Recovery by Nicole Dykes (best time to read books .txt) 📗

“Fuck yeah.” He starts to strip me, and I do the same, my hands dragging over his muscular arms.

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Haven’t changed your mind?”

His fingers sweep over my hardened nipples through my bra. “Hell no.”

We lie down on the stage, and he enters me at an achingly slow pace, making me groan with need. “I’ll never change my mind when it comes to you, Mya. You’re what I wanted from the day I saw you.”

“I never believed love could happen like that.”

“It does. It hit me hard.”

I smile. “I don’t think I ever had a chance of really leaving you behind once I had you.”

He smiles and pushes all the way inside me.

“We’re going to be happy, Mya. We’re going to make a ton of tiny little humans, and we’re going to make sure they’re good. We’re going to make the world better by just being together.”

“That seems a little egomaniacal.”

He pulls back and then thrusts inside me. “I have a large ego.”

I roll my eyes but bite my bottom lip as he fills me. “Then let’s get this going already.”

He laughs at that but increases his pace. I’m eager to feel him release deep inside me. I want this next step with him. I went off birth control the day we got married. I didn’t think I’d ever want to bring babies into this dark world. But that was before Jase.

Before he showed me this part of the world. The good part, full of light and hope.

I’m forever grateful to this man for that.

Almost eight months later

“Oh my God, why can’t they leave me alone?” My very pregnant wife groans when her phone starts to ring on the table next to our bed.

“Ignore it.” I kiss her cheek, and the phone stops. But then, it immediately rings again.

Okay, that’s enough. I grab her phone and answer it before she can object. “What?”

“Mm . . .Mya? Is Mya there?” A shaky voice comes over the line, and I know this isn’t a reporter.

“This is her husband.”

“Oh . . .” she sounds surprised, “um . . . This is Charity . . . I . . .”

Charity. That Charity? I mouth her name to Mya. She struggles to sit up, her pregnant belly making it hard, and I help her as she takes the phone.

“Charity? What’s wrong?”

Mya’s eyes are full of tears as she listens and chokes on a sob.

“Oh my God. Are you okay?”

I hold my breath in my lungs as I wait. Mya is almost nine months pregnant. We have a house. Our business is doing well.

I know she has a phobia that once things are going well, something will destroy it.

Tears slide down her cheeks as she shakes her head. “I’m so sorry, Charity. I would gladly come and get you, but . . .” her eyes flick to mine, “I don’t think I can fly. I’m pregnant. Really, pregnant.”

“What’s going on?”

She looks at me, her eyes hopeless. “She’s in the hospital in Kansas City.”

I immediately pull out my phone, needing to fix this.

“Yeah. I know. A lot has changed. But still . . . I’d be there for you in a heartbeat. I live in Tennessee now.”

I call Finn, and he answers on the second ring, “What the fuck? You realize it’s midnight, and my cock is buried in—”

“Stop,” I silence him. “I’m sorry, but I need a favor.”

Mya’s eyes dart to me. “Hang on, Charity.”

“What’s wrong?” I hear the concern in Finn’s voice.

“Mya’s friend Charity is in the hospital. She needs someone to pick her up.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Do I sound like I’m kidding. I’m sorry I interrupted, but I need you to pull out and go help her.”

Mya’s eyes widen, and I shake my head, winking at her.

“Fuck. Fine. Which hospital.”

I turn to Mya. “What hospital.”

She speaks into the phone, “Which hospital? We have a friend who can help.” Silence and deep concern. “No, Charity. It’s no problem. No, please don’t hang up.” Her voice sounds desperate and turns into a shrill cry as she lowers her phone, the tears flowing. “She said she didn’t know I was pregnant or she never would have called. She wouldn’t tell me which hospital.”

My heart aches for my beautiful wife, and I know I’m going to owe Finn huge. “She wouldn’t say what hospital, but it’s in Kansas City.”

I can hear him dressing and smile when I hear keys jingle. “You’re saying you want me to drive three fucking hours to Kansas City and go to, what, twenty fucking hospitals and ask for Mya’s friend?”

“Charity.”

“Fuck.”

Mya starts to get out of bed, and I know this stubborn woman has it in her head that she’s going to Kansas City. I take her hand in mine and shake my head. “Finn, I need your help. Mya is too pregnant, and by the time I can get a flight there or drive, Charity will probably be gone.”

“I’m going, asshole. But fuck.”

I grin and then let out a relieved breath. “He’s going.”

Mya holds her hand out for my phone, and I give it to her. “Finn?” She rolls her eyes. “Listen to me. She’s in trouble. She wouldn’t give me many details, but she said they won’t let her leave unless someone signs her out. I don’t know why she wouldn’t call her brother, Christian, but she’s been gone for so long . . .” She starts to cry, and I can’t imagine Finn will handle that well. She laughs and wipes her tears. “Asshole.”

I growl, not wanting to know what my best friend said.

“Thank you for this. Please keep her safe.”

She hands the phone back to me. “Hey.”

“Hey. Look, I kicked the chick out, and I’m in my car. Don’t let her get her hopes up, man. This sounds like a fucking long shot.”

“I know.” I smile sadly at Mya. “Try. Please. I’ll owe you one.”

“You’ll owe me a shit ton.”

I smile because I know it’s not really true. Finn’s my brother.

We hang up, and I hug Mya’s body to me, kissing the top of her head. “It’s going to be okay.”

She shakes her head. “It was