Page 41 of Laying it Bare Biker Style: Ryder

“I’m so relieved. I wouldhave died a little inside if – ”

“Hey.” Cupping my face inhis hands, he brushed his lips across mine. “They love you as do Iand would do anything to protect you. Besides, they’re tough likeyou so even if they get knocked down, they come back reallyquickly, swinging.”

Grayson hopped in the front and amoment later the truck was in motion.

Closing my eyes, I cuddled back intoRyder’s arms and tried to focus on the fact that I didn’t have toworry about Wasp coming after me anymore. Angel and Misti were okayand I repeated the words “the baby is fine” in my head the entireway to the clinic.

When we pulled into the parking lot,all of the spots were empty. It was incredibly dark outside,something my brain hadn’t fully processed until this moment. But ithad been early evening when I had been kidnapped. And I couldn’t besure of the amount of time that had passed before Ryder came to myrescue.

“No one ishere.”

“Grayson texted Blooms, soshe is here. No worries, Sage. That’s why we pay her the big bucks.She knows to expect us needing care at all hours. And this isn’teven close to the worst hour we’ve ever shown up.” Securing me inhis arms, he slid out of the back seat.

“I’ll hang out here andmake some phone calls.” Grayson gave us a nod.

With me cradled to his chest, Ryderrushed to the back door of the building and rapped threetimes.

A moment later, Dr. Michaels poppedher head out. One look at me and her eyes widened. “Holy hell,Ryder. What kind of shit do you have her messed up in? Get her inhere.” Gesturing inside, she moved to the side to allow him spaceto pass before closing and securing the door. “This is not evenacceptable for someone not in her condition.”

“See, she’s concerned thebaby isn’t okay too.” Panic overwhelmed me again and tears floodedmy cheeks as I struggled to catch my breath. “I didn’t do enough toprotect my baby.” She wasn’t even truly Ryder’s, but she belongedto us just the same. I loved her just the same and would protecther like she was actually our own. But I hadn’t. Icouldn’t.

“Hey, hey, Sage. Look atme.” Grabbing my chin delicately between his fingers, he drew mygaze to his. “It’s going to be okay. She’s just giving me a hardtime. She likes to bust my balls. She didn’t mean anything with herwords other than to give me shit.”

“Let’s get her into an examroom so we can get done and she can get home. And I won’t knowanything definitive until I run some tests but from my briefprimary assessment, I’m not alarmed. You aren’t bent over in severeabdominal pain and there isn’t any blood other than on your face,so those are good signs.” Dr. Michaels led us to an exam room andclicked on the light. “Lay her on the bed and I’ll getstarted.”

While she busied herself gatheringequipment and supplies, Ryder placed me carefully onto thecot.

Then he kissed my forehead beforepulling a chair over to my side and taking my hand in his,entwining our fingers. “I got you, Sage.”

I nodded and then settled my gaze onhis while Dr. Michaels gave me a thorough exam and ran a battery oftests. He never took his eyes off of me and would run his fingerslightly along my cheek or caress my arm or play with myfingers.

It didn’t take much beggingto get her to check on the baby first and relief surged through meas tears poured down my cheeks when we were able to hear theheartbeat, strong, steady, and healthy. Thetransvaginal ultrasoundwas a bituncomfortable, but I would have endured anything to find out if shewas okay.

About an hour later, the doctorstepped back into my room to give us the results of the final testsshe had run on me. “Other than some bruising, you are in prettygood shape for going toe to toe with some monster. You’re going tobe sore for a few days and I’m sure the bruising will get a lotworse before it gets better. Rest and lots of fluids and when youare hungry make sure you eat.” Taking my free hand in hers, shegave me a squeeze. “If anything changes at all, the slightestlittle thing, you have Ryder bring you in immediately. I’m nottrying to scare you; everything checked out great, but you wentthrough an intense trauma and mental status plays a big role onyour physical being as well.” Then she fixed Ryder with a seriouslook. “Keep a really close eye on her. Take off work tomorrow. Sheis very likely still riding the tail end of her adrenaline rush andwhen she comes down, she may come down hard and there is a goodchance it’s going to take an emotional toll on her. You’re used tothings like this; she is not.”

Her gaze swung back to me. “It’s notuncommon for people who have gone through a trauma, as you have, todrop and have their emotions all over the place. Rest will be thebest thing for you if you’re able to sleep. At this point, I don’tsuggest taking any sleeping aids. There are some that are safe forpregnancy, but let’s see how you do first. And talk to Ryder if youfind yourself feeling off. Don’t keep it inside to spare himbecause he’s a big tough biker dude who doesn’t talkfeelings.”

Ryder opened his mouth, but I cut himoff.

“I know he’ll take greatcare of me.” I smiled up at him.

She gave me a knowing grin. “He’sright; I do love giving him a hard time. And I have to agree withyou. I’m sure you’re in great hands. But just make sure he knowswhat you need.”

I needed to be touched by those hands.I needed them all over me. I needed to get lost in him and banishthe horrid memories of my abduction and abuse by that monster andthe fear that I was going to lose the baby and never see Ryderagain.

Swinging my legs over the edge of thecot, I slowly slid my feet to the floor.

Ryder’s arm wound around my shouldersinstantly but I waved him off.

“I’m okay to walk. But youcan hold my hand.”

He kissed the crown of my head.“Thanks, Doc. We’ll get out of here so you can get home. And I wantto get Sage home as well.” He led me toward the back of thebuilding and then the two of us stepped out into the night air.Stars dotted the inky sky and a sliver of the moon peeked out frombehind a cluster of clouds.

When we climbed into the back seat,Grayson twisted around and raised an eyebrow.

“Everything check outokay?”

“Yeah. She just needs restand that’s what I plan on seeing she gets plenty of. I won’t begoing in to work tomorrow.”

---