Page 101 of Bones
My heart pounded so loud it drowned out everything else. The defenses I'd spent my life building felt paper thin compared to the strength of my feelings for Trey.
“You’ll get hurt.” My voice quavered as I threw up the last defense I had left.
“Good thing you can heal me then,” he grinned.
I tried to glare at him, tears still slipping down my cheeks, but my mouth curled up into a smile. I saw his gaze sharpen on my lips, surprise and then delight in his eyes.
“You dumbass,” I said fiercely, then I pushed myself up on my toes and kissed him.
His lips were gentle on mine, still holding my face like something precious. My arms entwined around his neck, pulling myself even closer, pressing our bodies together. I felt him smile against my lips and then his hands slid into my hair to the back of my head, angling my face and deepening the kiss in a way that made my stomach swoop and?—
“Fuckin’ hell.”
We jerked apart and looked down at Sam who glared through cracked eyes.
“I amtryingto sleep here.”
“Sorry, Sam,” Trey said with a grin, not sounding sorry at all.
“How come I save your life and he gets the kiss?” Sam muttered.
I felt unsteady, and I couldn’t stop smiling. I crouched next to Sam and pressed a kiss to his forehead. The shock on his face made an actual laugh escape my lips, and his mouth dropped open.
“Did you know she could laugh?” he asked Trey.
“She can do anything,” Trey replied.
I glanced over at Trey, my face warming, to see him smiling at me in a way that made me feel like I really could do anything. I had to look away before I burst into tears again. So I focused on Sam, noting how sweat beaded on his forehead.
“How do you feel?” I asked, slipping back into the familiar healer role. “Does anything hurt?”
Sam frowned. "I feel…weak. Like I've been sick for a long time or somethin'. It doesn't hurt. It did when your power was going through me, but now I just feel tired."
I frowned back. His breathing appeared shallow. I took his pulse and found his heart rate too fast. I hated that I couldn’t just use my power to heal him. It made me think of sitting in that hot med tent in the desert, watching people die from a fever, unable to save them. I released his wrist and took his hand, squeezing.
“You should sleep some more,” I said, trying to sound confident, “and later, I’ll bringyousome broth.”
He grinned, but his eyes were already half closed. “Alright, Shortcake.”
He fell asleep in seconds. His skin felt clammy and his color still looked far too grey. I tried to shove my anxiety down. I couldn’t do anything besides wait.
“How are you feelin’?” Trey asked.
I took a second to think about it. “Don’t yell at me, but I promise I actually feel fine.”
He laughed out loud, and I couldn't help the smile that crossed my face again in response. His laugh felt like sunshine, and I was the godsdamned fool soaking it up like I was starving for it.
“C’mere.” He reached out with his hand.
I let him pull me up and wrap me in his arms. I hadn’t felt so safe in someone’s arms since I was a child. When I looked up at him, he lowered his head to kiss me and?—
The door burst open, startling both of us. Mac stood in the doorway breathing heavily.
“Madame’s men are comin’ to arrest Bones.”
Both of us stood there staring at him for a breath before Trey seemed to panic.
“We can’t just let them take her!” he snapped.
