Cuff Master (39 page)

She heard the beeps and whooshes of monitors. There were
other patients in the room, each in their own small curtained cubical. Morgan
found Ethan easily.

He was in the center cubical, the curtain drawn back for her
to enter.

Trauma left him with severe bruises on his face and black
eyes. Multiple fluid and blood lines were stuck into his arms. But Ethan’s
eyes, those gray Maddox irises, were open and lit up when he saw her.

“Hey you,” he greeted sleepily. “Dr. Gardner, meet my wife.”

“We met downstairs. She’s as lovely as you’d described going
under and coming out of anesthesia. I’ll leave you two alone. Don’t exert
yourself too much. If you pop a stitch, I’m afraid your blond-haired brother
will kill me.”

“He might,” Ethan muttered.

“Phalen’s harmless,” Morgan reassured. “Thank you, doctor.
He’s not going anywhere.”

“Can’t walk yet anyway.” Ethan didn’t seem to like that
idea, but Morgan sat in a chair the doctor brought over for her and he smiled
again.

She took Ethan’s hand, holding it tight enough to let him
know she wasn’t letting go, ever. “I love you, Ethan Maddox. Don’t scare me
again, okay?”

“Sorry, hon. I’ll make it up to you when I can fuck you.
Give me a couple days and we’ll play hide-and-seek.” His words were jumbled and
Bostonian thick. He was so handsome, regardless of the bruises.

“You’re being silly,” she said, loving that he was that way.
If he could smile, he was doing just fine.

“In all seriousness, I still have what I need to love you
properly, Mrs. Maddox.” At first she thought he’d meant his cock and then
watched him rub his chest. “Thanks to the vest I was wearing, I still have my
heart. It’s yours, always has been.”

“Someday, I hope I am your wife for real,” she said.

“Soon…you will be, soon.” Ethan fell asleep with a smile on
his dry lips.

Morgan eased out of her chair, leaned over him and pressed
her ear to his heart, listening as it beat steadily and thanking God and
Abigael and Samantha for bringing him back to her.

* * * * *

Ethan woke up in a private hospital room monopolized by
nurses and a doctor. Immediately recognizing the surgeon who’d repaired his
damaged leg, he tried to speak, but his throat was parched.

“Dr. Gardner?” he rasped out, swallowing hard.

At some point, they’d stuck a tube down his throat. But the
doc had it taken out when he was taken to recovery. During the night, it might
have been more than one, he couldn’t be sure, meds kept him pretty much out of
it until a nurse and two male medical techs hoisted him out of bed and made him
walk.

It had hurt at first. But walking was apparently what he
needed to do in order for them to pull his urine catheter. With all the fluids
they were pumping into him, peeing on his own was a victory. If he could pee
freely and his cock worked, he was happy.

Through it all, Morgan stayed with him. She’d been rock
steady and sweet. She was the best medicine he needed to completely heal.

“Good evening, Detective Maddox,” Dr. Gardner greeted.

“It’s evening? Damn, I slept the whole day away.” He glanced
around. There was a small window with horizontal blinds. It was gray outside.

“It’s been two days. We were cautious with you due to the
nature of your injury. Don’t worry,” the surgeon said. “Rest was exactly what
your body needed. There’s no evidence of bleeding or further damage to your
muscle. You’re a lucky man.”

“Yes I am. Where’s my family?” Better yet, where was Morgan?

“They went down the hall so we could check you out
privately. You’re doing remarkably well under the circumstances. Your nurse
told me you’ve been out of bed and urinated on your own.”

Ethan coughed. “Guess that’s a good thing, Dr. Gardner. But
I had to have help getting to and from.”

“That’s expected. You’ll start PT soon and they’ll get you
used to crutches or some walking device.”

“Thank you for working on me. I owe you.”

“It’s an honor to help someone who puts his life on the line
to keep citizens of this state safe.”

“I guess you’re trying to say that I will be able to return
to duty?”

“You will. We’re going to keep you here for observation for
a few more days to a week. If all proceeds as I expect you’ll be released to
outpatient care and more intensive physical therapy before running after the
bad guys.”

“How about my sex life?” Ethan asked. He wished Morgan was
there. He missed her.

“It shouldn’t be a problem. You’re the best judge of what
your body can take, although I would take it easy for a little while. Your
girlfriend is amazing. She wouldn’t leave your side until your brothers dragged
her out to take her home to clean up. She’ll be back soon.”

“She’s way more than my girlfriend. She’s my wife. She will
be, anyway. In my heart, she already is.”

Dr. Gardner grinned. “I remember feeling that way when I
fell in love. I told her then and there that she was the one. She thought I was
crazy, but she married me three months later. You two set a date for the
wedding?”

“When I’m out of here, I’ll take care of it.” Ethan looked
down at himself. He was covered in hospital blankets, his leg was heavily
bandaged and IVs were feeding him fluids and blood. “By the way, when can I eat
something? Or get a drink other than ice chips?”

“We’ll keep you on a clear liquid diet for dinner this
evening. If you listen to the nurses, you can have solid food by breakfast
tomorrow.”

“Damn. What’s that, Jell-O and chicken broth?”

“Pretty much covers it. You were in surgery for two hours
and on bed rest for the better part of two days. It took my best work to get
you sewed up. I really don’t care if your older brother wants to take my head
off because I won’t let you eat solids yet. My orders stand.”

“My friend’s a surgeon, orthopedics, are surgeons always
this cocky?”

“I prefer confident. I met Dr. Hathaway. His reputation
precedes him. I’ll go get your family and friends. You’ve got some of Boston’s
finest and a damn good family standing by you. You’re a lucky man.”

“Thanks,” Ethan agreed, watching the doctor leave.

A couple nurses came over. One added a small glass bottle of
fluid to the saline drip bag. The other took his vitals. Seconds after the
nurses left, a parade of flowers were brought in, headed up by his soon-to-be
wife.

Carrying a small bouquet of wildflowers, Morgan wore an
emerald-green dress, her hair was pulled into a braid and feather earrings hung
in her ears. She was a breath of fresh air, his reason for living.

“Hi,” she greeted, stopping in midstride and flushing
prettily.

“Hi back,” Ethan said. “Why stop there? There’s room next to
me.”

She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”

Even her presence made him feel better. His leg hurt, his
chest was bruised, but his heart was beating and his cock was wide awake.

Yeah, despite the fact that his brothers and Cassie and Sam
had filed into the room behind Morgan, his erection was massive and heavy.
Thank fuck he was covered in white blankets and an ugly hospital gown that he
doubted was even tied in the back.

“I really don’t give a rat’s ass if the nurses fuss over
this, Morgan. Get your pretty ass over here,” he commanded, patting the bed
next to him.

It was only a twin bed. But someone had raised the head.
Belatedly, he noticed the parade of flowers were now placed everywhere.

At last, Morgan came over, set her small vase on a wheeled
table near the bed and climbed in so carefully, he chuckled. “You’re not going
to hurt me, honey.”

“You’re in pain,” Morgan said, looking over at him.

“A little, I’ll live. Weirdly, I’m glad it feels as though
Phalen worked me over with a two-by-four. It means that everything that should
be working in my body is doing what it should be doing.”

“For the record, I’d never hit you with a two-by-four,”
Phalen objected.

“This coming from the brother who regularly kicked our asses
growing up,” Taran commented. “He’d break boards with his head, hands and feet
to intimidate us.”

“Keep that up, little brother, I will put my foot where the
sun doesn’t shine,” Phalen warned.

Ethan grinned. His brothers were back to their old tricks.
Morgan was next to him. She smelled like sunshine and jasmine and sweet, sweet
woman. He longed to kiss her. But he didn’t want anyone to know he was rocking
a boner simply because she was near.

“You can’t beat them up, Phalen,” Cassie objected. She
looked pretty as ever, maybe more so. She glowed.

He figured the honeymoon must have been good. That was the
look Morgan had when she first woke up from subspace. It was the glow of a
well-satisfied and thoroughly loved woman.

“Why’s that, babe?” Phalen asked.

“Who will we get to babysit if you hurt them? They did such
a great job with Samson and Delilah. Imagine when they hold the baby for the
first time.”

Morgan gasped. “Babysit, emphasis on baby? Cassie, are
you…having a baby?”

“Yes. Taran and Ethan are going to make fine uncles, don’t
you think? And you, Morgan, will be a wonderful aunt.”

“I’m going to be an aunt?” Morgan repeated, her eyes
widening and looking back and forth between Cassie and Phalen.

“Have to admit, I’m looking forward to being Uncle Taran.
Way to go, Papa Phalen.” Taran took Phalen’s hand and brought him close for a
hug and slap on the back before turning to hug Cassie gently. “Is everything
okay with the baby, Cassie? Do you need me to get you anything?”

“I’m fine. The baby is fine, thank you.” Cassie hugged him
again, stepping back to let Phalen wrap his arms around her from behind.

Ethan watched them interact. Phalen placed his hand over his
wife’s still flat abdomen. He swore big brother might start howling at the moon
to let all of Mass General know he was going to be a dad.

Marriage to Cassie had grounded Phalen, erasing the darkness
that had once haunted his eyes. Ethan couldn’t be happier for him and his
sister-in-law.

Ma had been right. Cassie was expecting. Ethan hadn’t been
dreaming. That meant Morgan was carrying his son. Wanting to say something then
and there, he wisely kept silent. Pregnancy was her secret to discover and
share at will.

“Am I going to have to learn to change diapers?” Taran
asked, smiling broadly.

“Yes,” Phalen said.

“Congratulations to all,” Sam interrupted. “Don’t worry,
pretty boy, I’m sure you’ll handle diaper changing just fine with a little
practice. Get a baby doll or something.”

“Are you offering to give me lessons, Samantha?” Taran asked
her.

Sam scoffed. “Afraid you’ll have to teach me. I know nothing
about babies.” Wearing a tomboy getup that included a sweatshirt and jeans, she
had on absolutely no makeup and still managed to be a knockout.

“Deal,” Taran accepted.

“Congratulations, Cassie and Phalen,” Morgan said. “I’d come
give you two a hug, but Ethan doesn’t seem to want me to move.”

“No, I don’t.” Ethan hadn’t realized he’d put his arm on her
leg, trapping her right next to him. “I’m looking forward to being an uncle,
Cassie. And watching big brother deal with midnight feedings and spit-up.”

“I’m looking forward to being a dad,” Phalen assured.

“When did you know you were pregnant?” Morgan asked Cassie.

“I suspected a couple weeks before the wedding. I was so
tired and things such as coffee, which I love, turned my stomach. I didn’t want
to drink wine or beer or anything with alcohol. During our honeymoon, I had
morning sickness, literally.”

“Oh god,” Sam grumbled. “Bet that made for some interesting
days.”

“Our honeymoon was perfect,” Phalen said, hugging his wife
tighter. “But she did scare the fuck out of me when she passed out the second
morning in Maui. I rushed her to a doctor, who examined her and did an
ultrasound. We heard the baby’s heartbeat. She was six weeks along then.”

Ethan imagined the sound of a baby’s heartbeat. “Any idea of
the baby’s sex?” he asked.

“It’s too early to tell,” Cassie answered. “We’re still
deciding if we want to know, but have already scheduled checkups and I’m taking
prenatal vitamins. The doctor in Hawaii did some blood work and everything was
fine. Best of all, the worst of the sickness is over, I think.”

“Better yet, morning sickness didn’t prevent us from
enjoying the hotel room or sitting on the balcony looking out at the beautiful
scenery. A lot of bed rest during the day made for long romantic evenings and
dinners in bed,” Phalen boasted.

“There’s something about pregnancy that made me, well,
insatiable,” Cassie admitted, chuckling softly as she turned and nuzzled
Phalen’s chin with kisses. “Phalen’s been amazing. I’ve no complaints about the
honeymoon, if you know what I mean.”

“I really didn’t need to know that,” Taran objected.

Phalen laughed loudly. “When it’s your turn, Taran, you
won’t mind dealing with morning sickness.”

“I’d meant that I really didn’t need to hear about Cassie’s
sex life,” Taran remarked. “It makes me want to defend her honor.”

“Go ahead,” Phalen dared. “I’d love an excuse to kick your
ass.”

“You could try,” Taran boasted, flexing his muscle so that
he looked bigger than he already was.

“Nothing wrong with a woman having an active sex life,” Sam
added, much to Ethan’s surprise. She didn’t usually divulge personal comments
such as that, especially with Taran.

“Glad you think that, Samantha,” Taran replied. “I aim to
keep you very active.”

Sam narrowed her eyes, fighting against knocking Taran flat.
Ethan waited for it.

“Maybe you’re the one who’ll need to rest up for a spell.
Newsflash, pretty boy, I’m not one to be bossed around. I’m the boss. Get it?”

Sam did the most girly thing Ethan had ever seen, she
flushed and scooped her hair out of her face, blatantly flirting with Taran.