that,” he chuckles.
I nod my head and wait. Already knowing where this is going.
“Have you ever ridden a horse?”
I’m so shocked that I just stare at him. After a few seconds, I shake it off and shake my head.
“Do you like country music?”
I smile and nod.
“So does Brick. The fucker listens to it all the damn time,” he grumps.
“Will you ever talk again?”
I think about his question. I know that I want to talk, but from what the doctor told me, I might not ever have my same voice back. But I can’t let fear over something so small rule my life.
I look up at him and nod.
“Good girl,” he smiles. “My woman was in the hospital at the same time as you. Did you know that?”
Shaking my head, I turn towards him and give him my undivided attention.
“Yeah,” he whispers. “Thea is the most important person in my life, and I came really close to losing her. If she wasn’t such a fighter, I most likely would have. So, I need you to do me a favor.” He looks into my eyes, and I’m surprised at how serious he just became. “I need you to fight,” he continues. “I need you to fight with everything you have.
I know you’re scared, and you feel lost, and that’s okay. Use that fear as your strength. Don’t let it rule you. Fight to get your voice back. Fight to get your life back. I’m asking this for a very greedy reason. Brick is a wonderful man who cares for you so deeply that he’s drowning in it. If you ever find a time when you can no longer fight for yourself, fight for him.”
He stands, kisses my head, and walks away.
I sit there and think about what he said. I don’t know if Brick feels as strongly for me as I do for him, but I do know that I’ll fight to get as much of my old self back as I can. Because I can see a future with Brick in it, but he deserves a strong woman. A brave woman.
I climb to my feet and make my way back to my room. Grabbing my notebook, I scribble something down and head for Brick’s room.
I open his door and step inside. I walk to where he’s sleeping and tap his shoulder. His eyes fly open, and he reaches to turn on a lamp beside his bed.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” he asks in a very sexy sleepy voice. “Are you okay?”
I’m suddenly very nervous. With shaking hands, I hand him the notebook.
I can’t sleep. Would it be okay if I slept with you? I can sleep on top of the covers.
Brick tosses the notebook on his bedside table and lifts the blankets on the other side of the bed. With a smirk, he pats the mattress.
“Climb in, baby,” he tells me. “You can sleep beside me every day for the rest of our lives.”
I smile and climb over him and onto the bed.
“That wasn’t nice, you little tease,” he says huskily.
He turns off the light and pulls me against his body.
“Is this okay?” he asks.
I snuggle in closer and nod my head. He drapes his arm over my waist while the other one is under my head. A few seconds later, the end of the bed dips with the weight of Beast. I love this dog.
“Goodnight, baby,” he whispers in my ear.
My last thought before drifting off into a dreamless sleep is, I hope my head doesn’t weigh too much.
Chapter Ten
Brick
It’s been a month since we arrived at my parent’s farm. Every night, Jessa crawls into my bed, snuggles close, and sleeps. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel better, less stressed when she’s in my bed.
During the day, Chains, Ink, and Trigger visit their families or work. I help out around the farm if needed, but there are enough workers to get everything done.
Jessa has slowly made her way back to solid foods. Sophia eats more than Jessa, but she’s getting better, gaining weight.
Beast never leaves my woman’s side. Even when she goes to the bathroom, He is right on her heels. It makes her smile, which makes me very happy.
A couple of times a week, Jessa will hop on the computer to do a video call with her dad. Slim is confident that the computer is non-traceable. I trust him with my life, so I’ll trust him with hers.
Bear came over yesterday to check up on everyone and brought