Page 29 of Digging Deeper

“What?” He finally lets a little smile escape. That smile…

“I found out that it was apparently me who had something come up with my schedule and needed to switch PT times with the guy in room one-ten.” Gavin spins around toward some of his instruments of torture on the wall to get our session started, but when I say, “Thank you, Gav. Thanks for reminding me that I’m a fighter,” he stops.

Slowly turning back toward me, there are tears in his eyes, and his teeth are sunk into his pillowy bottom lip again.Why does he have so many succulent body parts?Before I have to worry about what he’d see if my dick made an appearance in these sweatpants, he says, “You’re welcome, Drix. I only want what’s best for you. I didn’t mean to trick you.”

“Nope, you were right to. Trust me, even if I never walk again, you saved me from the self-loathing that would’ve inevitably come from not at least trying.” I shrug at my own ridiculous plan.

“You know, it’s human nature to want to head off disappointment, if at all possible. Don’t beat yourself up. I don’t think you were really aware of what you were doing.” He gives me another small Gavin smile. A smile I’m starting to crave.

“I figure I’m already at least as strong as Claudia since I was practically a gym rat, and as she pointed out this morning”—because she’s much more courageous than me—“there are parallel bars set up right over there that appear to be my height, so I thought if I have to work my arms, maybe I could just, you know… um, like Claudia does. Hold myself on the bars by my arms and let my feet rest on the ground, maybe see what happens?”

Before I can process, I have an armful of Gavin pressing against my chest; his fruity scent intoxicating my senses as much as his body invading my space stimulates my cock. Then he’s springing off of me, brown eyes wide with horror, like he stabbed me instead of hugged me. “I guess that’s a yes?” I tease.

He’s clearly embarrassed, but he nods his head emphatically and beams at me, face lighting up brighter than a summer day. I bite my tongue—hard, and pray he doesn’t look at my lap.

12

Gavin

Ican’t keep the grin off my face as I watch Drix working on the parallel bars. He’s been pushing himself harder and harder these past few weeks, and it’s finally paying off.

He’s sweating bullets as he finally scoots his right foot forward, taking his first step since he was shot in the line of duty. My hands cover my mouth as my eyes fill with happy tears, and he takes another step. I breathe out to myself, “You can do it, Drix.” Then I say a little louder so he can hear me, “You’ve got this, Drix. You can do it.”

He shoots me a small look filled with annoyance and something else—affection, maybe?—before he concentrates on his legs again. He pushes his right foot forward, taking another step, holding his weight on his shaking arms, then pushes his left forward.He’s walking. He’s finally walking.

I move into his space because I can tell he’s getting tired, but I don’t put my hands on him yet. I’m here if he starts to fall, but I don’t get in the way. He takes two more steps before he stops to rest most of his weight on one elbow, then looks at me with his hair falling across his forehead, and I have to hold my hands at my side to keep myself from moving the sweaty strands to the side. Drix’s smile starts off small, but it grows wide the longer he looks at me, and a small laugh bubbles out of me. I’m giddy with excitement, and the only thing holding me back from hugging him right now is the fact that I’d probably knock us both to the ground if I did.Although rolling around on the ground with him would be—No! Nope! Don’t go there.

He’s so gorgeous; I didn’t think anything could top his brooding look he usually sports, but I was so very wrong because when he smiles at me like that, the rest of the world disappears, overshadowed by his bright happiness. He’s handsome, gorgeous, sexy.

“I walked,” he says.

I laugh. “You did! You should be so proud of yourself, Drix!”

He shoots me that smile again, then tilts his head back and I see the strain he’s trying to hide from me. Walking for the first time is a lot on his body, and I don’t want him to wear himself out.

“Let me help you.” I step closer and wrap my arm around his waist before we do an awkward walk-drag-carry thing to the end of the parallel bars where his wheelchair is waiting. Once he’s sitting down, I can’t help myself, I just have to hug him. So I wrap my arms around his neck in a quick squeeze, whispering, “Congratulations, Officer Weston. You’re going to be up and running in no time.”

He pats me on the back a couple of times as he mutters, “Thanks, Gav.”

I take a breath, soaking up his leathery, musky scent before I pull away. A strange look passes over his face before his smile is back in place. We go through a few more exercises so he can cool down, then I walk with him back to his room, not that he needs an escort or anything, it’s just something I’ve been doing because… well, I guess because I like spending time with him.

When we get back to his room, he turns his chair around to face me, the happy and proud expression still on his face as he asks, “Did I tell you what the doctor said yesterday?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so.” I didn’t see anything new on his chart this morning, so I have no clue what he’s talking about.

“Since I’ve proven that I can take care of myself, and I finally conquered the stairs with the walker, he finally agreed with me; he’s going to let me go home and come in for PT.” His smile is big again, making me grin in return.

“That’s wonderful, Drix!” And it is. I know he’s been unhappy being stuck here, so hopefully going home will give him even more encouragement. Getting back his independence is going to be great for his self-esteem.

“He’s going to release me in two days. I haven’t told Holds yet.”

“Well, he’s going to get all kinds of good news when he comes in for dinner tonight.”

Drix nods. “Are you staying for dinner, too?”

I hadn’t planned on it, but… “Do you want me to?”

His eyes scan my face for a brief moment. “Yeah, I do.”

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