Page 21 of Micah
“Thank you,” she says softly, watching me as I back slowly out of the room. I can’t seem to go far, sliding down the wall next to the bathroom door. I want to be close in case she needs me. I close my eyes and relax, letting the women’s muffled voices lull me into a doze.
Finally, the door opens.
“She’s all set, Mr. James,” the nurse says. “She did really well, but it took a lot out of her. She’s going to need her pain meds pretty soon.” I stand and thank her, heading straight for Holly. She’s still on the shower chair, but now she’s wearing the buttery yellow pyjamas, the fabric stretched around the air cast. Her hair is wet, combed back from her face.
I wince at the look on her face. “Hurt,” I say in sympathy.
“Yes,” she breathes, reaching up for me.
She actually reached for me.
I don’t let the fact that she’d be stuck in the shower all night if she didn’t want me to pick her up dim my pleasure at the simple sign of acceptance. I scoop her up again. “Come eat,” I say, carrying her out to the living room. I deposit her on the couch and sit on the coffee table in front of her.
“You need food in your stomach for the pain meds. Is there anything you feel like eating? I ordered a few things, but I can get you anything you want.”
“You ordered a few things? Like…” she prompts.
“Ah…” I rub the back of my neck. “I ordered Chinese, and Thai. Then I got pizza. Some salads. And I have lots of sandwiches, too.”My face is hot.
Holly’s smile grows as I list off item after item, then she giggles. I swear time stops. Just fucking stops. It’s the best thing I’ve ever heard. I’m smiling so big it’s got to be touching my ears. I don’t care that she’s laughing at me. She’s laughing! “I know. I went a little overboard. I just wanted you to have something you’d like. Does any of it sound good?”
“Can I sit at the island so you can show me?”
Um, yeah she can.
I settle her on the massive granite island, then carefully open the my commercial sized fridge. I have to catch a falling take-out container when I do. Peals of laughter ring out.
“You’re unbelievable.” She’s giggling and snorting and it’s fucking adorable. “Did you order everything on every menu?” She watches in awe as I pull out container after container of food, about ten sandwiches, then three pizza boxes, filling the entire island she’s sitting on.
“Pretty much,”I admit. “I haven’t had time to get to know you well. I’ll learn, though. I promise. By the time you’re better, I’ll know exactly how you like your coffee, what your favorite food is,”and where you like to be kissed. Of course I don’t sign that last part, but it’s going to happen. I was hooked before, but the woman smiled at me, so now I’m fucked.
Completely hers.
She reaches over and starts opening containers, humming or scrunching up her nose at what she finds inside. When we have all the lids open, I grab a plate and some spoons. I slowly work my way through them, adding items based on her yes’s and no’s until she tells me to stop. “More,” I order, frowning at the too-empty plate.
“I don’t need any more. Are you trying to fatten me up?” she teases.
I run my eyes slowly down her body, over the curve of her shoulders, the soft swell of her breasts, imagining them overflowing even my large hands. When I finally drag my eyes back to her, I say the only thing I can. “Perfect.” She is absolute perfection. I put the plate down, wanting to make sure there’s no confusion. “You are absolutely perfect, every single bit of you. I want you to eat enough to help you heal.”
Her eyes are dazed, and she just stares at me as I pick up the plate. “More?” I ask again, pointing at the next dish.
“Ah…” she clears her throat, “just a little more. I’m still a little nauseous.” I nod and add a little more to her plate, then pop it in the microwave to warm.
“Your turn,” she says. I smile and get another plate out, piling it high. She watches, her mouth dropping open as I keep adding. “You didn’t eat?”
I put my plate down near the microwave, stepping closer to her, my stomach almost brushing her knees. “I wanted to eat with you.”
She smiles nervously, glancing away. “What are we going to do with all of this?” She asks, gesturing to the twenty plus containers on the counter.
I snort, putting the things she liked back in the fridge, then pulling my phone out of my back pocket. I snap a photo and send a quick text, then run and prop open the door. I pull down the plates and dump cutlery on the table.
“Watch,” I say, reaching for her. She comes into my arms willingly, and I hop up to sit on the back counter with her in my lap, so she gets a good view.
The elevator dings.
Their voices are tumbling together as they push past each other to get out first. Colt and Declan are wrestling in my doorway. Pretty sure Declan has his finger up Colt’s nose. Jonas drops to the floor and army crawls past them, popping up and running straight for the food. He grabs a plate and piles it high, glancing behind him quickly, grabbing another slice of pizza and getting out of the way. He’s just in time too, as Colt and Declan crash into the island. Holly startles in my arms, but she’s smiling, eyes wide. Jonas settles at the table, his arm wrapped around his plate to protect it as he takes big bites of the pizza in his hand.
Colt and Declan are busy filling their plates when we hear another ding. They speed up as Maverick and Nick come straight for the food, desperate to get their fill. They’re both wearing suits, unlike the rest of the guys who look like they came up from the gym.
