Page 42 of November Reign
“When he wakes up, can you tell him he can come back? I should have trusted him and never made him leave.”
“You can tell him yourself as soon as he’s up to hearing it.”
“Damon, c’mon. We need to tell the others what happened. Thyme needs some space.” Cody looked at me, sympathy in his eyes. “You’ll call if you need us, right?”
“I will.”
“Just put the earpiece back in when you need us,” Parker said, reminding me he was listening in.
They left, and I removed the little bud from my ear. Though I wanted a shower to wash away all the dirtfrom the fight, I couldn’t bear to leave Oak for even a moment.
Instead, I pulled off my shoes, then crawled onto the bed next to Oak. I lowered his shield so I could place my hand on his chest.
“Prr?” Hela popped her head up.
“Alright, you can check on him too, but be careful, okay? He’s hurt.”
Together, we waited for hours for Oak to wake. I was too scared to sleep, even though I was bone tired.
“Hey,” Oak’s voice was scratchy. “I’m safe. I’ll heal, thanks to you. Get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“I want that kiss when I do.” There was no arguing with him. The relief I felt at seeing his eyes open had me relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever. He was here, he was safe. It was a struggle to stay awake.
Oak’s smile was blinding. His eyes slid shut again, exhaustion from the healing taking over. He was moments from sleep.
“Sure thing.”
Healing
Thyme
Soft lips pressed tomine roused me from sleep. Coming in for another kiss, I felt the smirk Oak was giving me.
“Awake?” he whispered against my mouth. He drew back a little to let me answer. Immediately, I missed his warmth, his closeness.
“It’d be odd if I wasn’t. Do you just go around kissing sleeping people?” I arched an eyebrow at him. His expression was so open, amused. I loved it.
“Only you.”
I leaned up to capture his mouth in a long, drugging kiss. Morning breath be damned.
“Right answer,” I said as we broke apart briefly. I kissed along his smooth jaw. “I think I should be the only person you kiss from now on.” Once again, my lips returned to his. I loved having the freedom to be with him like this.
He pressed our foreheads together. “As long as I’m the only person you kiss.”
“I’m on board with that.” A grin stretched across my face. An answer to the one on Oak’s. We lay there, on our sides, just smiling at each other like fools.
The moment was so perfect; I wanted it to stretch on forever.
Reality burst the bubble when Oak winced. He’d stretched to get even closer to me, clearly pulling on one of his many injuries. Those witches and shifters had really done a number on him.
The thought that we might not have made it on time to save him haunted me. A minute later even and he could have died.
“Are you okay?”
“Feeling sore. I think the pain tonics have worn off. You’ve healed me really well, I’m just…”
“It’s the bruising.” I sighed, frustrated with myself. Instead of getting lost in the feeling of his lips on mine once again, I should have been checking his pain level. “Somehow, the magic never touches the bruises. I’ll get you another tonic.” I attempted to slip out of the bed.
