stroking away the wayward strands that covered his forehead.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips gently to Gabriel’s forehead. Closing his eyes, he held back the worry and focused on the warmth and life against his lips.
Please come back to me.
Slowly inching back, he stilled as sleepy brown eyes stared up at him. He inhaled a sharp breath, not trusting his own eyes. Maybe his sleep-deprived mind had a twisted sense of humor.
His entire body shook as he withdrew his hand from Gabriel’s hair. His breath trembled almost as much as his hand as he touched Gabriel’s cheek, needing confirmation that the vision was real.
Gabriel leaned into the touch and closed his eyes. He turned his face and nuzzled Ben’s palm as he slowly reached up and wrapped his hand around Ben’s wrist, holding him in place.
Ben’s heart thumped hard and fast in his chest, awakening something deep inside him that had been dormant and numb for the last few days. He brushed his thumb across Gabriel’s cheek, wiping away a single tear that slid out the corner of Gabriel’s eye.
Those beautiful brown eyes opened again, capturing his gaze. Ben saw every thought and emotion he had tried to keep contained. The worry of what had happened and the fear of not having this moment again. Deep beneath, or maybe alongside it, there was also love staring back at him.
So much love.
It waved a flag and flashed its lights at him, demanding he pay attention.
Demanding he know it was real and true and all that mattered in that very moment.
Gabriel reached up and traced his fingertips along Ben’s jawline and down his throat, silently saying the words to Ben he couldn’t speak.
This was real. Gabriel was with him, staring at him with love in his eyes and keeping his promise, regardless of what it had cost him.
The surge of emotions smashed through Ben’s control and tore through his throat. Tears streamed down his face as he held on to Gabriel, unable to stop the sobbing. A second wave of emotions ripped through him as a large, strong hand settled across his back and pulled him close. He surrendered, bending his body and carefully settling next to Gabriel. He pressed his face against one side of Gabriel’s neck while he placed his palm against the other. The proof of life thumping against his palm was just as steady and comforting as the arm wrapped around him, holding him close.
He nestled into the warmth of Gabriel’s body and the protectiveness of his embrace. Peace finally settled and soothed his aching heart. He hadn’t been sleep deprived. He had been deprived of this, of Gabriel.
For the first time in days, he felt whole again.
= ♥ =
The sound of the beeping monitor woke him, but the cold nose pressed to one side of his neck and the palm against the other, reminded him he was alive. Bull wondered how Ben managed to squeeze into the narrow space between him and the side railing. He didn’t care. All that mattered was that Ben was there.
With him. Touching him.
Sighing, he turned his head and brushed his nose and lips against Ben’s hair, breathing him in.
“He hasn’t left your side.”
Bull glanced toward the far end of the room, his gaze landing on Aidan sitting in the corner. The shock took a few seconds to register in his foggy mind. Aidan hated hospitals. After spending so much time in them with his brother and then Jess, Bull knew how much effort it took to be in one.
“The only time he actually sleeps is if I’m sitting here.”
Bull tried to open his mouth but couldn’t.
“Bastard broke your jaw. It’s wired shut so it heals. Doc says you need to avoid strenuous activities. Especially those that make you clench your jaw or cause shortness of breath. So there won’t be any I’m-so-happy-to-be-alive fucking in your near future.”
That would definitely explain why he couldn’t move his mouth enough to respond. He raised his middle finger instead.
A smile pulled at the corner of Aidan’s mouth. “Glad to have you back.” He stood and walked over to the small table set at the side of the room. “Asshole busted your knee. You had surgery there too. If you’ve got any concerns about your new super knee, talk to Ty, he’s got far more metal in his body than you do and he makes it work. Here…I thought your tablet might help since you can’t talk.”