Page 102 of Roses Are Dead
25
Roishin
The club had resources across the country. Members from every club volunteered to get tested. And thankfully, Beth responded to the antibiotics. They moved her back to a regular room, and she could have visitors again.
John called me first.
“Did you need me to watch the children?”
“No, Beth’s been asking for you.”
Thank the Goddess. “Let me check with Bear.” He was hovering nearby, listening in as he always did, so I quickly told him the news.
“She wants to see me.”
His brief deliberation was marked with a subtle grimace he tried to hide by licking his lips. “Okay.”
I relayed it to John.
“Do you have to ask permission for everything?” The accusation in his tone was palpable.
“It’s called respect.”
The silence on his end told me what he thought about that. Finally, he said, “Only you, Rose. The doctors are clearing each person on a case-by-case basis.”
As was protocol. You had to be healthy, go through thorough sanitary steps, and wear the protective gowns. We’d both been through this once before. “Fifteen minutes, right?”
“Ten. She’s really weak.”
My heart thumped harder. I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t cry. When I recovered, I told him, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Bear was already pulling down my long coat from the hook. He handed it to me as I wiped the phone number from the call history.
“We’re not taking your bike?” It was a nice day with no reason to ride enclosed.
He studied the keys hanging by the door. “You’ll be more comfortable in the truck.” With that, he grabbed his plain coat from the hook.
Before I climbed into the vehicle, I stopped in front of Bear and went up on tiptoe and framed his face with my hands. “Thank you. I know you would rather ride.”
His dark eyes softened slightly. “Yeah, but I hate riding with a bitch crying on my back.”
I rolled my eyes. This was the real him. Showing he cared by actions and burying it under layers of crassness. I squeezed his beard, tugging slightly. “I’m not a bitch.”
His mouth tightened, fighting the smile that curled the corners. “Keep telling yourself that. Witch.” There was a flare of heat that sparked between us. I inhaled, savoring the connection before letting go and climbing in the truck.
Even though we weren’t on his bike, he reached over to keep a hand on my leg whenever he could. I covered it, caressing the rough skin and tracing the tattoos. Each finger had a runestone inked into the skin. I brushed the stroked lines and recited the meanings. Fehu, Uruz, Kano, Nauthiz. For the uninitiated, you’d see them and read, “fuck.” But they really meant wealth, strength, creativity, and restraint. Bear knew the meanings. He had to.
“Did you do these?” They didn’t match most of his artwork.
“I had to drill them left-handed. They’re a little shaky, but… Yeah.”
I lifted his hand and kissed each one.
A small smile twitched into place as I did.
I spoke to his fingers. “You’re mine. And I’m yours.”
He braked hard, pulling to the side of the road. I scanned for danger or the cause of his abrupt stop.
