Chapter 26
Nicole
I felt achy and sighed as I struggled to open my eyes. I heard voices and various tones of beeping as I wondered where I was. There were hands on my arm and I cowered back as a woman spoke to me in a soothing voice. “It’s okay, Nicole. You’re at the hospital and you’re going to be just fine.”
“Hospital?” I choked out as I opened my eyes slowly, blinded by the bright lights that were shining down on me. I hurt so much and a doctor with caramel curls smiled warmly down at me. I tried to remember why I was at the hospital as she spoke to some of the others in the room calmly. Where was Noelle? Was Allen here? “What happened to me?”
She looked at me hesitantly before she forced another smile on her face. “You just got a little banged up, sweetheart.”
I tried to remember as my head pounded and I closed my eyes. Who did this to me? Why did I hurt everywhere? Then I saw Ricky’s face in my mind and gasped as I winced. “Just stay calm, Nicole. You have people here for you.”
I let them work and opened my eyes to look around slowly. Ricky kidnapped me and took me to two different houses for a ransom. I wondered if he got it as my pain eased and I settled back gently.
“We’re just going to let the pain meds get through your body. You have some broken ribs and a few bruises and cute. You’re going to be fine.” She glanced up and I followed her gaze to see some police officers standing out there observing us.
“They were there. There were so many of them,” I remembered slowly as the doctor gazed at me. “Is Allen here?”
“I’m right here,” he said as he stepped into the room and held my gaze with his own worried eyes. “How do you feel?”
“I think that I am going to like this medicine,” I replied as he moved closer to me, taking my hand. “Is anyone else here?”
“Anyone else?” he asked carefully as I squinted at him.
"The others at the house?” I asked. “Is Ricky here?”
“They were shot at the house. They’re dead,” he said as darkness crossed his face.
I gasped in pain. “What happened?” I asked.
“They put you in a threatening position, and we couldn’t allow that. They were killed on the spot but the world will be a better place without them in it,” Allen assured me as he reached out and took my hand.
I could tell the he was hiding something behind his explanation but the look in his eyes was too tormented for me to push him.
“You got out fine and the doctor says you’re going to recover completely.”
I glanced at the doctor for clarification and she smiled and nodded from the corner where she was reading something. “I think we might require one night here just for observation. After that, we’ll send you home if you promise to rest and heal up. No working or even moving. Make this guy take care of you.” The doctor winked at Allen and it hit me how young and pretty she was. Maybe they dated at some point and I looked back at him as he squeezed my hand lightly.
“Sure thing.” I stared into his handsome face, seeing more than just worry. There was a sense of dread about him and I licked my dry lips.
Allen looked around the room. “Can she get some water?”
A nurse brought a small cup of water with a straw and he held it up to me. “Slow,” Allen reminded me as I gratefully drank a small sip of the cold water. It tasted amazing and my stomach growled as he smiled weakly. “Did he feed you, Nicole?”
“A few times at the end,” I replied as Allen narrowed his eyes, focused on the wall. The room cleared out as there was another commotion across the room and he took a deep breath.
“How much do you remember?” His voice was soft but curiosity flared in his bright eyes.
I moved my head to itch my scalp. I needed a shower so badly.
“At first nothing. But I remember everything now.” I swallowed thickly as my voice threatened to fade. “He didn’t hurt me more than this.” I searched his face to see if he knew what I meant, being too shy to say the horrible words. “I’m okay.”
“Thank fuck,” Allen breathed as he leaned his forehead against my shoulder lightly. “I wanted to kill that asshole for the last few days for taking you. I worried so much.”
I could see the lack of sleep all over his face when he first walked in here and longed to stroke his hair. I told myself to rest and we’d catch up when I was better.
“Nicole?”
I turned my head when I heard Noelle’s shrill voice. She started to cry as she ran away from Brandon and paused before hugging me gently.
“I was so scared, Nic. I thought that I’d never see you again.”
“I’m right here. I get to go home tomorrow.” I smiled at her, trying to make her feel better as she took in the damage to my face.
“Tomorrow?” she asked as I felt Allen squeeze my hand again.
“They want to keep an eye on me and pump me full of magic so I’ll get some rest. I could sleep on a bed of nails right now and be happy.” I made the joke to lighten things up and she wiped a tear from her eye.
“Are you okay?” Her voice was a whisper as she stared at me with big eyes. It reminded me of when she was little and used to wake up at night and I held back the sob in my throat.
“I am,” I promised her as she dropped her head lightly on my chest. I was feeling the love in this room and Brandon stepped forward with a small smile on his face.
“How are you doing?” He glanced at Allen and I forced a smile.
“I need to sleep for about a year and have a lot of these drugs, but I’ll be fine.” I was starting to feel woozy and I closed my eyes weakly. “Am I going to a room?”
“I’m staying with you,” Allen and Noelle said at the same time as I smiled.
“Is that even allowed?” I asked softly as I gave in to the slight high that was taking me over. It made me feel like the whole thing with Ricky never happened. Noelle lifted her head and took my other hand. Maybe I dreamed it and I laughed softly as I settled against the pillow.
Maybe I wasn’t even alive right now.
I woke up later in another room, a private one. I looked around in the dim light and noticed a hulking figure on the tiny couch. My stomach lurched. I’d been dreaming of Ricky and the person moved and looked at me.
It was Allen.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he leaned forward to stretch before rushing to my side.
“Yeah. I was just dreaming.” I told him groggily as I smiled at him. “You stayed.”
“Brandon convinced Noelle to go home with him tonight. He said they needed to get the apartment set up for you. It seemed to work,” Allen said. “I wanted to be here. I was already without you for too long.” He sat in the chair beside me and took my hand as he moved closer to me. “How do you feel?”
I willed him to bring his lips closer to mine as I looked at him. I knew that I looked terrible right now but I just needed to feel his kiss to bring me back to life. Allen lifted one hand to stroke my face gently as he asked if it hurt. I shook my head. He stroked my bruises and let out a sigh as he brushed my lips, making me gasp. They seemed to be the only part of my face that wasn’t bruised and Allen leaned closer to me, pressing his lips to mine gently as I closed my eyes. I knew it was crazy that I wanted him but I did so much.
I knew I wanted to tell him that I loved him as he pressed his lips a little harder to mine, teasing my senses. My body responded despite the pain that I was in and I moaned softly as he pulled away.
“Nicole, we can’t start this.” He sounded as aroused as I felt and I looked to see if the door was open.
“I know that we can’t do it right here in the hospital, but I missed you.” I stirred slightly to ease the throbbing between my legs as he stared at me. It was too dark to see his eyes but I felt the sexual tension in the air between us. “I just need you.”
“You’re going to be the death of me,” Allen told me as he slipped a hand over the blanket, tracing down my body slowly. “I am only considering this because I know your legs are okay. I know you weren’t hur,t anywhere around there.” His voice told me he had checked with the doctor and I shivered as he slid his hand down between my thighs. “I can’t believe that you’re even thinking about this right now.”
“You’re here,” I whispered.
Allen groaned and moved his hand back up my body on top of the blanket. He slid his hand under the blankets, and I groaned softly as he found my needy pussy. I’d been stripped of my clothes and dressed in a gown with nothing underneath. It was easy for him to touch me and I spread my legs open with a little pain as I held in my moan.
Allen stroked my folds as I closed my eyes and gave in to the feeling. I only wanted to think about Allen right now and the future that we might have.
He found my clit and circled it as I arched my back slightly. It felt so good despite the slight edge from the pain and the wooziness of the drugs. It was the perfect distraction for me. I felt Allen’s eyes on me and felt the heat wash over my skin as the pressure started to build inside of me.
“Allen,” I whispered as he slipped a finger inside of me and pressed his palm against my pussy.
“Is this okay?” he whispered.
“It’s perfect,” I replied as he entered me slowly, pressing all the way inside of my body with his thick finger. Allen manipulated my body and used his knowledge of the things that turned me on to ease me toward a hard release. I moaned softly, trying to keep my body as still as possible as I felt myself break apart.
It was explosive and released so much of my emotions as tears slid down my cheek. I felt the aftershocks pulsing through me as I let out short breaths. “Oh, Allen.”
“Feel better?” His voice was gruff and I knew how aroused he was.
“Yeah. That let so much go,” I said as I looked at him. “I wish that I could do something for you.”
“You can. Get better.” There was a finality in his tone as I looked at him, feeling his hand pull away from my body.
“I’ll be right back,” Allen said as he walked towards the bathroom. I watched him walk away and took a slow breath as I thought about what just happened. I wanted to be home in his arms, sleeping in his bed after we’d made love. I wanted to be healthy for him and have that future I was dreaming of.