Crave (10 page)

Linnet snagged a sheet and wound it around herself. “God, Jonesy.” Her smile vanished as her eyes grazed over Ryder’s still form.

Paramedics pushed through the police barrier, quickly swarming over her and her two men. Gage held on to her fingers until one very insistent medic dragged him away. Another medic arrived, and she was sucked into the whirlwind, but her mind raced with the possibilities.

She’d lost so much only to experience bliss and have it ripped from her yet again. No more. The medic dabbed ointment on the wounds on her back and she smiled through the pain.

“This looks like it will heal.”

“It will. Just give it time.”

“I fucking hate hospitals.” Linnet growled. The gift shops were expensive and flowers made her think of funeral homes. She was just glad the medic had given up on trying to take her in. Now she just had to get her men and get the hell out. If her partner didn’t strangle her with balloons first.

Jonesy shoved a balloon bouquet into her arms. “Can you hurry? I have to get back to the station.” He plucked another arrangement off the table and herded her toward the checkout.

“Fine.” Her men were getting out today, and her nerves were shot to hell.

“Come on.”

Balloons floating into her face, she pushed her short legs to keep up with his normal pace.

“You could slow down.”

“No. I couldn’t. You want those men of yours to decide to just go on home if you’re not there waiting?”

A twinge snaked through her body. “You don’t think they’d do that?” She walked a little faster, spitting out a curly ribbon that got too close to her mouth.

“Yes.”

Shit.

The long white hallways were freaking endless, but they finally arrived at the front desk. It was two o’clock and just like clockwork, two wheelchair bound men with identical scowls on their faces were pushed down the hall. They stopped in front of the main desk, a series of signatures needed before they could be discharged.

“This is where I get off.” Jones handed her the second bouquet and stepped back. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” He leaned forward and gingerly gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Just tell them how you feel. The rest will come.”

“Sure.” It was easy when you said it like that. How did you ask two men to move in with you? Or at least take your key so they could work in that direction? She’d been wrestling with that one most of the night.

She stepped outside, waiting for them to finish, her fingers twisting in the ribbons and feeling like an idiot. Two small black boxes rested in her purse. All she had to do was hand it to each of them and see what they said. It was simple. She liked simple. But it still scared the holy mother crap out of her. Even though she’d known them both for a while, recent events had just seemed to balloon up so fast.

There was that word again threatening to do her in.

The doors opened and nurses wheeled the men out. She rushed over to meet them, the balloons smacking her in the face as she hurried. They stood up and the nurses handed them each a bag with their belongings.

Gage blew out a breath and opened his arms. “Hi, baby.”

She tumbled into his embrace loving the feel of his arms around her at last. He was her past and hopefully a very important part of her future. Now that she’d found him again she didn’t want to let him go. A balloon wobbled against her, and she was careful not to brush against his wound.

“God. Here. Take this. It was Jonesy’s idea.” She thrust a balloon bouquet at him, and he chuckled.

She turned to Ryder. His expressive eyes watched her, ever hopeful, but resigned to whatever she wanted. Her heart squeezed a little, and she wanted to take him into the nearest corner and show him just how much he meant to her.

“Linnet.” Ryder ran his fingers down her cheek, and she leaned in to kiss him.

“It’s so good to see you.” She inhaled his scent, and the girly parts inside of her shivered. She stepped back and handed him the other balloon bouquet.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But look out. They go for the eyes.”

Ryder rolled his eyes and smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Linnet grinned, stumbling over her words. Fuck, this was awkward. “Now that you’re free, what do you guys want to do first?”

“Eat.” Ryder’s tone was deadpan.

“I second that. Hospital food. Disgusting.”

Linnet grinned and pressed a kiss to both their cheeks. God, how she’d worried. “I take it you guys are hungry for some real food?”

“Damn straight.”

“Good. I know this quiet little restaurant where we can talk.” She bent down and picked up their small bags.

“We can get that.” Ryder protested.

“Nope.” She shook her head and fished out the two boxes from her purse, handing them each one. “I think you’d better carry these instead.”

“What?” Gage opened his first and blinked. “Linnet?” He glanced at Ryder. He opened his, a light dawning behind his eyes.

“The future. If you want to give it a chance.”

Ryder did the same. “Oh…”

She sat the bags down and held out her hands to each of them, afraid of what they might say. “I… So… Ugh. I’m not good at this.”

“You don’t have to be.” Ryder snapped the box shut and pushed it into his jeans pocket. He turned to Gage, a quirky smile tugging at his lips. “Does she?”

“No. But I think we can help her with that.” He gave Linnet a naughty wink.

“Does this mean you want to give it a try?” A well of emotion swelled inside her.

“I get to pick out the cat.” Ryder leaned forward and took the bags. “And I’m doing the grocery shopping. No wonder you eat out all the time.”

“Fine. But I get to design the playroom.”

Linnet’s tummy did a little flutter.

“Let’s go home. If we can find my car.”

Erzabet Bishop
is the award winning author of Sigil Fire, Written on Skin, Fetish Fair, Temptation Resorts interactive erotic romances, Holiday Cruise, Gingerbread Dreams, Pomegranate, Crave, A Red Dress for Christmas, Holidays in Hell, Lipstick, The Science of Lust, Club Beam, Sweet Seductions: The Erzabet Bishop Collection and multiple books in the Erotic Pagan Series. She is a contributing author to Club Rook, Taboo II, Hungry for More, A Christmas to Remember, Forbidden Fruit, Sci Spanks, Spank or Treat, Sweat, When the Clock Strikes Thirteen, Bossy, Cougars, Can’t Get Enough, Slave Girls, The Big Book of Submission, Anything She Wants, Bondage Bites, Coming Together: Girl on Girl, Coming Together: For the Holidays and more. She was a finalist for the GCLS awards in 2014 and 2015. She lives in Texas with her husband, furry children and can often be found lurking in local bookstores.

For more information on books by Erzabet, visit her website:
http://erzabetwrites.wix.com/erzabetbishop
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Evernight Publishing

Lipstick

The Science of Lust

Decadent Publishing Company

Club Beam

Pomengranate

World Weaver Press

Demons Imps and Incubi

Coming Together

Coming Together: For the Holidays

Coming Together: Girl on Girl

Coming Together: Hungry For Love

Ladylit

Anything She Wants

A Christmas to Remember

Sweat: Five Sporty Tales of Lesbian Lust

Sweet Seductions

Ylva Publishing

Sigil Fire

Spread the Love: Seven Romantic and Erotic Lesbian Stories

When the Clock Strikes Thirteen

Wicked Things: Lesbian Halloween Short Stories

Written on Skin

WriteHit.com

Gratis: New Beginnings

Gratis: Transformation

Andrews UK Ltd.

Smut by the Sea, Volume 2

Storm Moon Press

Milk & Cookies & Handcuffs