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  “I can see how that would happen, but that is not the case here. You know that.”

  “All I know is there is some highly implausible story that people can shift into bears, or lions, or tigers. Which do you think a tribunal would believe if someone reported me for improper patient-nurse behavior?”

  “We haven’t done anything improper… Yet.”

  “I’m in your bed.” She wriggled closer to him. “You do know that isn’t what nurses usually do. Or are you that irresistible to women, all your nurses fall into your bed?”

  He shifted his weight, pushing the fleeting moment of anger away. He wanted to take her now, to turn her on to her back, and slide between her thighs and make love to her until she cried out his name at the height of pleasure.

  He sighed, letting that frustration go, and decided to enjoy what he could of her in this moment. He cupped her face in his hand, and leaned forward to kiss her. She responded immediately, as hungry for him as he was for her. She was soft, her curvy body melded to his as if they were joined, and in this moment, they were. They were one, his pleasure her pleasure, her arousal his arousal.

  Skyla slipped a leg over his thighs, pressing herself against him. He wanted to touch her, to make her come. They didn’t have to be naked. Slipping his hand down between their bodies, he stroked her stomach, and then lower, waiting for her to pull back, but she didn’t, not even when he grazed her clit with his fingers, the fabric of her panties a barrier between them.

  Moaning gently, she moved to give him better access, and he pinched her clit between his thumb and forefinger, before sliding his finger along the length of her shielded sex. The heat between her thighs told him how aroused she was. Stroking, pinching, rubbing, her panties becoming wet as her need for release grew, she writhed against him.

  His kisses grew fiercer, his fingers probing, until she finally crested the wave of pleasure that had been waiting to break, and came, her body shuddering as her orgasm took hold of her. He didn’t let up. Pressing his finger against her sex, while his thumb rubbed her clit, he made her ride out her orgasm until she was completely spent.

  Only when she softened against him did her release her, with the words, “No, no other nurse has ever climbed into my bed.”

  She let out a sigh of contentment. “And no other nurse will.”

  “No other woman, ever again.” He kissed her lightly. “We should get some sleep.”

  “We should,” she said, slipping her hand down under the covers, and taking hold of his hand, bringing it up to her mouth and kissing his knuckles. “Thank you.”

  “I want to make you happy in every way,” he said, knowing that was not going to be easy. The same dull stirring had threaded its way through his body while he was kissing her, but it wasn’t enough for him to become fully aroused. It was frustrating, and yet hopeful. Two days ago, he would have sworn he could feel nothing from the waist down, now there was a subtle something.

  He laughed to himself. A something: that must be a medical term for it’s all in your head, or wishful thinking. But he’d take it. “Good night, Skyla.”

  She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, as if her kiss might turn him from a frog to a prince. “Good night, Jordan. Sweet dreams.”

  “I hope so,” he said, apprehensive as always that his dreams would be filled with the past. Why couldn’t he dream of the future, of Skyla laying naked on a mountain meadow while he looked down on her?

  ***

  His dreams weren’t sweet, but they weren’t terrible either, they were a vague nothingness. Until he heard something else, something that didn’t belong in sleep or dreams.

  She moved beside him, and he woke to see Skyla slipping out of bed and padding over to her robe, which was draped over a chair in the corner of the room. It took him a moment to wake up enough to process what was happening.

  “Hello?” she said into her phone.

  Jordan wiped his face, sudden concern passing through him. A glance at the clock on the nightstand told him it was 3:00 a.m. Only family or emergencies called at this time of night.

  “I see.” There was a hitch in her voice. “Is he going to be OK?” she asked.

  Jordan wanted to take the phone from her and demand to know what was happening and who was upsetting his mate. The need to protect her was almost too much. He rolled towards the edge of the bed, frustrated and helpless at being stuck in the bed. Then, to his astonishment, his ankle pressed down to lever him forward.

  He stopped moving, Skyla forgotten for one moment, as the elation swept over him. He could move his foot. Jordan pressed down again, only this time nothing happened. He tried again, nothing. His frustration with himself grew. He wanted to rage at himself, to tell himself to get over whatever it was that held him back, that made him an invalid.

  “I’ll come at once.”

  Her words, spoken into the phone were heartbreaking; as she ended the call, her phone still grasped in her hand, he could see tears on her cheeks. “Skyla. Come here, love. Tell me what’s wrong. Tell me how I can fix it.”

  She looked up at him and smiled sadly. “You can’t fix it. Only the doctors can, hopefully.” Her voice broke, and she got up and came to his open arms. “My dad had a heart attack. That was Dorothy. I have to go.”

  “Is he going to be OK?” Jordan asked, holding her close, soothing her as he tried to wipe her tears away.

  “Yes, she thinks so. The doctors are putting stents in to widen his arteries.” She turned to face him. “I’m going to ring Ben and see if he can arrange someone else to come here and stay with you.”

  “No,” he shook his head. “I don’t need anyone else.”

  “Please, I can’t leave you alone. I’ll worry.”

  “You don’t have to leave me alone,” he said. “I’m coming with you.”

  “Jordan, I don’t want you to have a setback.”

  “The only setback I’ll have will be caused by not being with you.” He stroked her hair and kissed her. “I want to be there for you. Please.”

  She looked at him, still beautiful despite her tear-stained face. “Thank you.” She hugged him and then pulled away. “I’ll pack what we need.”

  He sat up and reached across for his clothes. This was something he could do. He didn’t need the use of his legs, or the bear inside him to be there for his mate. But as he dressed, he wished he was whole all the same.

  Chapter Fifteen – Skyla

  “Are you sure?” she asked. They were seated in the car, all packed and ready to go, when she realized how much of a strain this might be on Jordan’s health. “You’ve spent the last couple of months in a hospital bed.”

  “I’m sure. I feel fit, and as normal as a man can who can’t feel his legs,” he replied, his smile easing her tension. She’d just found him, the last thing she needed was to lose him again because he’d overexerted himself.

  “I’ve checked the house is locked up, and I’ve left a message for Dylan to come over and check on it. I’m not sure how long we’ll be.”

  He placed his hand on hers as it rested on the steering wheel. Skyla had insisted she should drive, the hospital was only an hour and a half away, but she didn’t want him to get tired. Ever since the phone call from her stepmom, she had begun to fuss over Jordan like a mother hen. No longer was she pushing him for independence; she wanted him to be careful, to slow down and not push himself.

  “It takes as long as it takes,” he reassured her.

  “I’ve left a message for Ben at the hospital so that he doesn’t worry.” She mentally went through her checklist again, and ticked them all off for the third time.

  “Relax,” he said. “Just breathe. Then start the engine, you’ve done everything you need to do. By the time we get to the hospital, your dad will be out of surgery. Everything will be fine.” His voice was soothing, and she was so happy he had insisted on coming with her.

  “I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “I’m usually bette
r than this in a crisis.”

  “He’s your dad, you’re allowed to feel panicked, but he’ll be fine.”

  “I know. Best place for him, the hospital. At least Dorothy was there and called the ambulance quickly.” She turned the key in the ignition, and pulled forward, going through her mental checklist one last time as they drove away from the little house she already thought of as home.

  “He’ll be fine. And maybe he can come visit us while he recuperates.”

  “Really?” she asked, not knowing if her dad would agree to it, but thankful all the same.

  “Yes. I’d like to get to know them.”

  She snorted, feeling like her old self as she drove the car through the twilight hours, out of Bear Bluff. “Now you know how I feel about your family. I want them to know me. I want to know them.”

  “OK. Deal, we get engaged, and then we travel over to meet them.”

  “Engaged!” she exclaimed. “Already?”

  He laughed, shaking his head. “I want to marry you, Skyla, put a ring on your finger, the works.”

  “Do I have a say in this?” she asked, her panic changing directions. Weddings were not something she gave much thought to. She might have to get help to organize one.

  “As long as it’s yes,” he said.

  “Yes.” She nodded. “Yes, yes, yes.”

  “That’s better,” he said, brushing her cheek as they turned onto the highway.

  “I’m sorry.” She turned to look at him. He was handsome, he was kind and thoughtful, and he was hers. “I lost it, I never meant to talk to you as if you were incapable of looking after yourself.”

  “I know,” he said. “It’s one thing I’ve learned about you. And I want to learn everything about you.”

  Skyla grinned. “If you don’t like what you find out, tough, you made a marriage bargain, you don’t get to back out.”

  “I never will want to back out.” He moved in his seat, making himself more comfortable. “I get the impression life is never going to be boring for us.”

  “Good,” she said. “I like an adventure.”

  ***

  “But I don’t like this adventure,” she said to him as they entered the hospital.

  “Yes, I didn’t expect to be seeing the inside of a hospital anytime soon,” he said, as he wheeled himself towards the reception desk. He’d become so independent, she was glad they were mates, or she would be looking for a new job already.

  Wait, she still had to find a new job. Skyla pushed that thought away; she had to concentrate on her dad, which meant they had to find him.

  “Hello, we’re looking for Henry Martin, he’s been in surgery.” The receptionist smiled and tapped the name into the computer.

  “Let’s see. Henry Martin. Yes, third floor, he’s still in surgery as far as I know.”

  “Thank you.” Feeling numb, they went to the elevator, and pressed the button to call it down. Skyla stood chewing the inside of her cheek, trying to keep calm. Beside her, Jordan sat looking concerned, and then he reached out his hand and took hers, squeezing it, giving her a reassuring smile.

  “It will be OK.”

  She wanted to scream, ask him what if it wasn’t, but she kept calm, knowing he was right. Her dad was in good health, he was fit. If anyone was going to survive this, he was.

  The elevator arrived and they waited for the three people inside to get out before they entered and Skyla pressed the button, taking them to the third floor. As the doors pinged open, she was tempted to press the button for ground floor and just run away, pretending this wasn’t happening and it was all a mistake.

  Jordan, however, wheeled himself forward, pulling her with him. They stopped, looking to see which way to go, when she caught sight of a familiar woman, standing staring at the coffee machine.

  “Dorothy?” Skyla said. Dorothy continued to stare at the machine.

  Skyla loosed Jordan’s hand and walked quickly towards the woman who had become the main focus of her dad’s life. Any jealousy or resentment Skyla might have felt before was gone as she looked at the woman’s stricken face.

  “Dorothy, is everything all right? Is there any news?” Skyla asked.

  Dorothy looked up, confused, and Skyla half expected her to ask, who are you? Then her face broke and recognition spread over it. “Skyla. Oh, thank goodness you are here.” Her hand gripped Skyla’s. “Your dad will be so pleased.”

  “Is he OK?” Skyla asked, feeling hopeful.

  “He’s in recovery.” Dorothy took a shuddering breath. “The doctor said it was successful.” Her hands started to shake, and she put her left hand to her face, looking bewildered. “I don’t know what I’d have done if I lost him.”

  “Let’s get you some coffee, or tea, you look all done in. Have you eaten?” Skyla took hold of Dorothy’s hand and held it tightly, worried they were going to have a second emergency on their hands.

  “The nurse said she would get me some breakfast. I came to get some tea. Tea and toast, that’s what my mom always gave me to make me feel better.” Dorothy’s grip on Skyla’s hand tightened. “I wish we could be friends, Skyla. I know your dad misses you.”

  “We are friends,” Skyla said, feeling guilty that she hadn’t gone and seen her dad as much as she should have. “But you make my dad so happy, I always feel as if I’m invading your privacy.”

  “No, no, never.” Dorothy insisted.

  “Let’s talk about this later. We need to get you some tea and find the nurse with your toast. Then we’ll try to find out how my dad is.”

  “I’ll get it,” Jordan said, who had been sat back, watching the exchange between the two women. “Milk? Sugar?”

  “Yes, please, white, one sugar.”

  Jordan made his way over to the machine, while Dorothy watched. Then her stepmom asked, “Is he your boyfriend?”

  “Sort of,” Skyla answered. “He was my client, but we’ve kind of fallen in love.” She smiled sadly. “So now I know how you and my dad feel for each other.”

  “I hope so. I never meant to take him away from you,” Dorothy said. “Thank you.” She took her tea from Jordan.

  “Here, you should have some coffee, it’s been a long night,” Jordan said, handing Skyla a cup.

  “Thank you.” Skyla took the cup, but before she had a chance to sip it, a nurse came around the corner, looking for Dorothy.

  “Any news?” Dorothy asked, her face panicked.

  “He’s come out of the anesthesia well. Doctor thinks it’s been a complete success. He should be able to come home tomorrow, but we’ll know more later.”

  “So soon?” Dorothy asked.

  “If all goes well, and you think you can manage. He’ll feel like a new man. You acted quickly, there doesn’t seem to be any damage to his heart,” the nurse said.

  “Hear that, Skyla? He’s going to be OK.” Dorothy hugged Skyla, a thing they had never done before, not in any natural way. Their relationship had always been so much more distant.

  “That’s the best news.” She hugged Dorothy back, determined to make an effort with her stepmom. Looking back on it now, she had been childish, and she had to admit, this experience had already left Skyla in no doubt exactly how much Dorothy loved her dad.

  “I’ll let you know when you can go and sit with him,” the nurse said, walking off, leaving the three of them standing in the corridor.

  “Shall we go and wait outside the recovery room?” Dorothy asked. “We’ll be right there ready when they say we can see him.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Skyla said, sipping her coffee.

  “I’m going to go and get some fresh air,” Jordan said. “Do you mind?”

  “No, as long as you don’t run out on me,” Skyla said.

  “No running here.” He pointed to his legs.

  “You know what I mean,” Skyla said, bending down and kissing him. “And thank you. For being here. For being you.”

  “You are welcome. I’ll try to call around and get us a
hotel room too.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Dorothy said. “You can stay with us.”

  “That’s so very kind, Dorothy. But we can’t.” Dorothy’s face dropped. “No. Not because we don’t want to. But there’s no downstairs bathroom, or bedroom.”

  “Oh,” Dorothy exclaimed. “Of course, silly me.”

  “It’s very kind of you, thank you, Dorothy,” Jordan added. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Thanks, Jordan,” Skyla said, and watched him leave.

  “Lucky girl,” Dorothy said to her quietly. “He seems like a nice guy.”

  “He is.” Skyla looked away from Jordan and turned her attention to the recovery room. She longed to see her dad and know he was all right. She wanted to tell him she loved him. It struck her that she didn’t say those words enough, and had never said it to Jordan.

  Next time she saw Jordan, she would tell him. Next time they were alone together she would show him.

  Chapter Sixteen – Jordan

  It took him three attempts to find a hotel that had the facilities they needed. The first two were booked up; there seemed to be a lack of hotels with disabled facilities, something he had never noticed before. Probably because it was one of those things that went unseen until you actually needed it yourself.

  After booking the room, he wandered around the hospital grounds, before looking at his watch and figuring he should go back inside.

  There was a side entrance he could use, that led straight from the gardens and into a physical therapy area. It was quiet, no one about yet at this hour of the morning. As he carried on along the corridor, he saw the empty gym, and couldn’t help taking a look. One of his hobbies, before the accident, had been keeping his body fit; he knew that to get his job done he had to work at optimum levels of fitness.

  Pushing the doors open, he went inside, silently gliding around the gym, until he came to a set of parallel bars. He’d used these before; they were the same as those in the physical therapy room at the hospital where he had been initially sent to recover. The physical therapist there had talked to him at length as to how they would try to teach him to walk again. He’d tried, forcing himself to go through the motions, but there had been nothing to make him feel he wasn’t wasting everybody’s time.