Annie's Song(38)
“Claire.” He whispered against her lips, that sand rough voice sending a wave of heat through her. “I love you, sweet.” His lips trailed down the side of her throat. “Gods, I thought I lost you.” He wrapped her in his arms, lifted his head to look at her. She wanted to kiss away the pain she knew she put there. “I never felt so helpless.”
“I’ll try not to be stabbed by a knife with a death spell again, just for you.”
His laugh eased some of that pain, just as she intended. “Spending too much time with Annie, again.”
“Her friendship is good for me. It keeps me from taking pretty much everything too seriously.” He raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t know me before I met her. I was—let’s just say not really social.”
“And you open a retail shop.”
“Stop judging, Jinn, and kiss me.”
He obliged, sinking with her to the bed. Claire was lightheaded, and every muscle shook with the effort, but she didn’t care. This was life, celebrated. And she needed to celebrate. Even with Marcus all but cocooning her, he was still incredibly gentle, as if she’d break with the least bit of weight on her.
She decided to remedy that, and slid both arms around his back, gathering herself for a shift.
“Mom?”
They both froze.
Marcus eased back, looked into her eyes. Biting her lip, she tried not to smile. Hell, she wanted to laugh at the shock and embarrassment battling with each other on his face.
She turned her head, let the smile cross her face. Zach stood in the doorway, his face flushed. Her heart skipped when she saw the crutches. “Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”
“Can I come in?”
“Of course. Marcus and I were just making out.”
“Um—okay.” He swung in, surprisingly adept with the crutches. Marcus all but leapt off her, standing on the opposite side of the bed. Claire didn’t have the heart to tell him that his shirt was unbuttoned to the waist.
Once Zach got close she saw he was as embarrassed as Marcus. “Come here and give me a hug, son of mine.”
Setting the crutches aside, he lowered himself to the bed, and launched himself at her, hugging her so tightly she had trouble breathing.
“I was so scared,” he whispered. She felt his tears on her throat, and pulled him in closer. “I felt you—dying, and I couldn’t do anything . . .”
“Hush, sweetheart.” Claire rocked him, let him vent his fear. Just holding him made her feel stronger. “We’re all safe now.” Once he settled, she eased back, brushed hair off his face. “How are you feeling?”
He shrugged. “Okay.”
“And your leg?”
“It hurts, a little.” He picked at the blanket, and Claire knew he was avoiding. “Marcus said it would take a while, because of the source.”
“The elemental.” He bobbed his head. “Zach, how did you know I was dying?” His shoulders hunched. “Look at me, now. I want to know.”
He obeyed, after a long hesitation. One hand crept up to the amethyst at his throat. “I could—feel your heartbeat.”
She glanced over at Marcus, who looked just as surprised. It seemed her connection to the pendant wasn’t burned out by Zach when he fell.
“Why don’t you stay in here with me tonight, sweetheart? There are two beds, and I’d feel better, having you close by.” That he didn’t even make a token argument told her he was still shaky. “Marcus, can you get some sweats for him?”
He left without a word. Claire knew he wasn’t happy about it.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“No thanks necessary. Are you hungry?”
For the first time a smile crossed his face. “Duh.”
She laughed, hugging him again. Her boy, her son. She had no idea, when she accepted him into her life on that cold October night, that he would change everything. Now she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
“All right, smart mouth—grab the room service menu. I haven’t eaten since—Lord, I don’t remember. We are going to order a feast.”
She pushed herself to her feet, still weak, but determined to start moving around on her own. Zach’s whoop had her heart jumping in her throat.
“What—”
“They’ve got roast beef sandwiches, Mom. Can I order one?”
She clutched the footboard, waited for her heart to settle back in her chest. “They won’t be the caliber of Lily’s.”
“I know—but roast beef. I’ll hold in my disappointment.”
“Zach, my love, you can order whatever your stomach desires.”
*
“I’m so sorry, Eric.”