Page 73 of Merciless
My dad helped us bring some belongings into the house and then took his leave, likely sensing that the five of us wanted to be alone together. The first thing I did was crash in the nearest bedroom. I didn't care or know whose room it was, I just wanted to lay down on a real bed in my house.
Mari's soft laugh floated in from the doorway the moment my back hit the mattress. "Do you, uh—"
"Get in here." I beckoned her in with my eyes still closed in bliss. "All you fuckers get in here."
The mattress dipped as she climbed on, then movement was all around me as the guys joined her. Mari nestled against my chest while Jandro spooned me from the other side with an exaggerated, contented sigh. I couldn't be bothered telling him to fuck off, even as a joke. He reached across my waist to rest his fingertips on Mari's side and I was damn glad he was there. That she had him while she didn't have Shadow and me.
Gunner snuggled up against Mari's back, sandwiching her between us while Shadow took Jandro's usual spot, scooting lower down the bed to rest his head on Mari's legs.
Once settled into our cuddle pile, the five of us let out a breath collectively. I couldn't explain why but it felt like a final release. The last nail in the coffin of the nightmare that had been our lives. We were all here, alive and at home. If I had any doubts, I could just reach out and touch any one of them.
Mari started laughing at our collective sigh. "So now what do we do?"
"Take naps," Gunner murmured, already sounding half-asleep.
"I'm all for that." Jandro snuggled harder against my back, purposely trying to get a reaction out of me.
Joke's on you, buddy. You're actually pretty comfy back there.
"Whatever the fuck we want." I reached back to pat his face.
Shadow looked up at Mari, idly caressing her legs. "Is there something you want to do now, lover?"
Mari seemed thoughtful, chewing her lip.
"Tell us, sugar," I urged, running a light touch over her face. "Now that nothing is in your way, what would you like to do?"
Her gaze met mine. "I think...I might want to become a doctor."
"Overachiever," Gunner grunted. Shadow growled and swung to hit him somewhere, the blow landing with a soft thud. "Ow, dude! I was fucking joking."
"Uh-huh." Mari laughed and tugged at Gunner's hair before looking again at me. "Dr. B's been talking about starting a training program. We really need a bigger team of doctors, and while I already do a lot of those duties, it would add to my credibility if I went back to school and actually got an MD."
"That all makes perfect sense," I said, trailing a finger along her jaw. "But is it whatyouwant to do?"
Jandro's hand on her waist closed to hold her there. "We support whatever you want to do, Mariposita."
"I like theideaof it," Mari mused. "But I'm still not sure yet. Anyway, it'll be a while before the training program actually gets put together, so I have time to decide."
"Perfect." Gunner nuzzled the back of her head. "More time for naps."
She looked over her shoulder to kiss him, which exposed a long, beautiful sliver of neck to me. I leaned in to kiss her there, pausing to savor the heat of her skin on my mouth. Being able to touch her intimately was not possible at the hospital, but now...now we werehome.
Mari's body shifted as Gunner and I subtly pressed in toward her. Just the shape of her against me, the friction of her movements, made my hands curl into fists in her clothes. It had been so, so long. Ineededmy wife. If I didn't have her, I would...
Mari faced me again, catching my mouth in a kiss that matched my own hunger. I pulled her flush to me, bringing her leg over my hip and not caring who else was around as long as I hadher.
I rolled to my back with Mari straddling me, clumsily pulling at her clothes with my gimpy hands until a stabbing pain shot through my arm.
"Ah, fuck!" I clutched at my arm, more in annoyance than anything else. I hadn't felt any random pains in a while and it was damned inconvenient for it to be happening right now.
Mari took my arm in both hands and rubbed over the area with her thumbs. "You're okay, love. Better?"
"Yeah." It had already faded to a dull throbbing under her touch.
"It's your connective tissue back here. Maybe even your nerves too." She smirked down at me. "Maybe you're not ready for sex yet."
I huffed dismissively. "I will be the judge of that—ah!" I tried to reach for her again, only to feel my arm and shoulder vehemently protesting.
