Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
“Is there a possibility the blockage developed naturally?” Gideon asked.
“In both lungs? I doubt it, but I’ll wait to see what exactly it is. If I can clear it, I will.”
Paul, as usual, didn’t waste time speaking. He lifted his palms and placed them an inch from Rory’s left lung, his features serene but still a mask of concentration. Watching Paul work was fascinating. Watching him work on Rory was nerve-wracking.
Gideon fixed his gaze on Rory’s face. She looked like an angel to him, with her dusting of golden freckles and the dark cherry–colored hair spread across the pillow. He wrapped his fingers around her much smaller hand and held her palm against his heart. After what seemed liked hours, Paul finally stepped away from the bed and staggered backward until he found the chair behind him.
Marc handed him a bottle of cold water, and Gideon waited, noting Paul struggled to breathe properly. It took a good half hour before Paul could talk to him, and then only in a whisper.
“Whitney introduced a bacterial infection. That created calcified granulomas—several—to block her airway. They aren’t cancerous, which is the good news. I was able to remove them. Whitney made it as difficult as possible for Rory to breathe. I’m not certain why, when she was already having trouble with asthma.” Paul sounded exhausted.
“I’ll help you to bed, Paul,” Marc said.
“She’s going to need rest, Gideon. This was a surgery. Don’t let her run around for a few days. I did my best to promote healing at the surgery sites, but she’s going to need care.” Paul stood up, swaying a little.
“She’ll get it,” Gideon assured him. “Thanks, Paul.”
Paul lifted a hand but didn’t reply as Marc helped him from the room.
THREE WEEKS LATER
Rain fell, the drops hitting the wide bank of windows that ran along one wall of the bedroom. The moan of the wind heralded the storm coming in from the sea. Clouds appeared in various shades of dark purples, deeper blues and blacks, rolling and tumbling low. Lightning forked in the lower edges of the clouds, leaping from one to the next.
Gideon felt the fierceness of the gathering storm in his body, matching the one moving in rapidly from over the sea. Rory lay in his bed beside him, staring up at him with her vivid green eyes filled with so much desire. She didn’t try to hide it from him. She never did. She reached up to touch his jaw with the pads of her fingers. He treasured when she stroked those caresses along his stony features, painting his jaw and lips with her love. The way she touched him always felt like a potent mixture of love and sensuality. He found her sexy beyond measure.
He took his time, leaning over her, needing to see her eyes change color, grow even darker with the fusion of love and heated lust right before her dark cherry–colored lashes fluttered and lowered as he took possession of her soft, perfect lips. He loved everything about her mouth. He pulled her into him, holding her closer, kissing her over and over, his heart nearly exploding.
Gideon hadn’t known he was capable of feeling this depth of emotion—the overwhelming kind of emotion that meant he knew if he lost Rory, it would utterly destroy him. He certainly hadn’t been aware he could feel such a powerful passion for any woman, let alone such intense love.
A ferocious need clawed at his belly and groin, raging to claim her, to make her wholly his. It was a primitive need, and again, one he didn’t recognize. Love kept his touch tender as he kissed his way from her lips to her chin, down her throat to her generous breasts. He kissed his way over the sweet curves. Her skin was like satin. Soft and smooth next to the roughness of him.
She gasped when he nuzzled her left nipple, her hips bucking. He pinned her beneath him with his body, fitting his hips into the cradle of hers as he drew the stiff peak into the hot cavern of his mouth. She cried out, her arms cradling his head to her, back arching to offer him better access. He pinched and tugged her right nipple gently. All the while, her body responded, hips jerking and body shivering or shuddering in answer.
He pulled back just enough to ensure desire was still foremost. She wore a dazed expression, her eyes dark with a combination of heat and lust. He ran his hand possessively from her throat to the slick cherry-red curls between her legs. All his. His need was once again taking a brutal grip on him as sparks of electricity crackled between them.
Murmuring reassurances to her, he kissed his way down her body, desperate to taste her. He felt like a man starving. Her scent had been wreaking havoc with him for weeks, threatening to drive him insane. Sometimes he woke at night, certain her taste was in his mouth. He dreamt of her and this moment, with her soft skin and hot body.