his first love kill herself in front of him, is what she was going to say. But that wasn’t fair, and she knew it. Her head hung in shame for a moment. A small chuckle came from Will. She snapped her head up and narrowed her eyes at him. “What is so funny?” she fussed.
“Not thirty minutes ago, we were disgustingly affectionate. And now we’re arguing. We haven’t changed at all.”
“We aren’t arguing,” Emma defended. “We’re…”
“Fighting? Squabbling? Disagreeing?” Will laughed. “Take your pick. We really do suck at this.”
Emma pouted and looked away from him. He was right. They’d been at it for a while. Going back and forth and neither relenting to the other. It was ridiculous.
Emma opened her mouth, to say that he was right, but found that the words wouldn’t come. It was as though there some kind of block that would not allow those words to leave her mouth. This is so stupid, she thought. They loved each other. Shouldn’t this be easy? Why were they like petulant, unable to let the other win?
“I thought… after we admitted how we really felt that this would be easy. But I guess not.”
“We’re going to take a lot of work,” Will admitted. “We’ll fight, make up, really leaning into that one thing we’re really good at,” he winked.
“Oh my God,” Emma rolled her eyes, but smiled. “Is that all you can think about?”
“In my mind, I’ve had you on every surface of this room at least twice,” he purred. Emma blushed.
“You’re horrible,” she tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear.
“Am I? I seem to recall you telling me how amazing I am and how good I make you feel.” He moved closer to her, wishing that he was able to bring his fantasies to life. Gentle fingers held her chin, tilting her head up to look into those molten golden eyes. “I need you to heal up and recover.” She was transfixed, unable to think or move. It had been so long that even the lightest touch of his fingers seemed to incapacitate her. Memories of those hands and what they could do to her sent a shiver across her skin. “So that I can take you home,” he kissed her neck. “And remind you.”
“I remember,” she whispered, doing her best not to turn into a puddle of mush under his touch. He captured her lips in a passionate kiss. It was more tender than their kisses usually were. She was used to hunger and a fire that threatened to devour her. This kiss however, had the power to undo and disarm. It consumed passed her body. it fed a different hunger and lit a different fire in her soul. She melted against him and all she should think about was this sensual, languid kiss.
Someone cleared their throat behind them. Will moved away from and Emma instantly missed the connection.
“Sorry to interrupt,” the nurse said, her face a furious shade of red. “The doctor stated that Miss Wells could be discharged in the morning and wanted me to go over a few things.”
“Of course,” Will said, as though he hadn’t been caught making out.
“Um, right,” the nurse cleared her throat again and readjusted her collar. Emma held back a giggle at how clearly flustered she was. “The tests came back, and it looks like the mastitis is cleared up. Your other injuries are healing up well. You can be discharged tomorrow.”
“That’s amazing!” Emma cheered.
“We’ll have some prescriptions delivered to your address. Also, please wait at least two weeks before breastfeeding your baby.”
“Right,” Emma’s earlier glee had been dampened.
“There are also some, uh, referrals for different specialists that will be in your discharge instructions. Do you have any questions?” Before Emma could open her mouth to say no, Will answered.
“Is there something she could be given to help her sleep. I’m sure you understand.”
“Yes,” the nurse nodded indicating she did indeed understand. “The doctor did prescribe a sleep aid. I can give you a dose now if you’d like.” She looked at Emma.
“I don’t know…” Emma hesitated.
“Please, baby,” Will pleaded. He turned back to her and caressed her face. “I just want you to get some rest.”
Emma shivered at the way he said “baby”. It was affectionate and sweet but underlined with raw sexuality that defined William Stewart. She agreed to the medication. The nurse obliged. Emma smirked when she noticed the nurse fanning herself and mouthing, “Oh my God,” as she walked out of the room. Will had that effect on people.
After a few minutes, the medicine began to kick in and Emma began to feel loopy.
“How do you do it?” she slurred.
“Do what?”
“Make me melt just by looking at me,” she giggled. “It’s not fair.”
“You melt when I look at you?” Will teased, amused by her medicated state. “What do you do when touch you?”
“I explode.”
“Go to sleep,” he kissed her forehead. “We’ve got a few things to talk about in the morning.”