“spanLook, I just feel like I should say thank you for having sex with me. You’re gorgeous. You know that, right? I’m an ugly motherfucker, so we can all agree that you’re out of my league—” Ridge’s rambling cuts off as I shove the thermometer under his tongue once it’s reset. “Did you take pity on me that night? Oh God, was I a pity fuck?”

    “Stop messing with the device.” Iugh. “I don’t know who lied to you, but you’re very handsome.”

    His eyes cross as he tries to check out the numbers on the thermometer, and I smile like a total goofball. This Ridge reminds me a lot more of the guy I met that night in the bar.

    “You’re sexy. I’m wildly attracted to you.” I pat his cheek in hopes he’ll look at me and not the thermometer. “You’re also funny, sweet, and unbelievably brave.”

    Maybe it’s easier to bepletely honest with him because I’m not sure he’ll even remember thise tomorrow morning.

    Dr. Daniels stopped by earlier to check on Ridge. I verified his name twice, so I have no idea why Ridge calls him Dr. Dane, but maybe that’s his first name.

    Ridge and I shared a killer nap this afternoon andte into the evening. It was the best sleep I’ve had in a long time, but unfortunately, we slept through when he was supposed to take his pain medication. The doctor gave him an IV thingy for antibiotics, and when he saw how severe Ridge’s pain level was, he gave him a dose of something that sent Ridge flying. He’s been on a roll since, but with how out of it he is, I have doubts this will stick in his memory.

    The doctor also gave me and Hartley a serious talk about setting an rm and giving him his pain medication every four hours—at least for the next two or three days. In his words, we need to keep Ridge’s pain from ever getting to a ten because it’s much harder to get it back down to a manageable level once it gets that high.

    He exined that it’s not just about not letting Ridge suffer needlessly. Pain can increase blood pressure, and especially while he’s healing, it’s best not to tax his heart any more than it already is.

    It’s frightening to be managing all of this on our own. A normal person would have gone straight to the hospital via an ambnce… Actually, a normal person wouldn’t have had three men attempt to shoot them in broad daylight to begin with.

    And my silly gics are just as enamored by how dangerous and well-trained Ridge is as they were about learning there was more to Trigg than I originally thought. My system is coded to find the most dangerous alphas. That way, they’ll be able to protect me from any threats that pop up.

    Evolution just doesn’t seem to understand that it bes a moot point if they’re the ones attracting all the danger.

    What peril did I have in my life before being reunited with Ridge? Pete? That thought almost makes meugh. Still, I would dly choose being here with Ridge over being stuck with Pete.

    It’s just scary since the doctor left. With how strict Dr. Daniels was with his list of instructions, it seems like someone more qualified than me should be providing his medical care.

    Either way, I’m taking my job seriously.

    I’ve followed the instructions to the letter, hence why Ridge is a bit cross-eyed as he stares at the thermometer.

    God, he’s so out of it, and I find it adorable.

    Fever is one of the symptoms of infection, so I’m supposed to check his temp every two hours if we’re awake and try not to go more than four hours even if we’re asleep.

    Ridge’s hand tightens on my ass, and he grins around the thermometer as he moves to sensually caress my backside.

    “You must have been on your best behavior thest few days.” Iugh and pluck the device from his lips as it beeps. “I feel like I’m getting a chance to meet the real Ridge.”

    I hate that he had to be injured to show this side of himself, but I love his yful energy.

    He’s silly, says what he’s thinking, and doesn’t act like he has to walk on eggshells around me. I just hope he really is as attracted to me as he seems to be while loopy from the medication.

    “Your temperature is good.” I pull off the cover, toss it into the trash, drop the thermometer back into its case, and note his temp and the time on the little notepad I left on the nightstand next to the pack bed. “You’re not due for medication for two hours. Would you like me to run down and make you a sandwich or something?”

    “Nah, just lie here with me. You could lie on me.” Azy smile crosses his face. “Climb all up on me, sweetheart.”

    “You’re injured,” I remind him, nting my hands on my hips.

    There’s something about Ridge that is so charming, it makes it hard to say no to him.

    I crave physical closeness between us. Not to mention, the need to get to know who he is as a human being. It feels like he’s already shown me a lot of his personal character in how he immediately stepped up and started preparing for the baby. Then he shielded me with his body, rather than twisting around and taking a shot.

    I have no doubts he’s a good man.

    “I need you to know.” His massive hand cradles my ass, giving it a yful squeeze. “A kiss would improve my chances of survival by at least twenty-five percent.”

    Laughing, I crawl onto the edge of the bed, doing my best not to jostle him too much as I lie down at his side. It’splicated, but I keep my top half up using my forearm as leverage to make it easy to see his face.

    “If you slip me the tongue, I can safely up that to fifty percent.” He grins, wiggling his eyebrows. “If you sat on my face, I could probably up the chances to?—”

    I cut him off, pushing my mouth to his. A low growl vibrates out of his chest, and I focus on the way he owns the kiss to keep from worrying if this could make his injury worse.

    Ridge’s hand tightens on my lower back, and my instincts hum with satisfaction. He knows exactly how to confine me to appeal to the part of my brain that is distinctly omega-coded.

    Everything about the kiss is perfect, even the way his facial hair pokes into my cheek. My nostrils re, breathing in hisplicated scent. It affects my system just as violently as it does every time I smell it, and I give my body a stern mental pep talk.

    Now isn’t the time, but as soon as he’s feeling better, I’m going to show him just how attracted to him I am. Pulling back, I take a deep breath.

    Ridge licks his lips, and his bright aquamarine eyes sparkle. He’s sexy in some gruff, manly way that makes my brain melty.

    I smile and getfortable at his side once more. “I like you a lot, and if you want me to sit on your face sometime, I need you to heal quickly.”

    He chuckles, a low raspy sound. “I’m doing my best, Mama.”

    He called me that earlier, but I was so distracted, I barely even processed it.

    It’s cute.

    I like it.hr

    I’m warm and confused when I wake up. Trigg’s scent is everywhere, and it mixes perfectly with Ridge’s.

    “Two pills. I added the dose and the time to the chart Quincy is keeping,” Trigg says softly.

    “I’m gonna spill all over myself trying to drink lying t,” Ridge grumbles. “Oh well, still worth it. I forgot how shitty it is to heal from a real gunshot wound.”

    My eyes pop open.

    Ridge is in front of me, tipping a bottle of water to his lips while Trigg is wrapped around my back.

    Hartley nned to sleep in the bed in the primary bedroomst night. It might have been morefortable for Ridge if we had gone that route, but my instincts needed to keep watch over him in the nest. Though I invited Hartley to join us, he simply gave me a quick kiss and told me toe get him if I needed anything.

    Having that one-on-one time with Ridge was what I needed, and I appreciate Hartley being understanding of that.

    “Morning, angel,” Trigg says, kissing my cheek from behind. “I’ve medicated your injured alpha, but you’ll have to take his temperature yourself. My forehead assessment says he’s fine, but I’m sure you’ll feel more confident with using the thermometer.”

    “Thank you, Trigg.” My voicees out raspy with sleep. “You look better today.” I pat Ridge’s chest, studying his face. It’s not empty words, either. His coloring is still on the pale side, but much closer to his normal.

    “I’ll be fine as soon as the meds kick in,” Ridge says. “But we have to get moving. We have an appointment at ten-fifteen.”

    “No way. Cancel it,” I say before I can stop myself. “We’re safe here. We shouldn’t leave unless we absolutely have to.”

    Ridge struggles to sit up enough that he can see Trigg, and he hands him the bottle of water. “Can you call Easton? Remind him we need a team here by nine-forty-five.”

    Trigg sighs but climbs off the nest mattress. “I will, but I draw the line at helping you shower. So, good luck with that.” He leans over the bed, brushing the hair back from my ear. “That doesn’t extend to you. If you need a shower buddy, I’m more than happy to oblige.”

    I smile and mumble a quick thank you, and Trigg heads out.

    Ridge frowns, and I can only assume he sees how serious the look is on my face. “I wouldn’t take you out of the house if I wasn’t sure that we could keep you safe.”

    “I still haven’t had the chance to ask Trigg what he was up to all day yesterday and up until almost four in the morning…” My thoughts are a jumbled mess, and I don’t know what pieces are important and what’s just chatter in my anxious mind. “Unless you know everyone who is after us is dead, I just don’t think it’s worth it.”

    His face falls, and my chest gets tight. “I hate that you’ve lost faith in my ability to protect you, but this appointment is important to me. It was also meant to be a surprise courting gift for you.”

    Shit.

    None of that is what I was trying to say.

    “I do trust you. Don’t doubt that,” I tell him, struggling to sit up. It’s miserable, and I have to clench my thighs to keep from worrying I’ll have an ident. Big surprise—I have to pee really bad. I finally get situated and turn toward him. “I saw how far you would go to keep me and the baby safe. I just need you to be okay too.”

    I don’t need fancy courting gifts, either. What he did, setting up an entire nursery and the subscription to The Divine Omega, was more than enough.

    But I also don’t want to destroy his ns.

    I finally sigh. “Will we be in town?”

    They’ll be slightly less likely to attack us in public, right?

    Ridge nods. “We’ll be in town, and we’ll have an escort.”

    My heart thunders.

    Dammit.

    I wish we could stay safely locked in the house forever, but Ridge literally took a bullet to protect me yesterday. If this is that important to him, I don’t want to ruin what he has nned.

    “Okay, but if even one thing happens, we’re finding a midwife and doing a home birth,” I say, shaking my head. Ridge barks augh. “I’m serious. We won’t leave the house again… Maybe ever. So, I guess it’s a good thing this is a literal mansion.”

    His bright blue eyes sparkle as he nods. “You’ve got yourself a deal, sweetheart.”