head to them. “Good news. Barring infection or fever, I’ll release him day after tomorrow.”
“For home or duty?” his mother asked before Felicia had a chance.
“Home. He still needs to recuperate before he’s ready to return to active duty. I trust he won’t be left alone?”
Felicia smiled. “I’ll stay with him.”
“In a week, he’ll need to start therapy. I have the number for a therapist —”
“I’m a licensed therapist. Can I do it?”
He glanced back toward Talyn’s room. “Given what I’ve seen here, I think you’re an excellent choice. The best we could have. I’ll write everything up and e-mail you with the instructions on what I want him to do.”
As he walked away, Galene laughed. “Talyn was always a very stubborn beast. Hardheaded like his father… ah! The stories I could tell you about that aggravating male! The more you try to tell him what to do, the more he digs his heels in.”
That was definitely the truth.
“Who’s his father?”
Deep agonized pain descended over Galene’s face. “It doesn’t matter. But if you ever see his father, you’ll know. He looks and acts just like him.” And with that, she headed back toward Talyn’s room.
Felicia frowned at what Galene had just said. If his father was just like Talyn in actions as well as looks, then there was a lot to the story of why his father had left them. As protective and loving as Talyn was, he’d never abandon his family.
Not without a damn good reason. And not without one hell of a battle.
Chapter 8
At their condo, Felicia helped Talyn into bed. It was his first day out of the hospital and the ride home had taken its toll on him. His features pale, he struggled to breathe against the pain as she peeled his uniform off while he lay on the mattress.
She covered him with the blanket.
“What’s that look for?” Talyn asked as she tucked him in.
“What look?”
“That little pouty face you just made. I know this kind of care isn’t part of our contract. If you want, I can return to the barracks to recoup, instead of here.”
“Oh, keramon, don’t you dare! I doubt you’d make it to the lobby before you collapsed. And that’s not why I pouted, anyway.” She grinned at him. “I was just thinking that my plan had been to rip your uniform off you the next time I had you alone in my bed, and ravish you until you were senseless from it. Unfortunately, I don’t want to hurt you.”
Relaxing, he laughed. “Ravish me, then. At least I’d die happy and sated.”
“Ummm-hmmm. You say that now, but I’m pretty sure you’d be crying like a baby if I tried.”
He winked at her. “I’m willing to go for it, if you are.”
She kissed the tip of his nose. “I just got you home. Last thing I want to do right now is break you, again.”
“You’re a cruel female, Felicia. Heartless!”
She snuggled against his back and spooned him. “Am I?”
Talyn closed his eyes as he savored the warmth of her body pressed against his. “Maybe?”
Kissing his shoulder, she buried her hand in his braids. “I’m so glad to have you here, finally.” She draped her arm over his waist and cuddled him, taking care to not put any pressure on any of his healing wounds. “At night, I go to sleep while trying to figure out which of the rooms is your favorite.”
“How do you mean?”
She gently caressed his muscled arm. “Before I moved in. Where did you spend the most time?”
“Oh… I didn’t. I only saw the condo once before you got here. And then, only long enough to make sure it was safe and furnished before I bought it for you.”
Felicia froze at what he was saying. Now that she thought about it, she vaguely remembered them mentioning that, but once she was here, she’d assumed her agency had to be wrong. That Talyn wouldn’t have done such a thing. “This really wasn’t your home before you contracted me?”
He turned to look at her over his shoulder. “No. Your terms stipulated that you wanted a place within walking distance of your school.”
“I thought it was just luck that your place was so close to it.”
Snorting, he shook his head. “Since I’m required to live in the barracks, I didn’t need another place. This is the first property I’ve ever owned.”
“Well, that explains why there aren’t any personal items of yours here. I’d wondered about that… You really bought this just for me?”