Why are humans so damn fragile?
"Do I need to come up there? When are you leaving? How badly is she hurt?"
"Okay, slow down, rainbow," I say, referring to the color-or rather, colors-of her hair. "I don't have answers for you yet. I'll let you know after she's been seen by the doctors."
Foxfire sighs. "Okay. Okay, thanks. Really. I appreciate you being there, Titus. I know you'll take good care of my mom."
Something uncomfortable shifts in my chest. Now I have two females depending on me. Not a good place for me to be.
I mutter my acknowledgement and promise to call back when I know more. Then I take up a position pacing the hallways of the small hospital.
SUNNY
I'M TRAPPED in a room with a giant wolf-man and no hope of escape.
Seriously, it's that bad.
Titus insisted on bringing me to the little cottage he airbnb'ed. My car is parked out front, but I haven't been allowed to see the damage. It was too dark when we got here last night, and Titus won't let me out of bed today.
He's standing in the bedroom doorway now, doing his best to intimidate me into climbing back under the covers.
Unfortunately, I find his form of intimidation lethally attractive.
"The doctor said I'm fine," I insist. Just some lacerations and bruising. A stiff neck from whiplash. And the broken arm. Which still throbs, even inside the cast.
"I'm gonna call bullshit on that one. Get back in bed before I put you there."
Despite my aches and pains, my pulse picks up at the threat. I don't mind the idea of Titus manhandling me a little. He may be a rough lover, but I enjoyed every second of it.
But the sting of how quickly he took off after sex yesterday is still too fresh. This guy's heart is still marked unavailable.
Too bad he's so damn attractive. Fresh from the shower, he's walking around with his shirt off, without any care about what the sight of his washboard abs is doing to me. I swear, my hormones are stronger in my fifties than they ever were in the years when I was trying to start a family. Nature's sick irony, I guess.
I haven't felt this attracted to a man since Johnny, Foxfire's dad, and even then, I wasn't this horned up.
But there's a similar energy. The wild animal type of man. Johnny's was more furtive, he had a wild spirit he tried to hide. Titus is right out there with his. Riding the Harley, sporting the leather jacket.
"You don't have to to this, Titus." My stomach swoops a little, because if I'm honest, I don't want him to stop. I don't want him to let me leave. But I also don't want him to be here out of guilt or obligation, and I know that's what this is.
Titus walks forward until his ribs hit my breasts. I think he expected me to back up, but when I don't, he reaches down and scoops my ass up under his forearm, lifting me to straddle his waist.
"Titus." I go breathless. My heartbeat taps at the surface, right against his bare skin.
"I told you to stay in that bed," he grumbles. "You're gonna stay there, even if I have to tie you to the headboard."
Sweet goddess above, he didn't just say that.
He's infinitely gentle as he settles me on the bed and when he steps back and examines me, I see genuine concern on his features.
I indulge in the warmth that floods my chest for just a moment. "Thanks, Titus." I grab his hand and squeeze it. "This is really sweet of you."
He brushes my hair back from my bruised forehead, frowning at the bump. "You got that wrong. I'm not sweet. I'm just doing what anyone would do."
Oh.
Right.
And just like that, the warmth evaporates. It must show on my face, because he takes a step back and pushes his hand through his salt and pepper hair.
He opens his mouth, then closes it again. "You hungry? I can go pick up some donuts or something across the way." He points toward the main drag.
"I'm gluten free," I inform him, knowing he's going to roll his eyes.
He does.
"There's an easy solution," I taunt. "You can let me go. I have food in my RV and I'll be fine on my own."
"No, no. You're not going anywhere. And stop making this so fucking hard." He pins me with a stern glower that makes my pussy clench. "I have shit to do in Taos, but I can't get it done if I'm worried you're going to jump in your bus and run off the second I walk out."
I blink at him.
He leans over me, planting a huge fist on either side of the mattress beside me. "So here's how it's going to go. You're going to tell me what you want for breakfast, and I'm going to get it. Then you're going to curl up on this bed or on the couch out there and rest while I take care of business. And when I get back, you'll be right where I left you. Or there will be consequences. Understand?"
A laugh escapes my lips. I don't know why I love this bossy side of him, but I do. "We'll see."
He growls. It's a real animal growl. A wolf growl.
I get totally wet and my muscles go slack, like my body's just surrendering itself up to him.
His nostrils flare and a ripple of shock runs across his face right before his eyes change from gray to a clearer light blue.
I go from propped up on the bed to flat on my back in a flash, Titus straddling my waist and pinning my good wrist beside my head. "You like trouble, don't you, lady?"
I push against his chest with the casted arm. "Don't call me lady."