by Amiee Louise
“Eden, love, I think you should leave now,” my mum steps in.
“Why does she always have to get her own way all the time, Mum? She has always been the golden girl. I’ll always be the black sheep of the family.”
I roll my eyes. Here we go, typical Eden.
“Me and Callum are in love.”
Her voice sounds petulant. My heart drops, and my stomach lurches. I think I’m going to throw up, and I reach over for the cardboard bowl next to my bed. Sam comes in; his face contorts when he sees my glazed eyes and dry heaves over the bowl.
“What’s going on, angel?”
I shake my head. “Get her out of here, Sam, please, I don’t want her here.”
He looks confused, but nods. He escorts Eden out of the room, and I hear her high-pitched shrieking at Sam. I swing my legs out of the bed, wincing as my ribs protest in pain, and my mum is by my side in seconds. I hold onto my mum’s hand, and I sob. Wracking, gut-wrenching sobs. I don’t know if it’s because of the revelation of Callum and Eden, the fact that my mum and dad are here, or being in here is overwhelming me. My mum holds me tightly.
“It’s all right, my beautiful girl.”
Sam comes back into the room. “Is everything all right, Sophia?”
My mum nods. She rubs my back soothingly, and my sobs calm instantly. She kisses the top of my head.
“I hate seeing you like this, darling; please let your dad and I take you home.”
I look up at her and sniff, trying to compose myself.
“I can’t, Mum; I’m the manager of the shop now. I’ve got responsibilities.”
She smiles brightly. “That’s fantastic news, sweetheart. Why didn’t you call and tell us sooner?”
“I’ve been so busy at work; it’s been nonstop for the past few weeks.”
She kisses me again and pulls away. “I’m going to see if I can get a decent cup of tea around here. We’ll leave you and Sam to it.”
She gets up and leaves the room. Sam crouches down in front of me, his frown line jumping in place.
“Do you want to tell me what’s happened, angel?”
I look at him then I remember I’m mad at him. I get up from the bed and limp over to grab my crutch. Ignoring my body’s protests and ignoring him as I head for the door.
“Baby, talk to me.”
I hold my finger up.
“Just don’t,” I spit angrily.
“Are you mad at me?”
He sounds hurt, and I look at him.
“Furious,” I say coldly. “Number one, why didn’t you tell me that my parents were staying with you? Don’t you think I had a right to know? The nurse also told me that your dad has been here. Why would he come here? As for Skip guarding my room, what do you know, Sam? You’re keeping something from me.”
He stops me from leaving the room and backs me up into the door. He is so close I can feel his breath on my cheek and his scent intoxicating me. He puts his hands on either side of my head, effectively trapping me. His green eyes lock onto mine, and I can’t look away. How can I go from seething mad to oddly horny within a few minutes? Damn you, Newbolt!
“I didn’t know your parents staying at my place would be an issue, it was either that or let them find a hotel. I have four other bedrooms that aren’t currently in use, so why not? What’s the problem?” I go to speak, but he stops me. “As for my dad, he knows how much I love you, so he wanted to check you were OK. You’re with me, so you’re technically family. As it happens, he wanted you moved to a private hospital, but it was touch and go we didn’t know if you were going to make it through the night. I was in pieces, Peyton, you have no idea how close I was to losing you. It almost killed me.”
I can see his heartbeat jumping through his white skull t-shirt and his eyes glaze over at the thought. Even upset, he still looks impossibly handsome.
“Jax and Cole found me in my apartment snorting coke and drowning my sorrows at the bottom of a vodka bottle. So they locked me in my bathroom for a while. You have to understand I was an absolute fucking mess. I was literally losing my mind. That’s how much I love you. You don’t get it, people throw the word love around like it’s just a word, but they don’t get it. If this has taught me anything, it’s that the future is never set in stone. But I know one million percent that I want a future with you.”
I melt into a puddle at his words. I want to be mad at him for keeping things from me, resorting to drink, and drugs. However, I oddly have an understanding of what he must have gone through this past week. I look up at him, and by the look on his face, he is expecting me to scream and shout. But, it doesn’t come. Instead, I wrap my good arm around his neck and pull him closer. I stroke the silky soft hair at the nape of his neck. Our faces are inches apart, his breathing is hitched, and his heart is pounding. I press my lips to his frantically; I am filled with pure want and desperate need for this man. I stroke his tongue with mine and grip his nape tighter; I can’t get close enough to him. He carefully lifts me off my feet with ease, as if I’m weightless. I wrap my legs around his waist, and he pushes me against the door.
“God, you’ve got no idea how long I’ve waited for this.”
My breath catches, and I am panting for him, desperate for his closeness.
“Tell me you want me to take you; I need to hear you say the words.”
Our eyes lock.
“Sam, please take me,” I pant, my voice sounds almost desperate with pure want. With me still in his arms, he holds me with one arm, pulls the blinds, and locks the door with the other. He smiles his familiar smile, and he knows he has me right where he wants me.
“Take me like this, against the wall.”
He cocks his eyebrow and nuzzles my neck.
“I don’t want to hurt you, baby.”
“I don’t care. I need you, Sam, and I need you to take it all away.”
He crashes his lips against mine and pushes my vest top down my shoulders. He is kissing a burning trail from my neck to my collarbone. He carries me over to the bed and puts me down, gently laying me down. Taking his time, caressing and undressing me until I’m lying on my hospital bed completely naked. He kisses a trail down my breastbone, down to my stomach; he bypasses the place where I want him to touch me the most. The door handle rattling interrupts us.
“Peyton, love.”
Shit! My mum.
“Are you all right in there, sweetheart?”
Sam stifles his sniggers and straightens up. He clears his throat and lowers his voice.
“She’s fallen asleep, Sophia.”
He winks at me, and I put my hand to my mouth trying to stifle my laughs.
“OK, when she wakes up, tell her we’re going for some lunch, please, Sam.”
“I will, Sophia.”
I hear her heels click down the corridor. We both burst out into hysterical belly laughter. I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a long time—my ribs are screaming in protest, but I feel so much better.
Sam nudges my thighs apart with his knee and strips off his t-shirt in one swift move. I will never get tired of seeing him naked in front of me; it is definitely a remarkable sight. He looks visibly thinner; his hips are narrower; his muscles are more defined and toned. I lick my lips as he strips off his dark-grey combat shorts and his black boxer briefs. His impressive erection springs free and he kicks off his shoes. Even his toned legs have more definition. What has he been doing while I have been in here?
“See something you like, baby?” His voice is dripping with seduction, and I bite my lip. “Baby, don’t do that please, I’m barely hanging on to my self-control right now.”
I look up at him and deliberately bite my lip again. He growls and picks me up in a lithe move. My good arm wrapped around his neck, his hand supporting my bum, and the other around my waist. He walks us over to the wall and presses my back against it. I shiver at the coldness, and my whole body tingles with goosebumps. He lifts me up and impales me on his waiting stiffness. I mew
l softly in his ear and nip his earlobe. He is gently moving me up and down in a slow, leisurely pace.
“Am I hurting you, baby?”
I shake my head. “Please just make love to me, Sam, I need you,” I whisper softly, and he smiles his heart-stopping smile
“You don’t have to ask twice, my lovely!” he says huskily. “Look at me, angel.”
I look into his green eyes and am mesmerized by the feelings he evokes in me. Pure earth-shattering bliss when we’re making love and pure love and absolute adoration when we’re just Peyton and Sam. He lifts me up and impales me again—we have never have made love this slow before. It feels so good, I moan in his ear.
“Oh, Sam.”
He quickens his painfully-slow pace, and he is growling with pleasure.
“Don’t stop, baby,” I beg. “Please don’t stop.”
As his pace quickens, I feel my orgasm bubbling to the surface.
“Peyton, fuck, fuck, fuck, baby, I can’t hold it.”
I tug his nipple ring, and he spurts his hot seed inside me, causing my orgasm to explode at the same time.
“Sam, I’m coming!”
He squeezes me tightly.
“I’ve got you. God, I love you, Peyton,” he whispers as we both come down from our orgasms. He lifts me and takes me back to sit on the edge of the bed. He kisses me deeply on the lips, and for the first time in a few days, I actually feel better and almost back to my normal self.
We both dress in a relatively comfortable silence. I lay back in my bed, and Sam opens the blinds and unlocks the door. There is a tap on the door as soon as he unlocks it.
“Peyton, can I come in?”
Estelle’s voice comes through the door. Sam smiles and winks mischievously at me, as he opens the door. I see Estelle look up at him and she swoons on the spot. I roll my eyes; does he really have that effect on all women he meets?
“H-Hello Sam.”
He chuckles softly and nods. “Estelle,” he rasps, and I hear screams outside. Estelle turns around, and I see her literally melt on the spot.
“Looks like you’ve got company, Peyton.”
I laugh as the other three band members come into view in the doorway.
“I’ll come back later.”
She winks and nods at the boys as she leaves.
“Peyton!”
Jax rushes over to my bed and hops up on the bed to join me. I scoot over, and he makes himself comfortable.
“How are you feeling, babe?”
“I’m good, thanks, Jax.”
He smiles brightly, and I find myself smiling back. Brody saunters in, turns the chair around and sits so that his legs are on either side. Lucas has a sweet look of thoughtfulness and concern washing over his face.
“Hey, Peyton,” Lucas’ American lilt echoes around the room. “This guy has been a complete wreck since you’ve been in here, honey.” He laughs and points to Sam.
Sam hits him playfully, and I laugh. It is good to know he has had the boy’s support while I have been in the hospital. Brody is being unusually quiet around me today, maybe since he was there when I walked in on Sam, so I decide to break the ice.
“Hey, Brody.”
He looks up and stares at me. He smiles.
“All right, darlin’, it’s good to finally have you back with us.”
He winks, and I have never noticed he has a split tongue before. It reminds me of a snake—that must be where he gets his nickname.
“Will you guys do me a huge favour?”
Jax smiles and winks. “Anything for you, sweetheart, you know that.”
He pulls me into him for a hug and smiles. I love his sweet, affectionate demeanour and his all round, kind-hearted personality. He and the other boys have accepted me as one of their own. I know Jax would do anything for me because Sam is like a brother to him. He clearly looks up to Sam, and I am grateful for the influence they seem to have on each other.
“Take Sam home, please? He looks exhausted, and I know he hasn’t slept for a while. Just take him home, and make sure he gets some proper rest.”
Sam folds his arms, and his brow furrows in a completely adorable roguish way.
“I don’t need rest, baby, I’m absolutely fine.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m fine, seriously. Skip’s outside, and the nurses are here. I don’t need twenty-four-hour surveillance, honey.”
He lets out a breath before saying, “OK, if it makes you happy, angel, but I don’t like it. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve showered, eaten, and grabbed a few hours’ sleep.”
He comes over to the bed and kisses me gently on the lips. Jax rolls his eyes and makes a vomiting gesture. Sam pushes Jax off the bed, and he rolls off onto the floor. We all burst out into hysterical laughter. Jax gets up with a look of mock hurt on his face and grabs Sam from behind. In a second, Sam spins around and has him in a playful headlock—I love playful Sam.
We spend an hour or so chatting, laughing, joking, and catching up. Their company is a welcome distraction, and before long, they are all leaving, kissing me on the cheek in turn as they leave. Sam reluctantly leaves with them, promising me he will be back soon.
I am suddenly exhausted and drift off into a deep sleep.
***
“Stay with me, Peyton. Please, please, don’t die on me, honey.”
I hear the dull sound of sirens, and I can feel Seb’s large calloused hand stroking mine. It takes all my strength, but I manage to lightly squeeze his hand. He lifts my hand to his lips and plants a soft kiss on the back of it.
“Peyton, can you hear me?”
I am aware of a shadowy presence behind me, squeezing precious oxygen into my lungs.
“It’s Seb. I’m here, darlin’, you need to stay with me.”
I hear his voice crack, I want to open my eyes and reassure him, but my body won’t allow it. I feel him move and hear the sound of a phone keypad as if he is dialling a number.
“Sam, yeah, it’s Seb. Look, there’s been an accident. Yeah, a car accident. Peyton’s been hurt; I’m in the ambulance with her now. Yeah, it was pretty bad. She is in a bad way. You need to get to the Whittington Hospital in Islington now, mate. I’m not sure. She was asking for you. OK. I know it’s a stupid thing to say, but please try not to panic, our girl is a fighter. See you soon, mate. Bye.”
I hear Seb disconnect the call and he resumes stroking my hand.
“Sam’s meeting us at the hospital, honey, you need to hang in there, and everything is going to be all right. I promise.”
***
I am jolted awake, and my eyes fly open. I am aware that I’m alone; the room is deathly silent, and it is dark. I must have been asleep for a while. These flashbacks are scaring the shit out of me. I stare up at the ceiling and lose myself in thoughts of what ifs, and after a while, I fall into a restless asleep again.
The next thing I know, the morning sun is beaming through the window. My eyes adjust to the bright light, and the door opens. Before he steps into the room, I sense his presence, and then he walks in, all six foot four inches of hard muscled, delicious male. He is freshly shaven; his hair is styled into his soft spiky style, and he looks refreshed and so much more rested. He is back to looking like my gorgeous tattooed God. His green eyes lock with mine, and their familiar sparkle is back with a vengeance, temporarily disarming me and making my breath catch in my throat.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
He strides in and plants a chaste kiss on my lips. His scent instantly calms me, and he perches on the edge of the bed, clutching my hand in his.
“Mornin’, handsome.” We both chuckle. “You look so much better now you’ve slept, baby.”
He smiles, and I scoot over, making room for him in the small hospital bed.
“I feel better. Thank you for making the guys take me home. I haven’t slept that good in a long time.”
I snuggle closer to him, and the doctor walks in. The doctor is a middle-aged Asian man called Doctor R
izvi. He smiles.
“Good morning, Miss Harper, how are we feeling this morning?”
I smile back and nod. “Yeah, I’m still feeling a little sore, but I’m fine.”
He nods curtly, checks my chart, and examines me. When he is finished, he stands at the side of my bed.
“I don’t see why you can’t go home today.”
My face lights up, and Sam gives me a reassuring squeeze.
“I’ll prepare your discharge notes.”
