Her Wilde Bodyguards (8 page)

He closed his eyes, feeling the dread start to wrap itself around his soul. He didn’t even know what kind of cancer his brother had or what stage he was at. Did it even matter? How many times had Aaron told him that if he ever got cancer he would never have surgery or take chemo? A million at least. After seeing what their mother had gone through, Aaron had never wavered from his ridiculous stance. He didn’t care for doctors or hospitals. Not one damn bit.

What Kyle had seen in his brother’s eyes tonight crushed him. Aaron had already given up hope. What could he say to his brother to get him to fight whatever cancer was inside him?
I need the right words.
But they wouldn’t come into his mind no matter how hard he tried to conjure them.

Aaron had always been his rock. The best brother a man could have.
Fuck. What can I do?

Desperation spread through him. He needed someone to talk to, but he’d sworn not to tell Gya. He brought out his cell and dialed the one person who, besides Aaron, was always there for him when he needed her.

“Hello.”

“Maude, this is Kyle. I know it’s late, but I need to talk to you.”

“It’s never too late for you, my boy. I’ll put on a pot of coffee.”

It took him only five minutes to get to the Strong’s house.

Maude opened the door, wearing one of her colorful robes.

They hugged. He squeezed her, as his mind continued to reel with the horrific news he’d just learned. Holding her helped to ease his fears a little.

“Kyle, come on in. We have a lot to talk about.”

He entered the house quietly. “Where are Uncle Greg and Uncle Grant? I hope my call didn’t wake them.”

She laughed. “They would sleep through a war. Nothing wakes my two husbands but me shaking the living daylights out of them. But you didn’t come over here to talk about my guys’ sleeping patterns. Come on in and let’s talk about your brother.”

The concern on her face told him she already knew.

Of course, she knows. Aaron loves her as much as I do.

He followed her into the kitchen.

Wearing only boxers, Aaron rolled out of bed. He’d dozed some, thanks to the whiskey he’d drank, but mostly, he’d just stared at the ceiling. He still had a slight buzz, but most of the effects of the liquor had worn off. Too bad. All he could think of was how Kyle had reacted to the news he had cancer. The last thing he wanted to do was to cause his brother more pain. But what choice did he have?

He’d put off telling him more, but now he knew that had been a bad idea. His brother deserved to know the whole truth.

His mouth was bone dry, so he marched to the kitchen, hoping to get some water and find Kyle.

He did find someone, but the person wasn’t his brother.

Gya.

The only light in the kitchen came from the fridge, which she was holding open. It illuminated her in a warm glow. She wore an oversized T-shirt and a pair of shorts. Her blonde locks fell to her shoulders.

God, she’s so cute.

She was exactly his type, but that didn’t matter now. It wouldn’t be right to pursue her. She and Kyle might make a go of it.
Without me.

He knew he should silently turn and go back to his bedroom, but for some reason all he could do was stare at her.

She pulled out the milk container and poured herself a glass. Before he could exit she turned around, and in a flash her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped and so did the milk container and glass.

“I didn’t mean to startle you, Gya.”

“Kyle told me you went to bed.” She bent down and began picking up shards of glass. “I heard him leave a little bit ago, so I thought I was alone.”

“Let me help you with that. After all, it was my fault.” He knelt down beside her and saw her feet were bare. “Damn. You don’t have any shoes on.”

“Neither do you?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re not going to get cut.” He swept her up into his arms and lifted her off the floor. Staring into her golden brown eyes, he inhaled her sweet aroma. “God, you smell good.”

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Is this how you treat all your clients? Quite the red carpet if you ask me.”

Holding her in his arms felt so good, so right. Unable to hold back, he pressed his mouth to her full, red lips. His heart pounded in his chest like a jackhammer. For the first time in a long time he felt really alive. He started to deepen his kiss, but then reason sliced through his carelessness. He stopped abruptly.

She blinked. “What’s the matter?”

He had to look away. “I’m sorry, Gya.”

“Why are you sorry?”

He didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer. The truth was too painful.

He carried her to a safe distance from the broken glass and placed her in one of the kitchen chairs.

“Stay right there and don’t get up.” He knew his tone was too harsh. “I’ll clean this up and then you can go back to bed.”

She didn’t deserve this, but he didn’t know what else to do. He had to keep her at bay. He couldn’t look at her. Everything about Gya called to him. If he let himself, he would succumb to the impossible dream. But that was all it could be—a dream.

Cancer. I have cancer. Fuck.

He turned on the kitchen lights. Before he could pick up a single shard, Gya leapt to her feet. “You think you can just kiss me and plop me in a chair, Mr. G-man, Mr. Sourpuss, Mr. Sunglasses. Well I have news for you. I’ve taken care of myself my whole life, and I don’t need you telling me what to do. I asked you a question, and you’re damn well going to answer it.”

He grinned at her fire.
God, she is the whole package.

“Smiling? You think this is funny.” She stepped in front of him and placed her hands on his chest. “There’s nothing funny about this.”

He stepped back, laughing, and cut his foot on a tiny piece of glass. “Damn, woman. You cut me.”

“I cut you? You self-centered asshole. You give the best kisses and then back off and cry over a tiny little cut. You’re the one who has been cutting me, not the other way around.”

“I give the best kisses?”

“Damn it, you know what I mean.” Gya’s rant was unbelievably sexy to him for some reason. “You come to Houston, looking all studly sexy, acting like a complete jerk. Then I catch you looking at me, and I know there’s something going on in that thick head of yours. Hell, I even thought we might be good together. Then you pushed me away. Made yourself scarce every chance you could. When you walked in on me and Kyle, I was sure you hated me.”

“Hated you?”

“Yes, hated me. Talk about mixed signals. And then you kiss me. You blow my mind, Mr. Strait. Tell me the truth. What is it about me that turns you off? What makes you want to run whenever I’m in the room?”

He hated seeing her eyes well up. “Gya, you don’t understand.”

“No, I don’t.” She took a deep breath. “Aaron, what’s wrong with me?”

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Gya. Absolutely nothing. You’re perfect in every way. You’re beautiful and smart. You’re talented and charming. You have a kind heart and generous nature. I don’t hate you. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Yes, I stole glances at you when I thought you weren’t looking. You’re the most amazing creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“Then why are you pushing me away so hard?”

“You want to know what’s wrong?” He placed his hands on her delicate shoulders. “It’s me. That’s what’s wrong. I’m wrong for you.”

She reached up and touched his face. “Why? Please tell me why.”

“Because I have cancer.”

“Cancer? Okay.” She closed her eyes, certainly considering the gravity of what he’d told her. But when she opened them, what she said surprised him. Her words weren’t of pity or sadness. They were of action and to the point, something that spoke to him on a very deep level. “That’s very difficult to come to grips with, but don’t think for one minute that’s going to stop me. I would rather have just one day with you than no days at all. Now, let me take care of that foot of yours. Where do you keep your first aid meds?”

“Underneath the bathroom sink.” He’d never met anyone so brave and strong as she was.

“Listen to me, Aaron Strait. You don’t move a muscle until I get back.” She trotted off to the bathroom.

He started laughing.
And you call yourself a Dom. I just was bested by a curvy little spitfire.

She came back with peroxide, bandages, cloths, and more.

“Singer and nurse? I had no idea.”

“There’s a lot more to me than you know, Aaron. Be careful and sit your stubborn ass in this chair.” She pointed to the same one he’d placed her in just moments ago.

The tables have definitely been turned.

She walked to the sink and filled a bowl with warm water. He watched her every move, unable to look away now.

She knelt down in front of him and placed the bowl at his feet. She lifted the cut foot and placed it in the warm water. Her washing his wound felt soothing.

“It’s a tiny sliver. I think I can get it with these tweezers.”

“Knock yourself out, doc.”

She looked up at him and grinned. “Who knew you could be so funny?”

“There’s a lot more to me than you know either, Gya.”

In a flash, she had the glass out, the wound cleaned, and his foot bandaged.

“Good as new, but I wouldn’t put too much pressure on it.” She stood and sat down in the chair next to his. “You don’t want to make it bleed again.”

“You’re the one with the medical degree, not me.”

She laughed. “Funny man.”

“Gya, I’m sorry I’ve been such an ass. You didn’t deserve any of my shit.”

She leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. “Now we’re even.”

“God, you’re something else. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”

“What kind of cancer is it?”

He loved her straight-to-the-issue approach. No beating around the bush with her, that was for sure. “I have Hodgkin disease.”

“That’s a cancer of the lymph nodes, right?”

“Yes.”

“When did you get diagnosed with it?”

“The same day I met you in Houston. That morning.”

“Oh my God. So this is all new to you.”

“Yes, it is. I’m not the kind of guy who frequents the doctor’s office, but my company’s insurance requires an annual physical of all my employees and me. My white blood cell count was elevated. They ran more tests and found a lump under my arm. The took a biopsy and determined I had the disease.”

“What do the doctors say? What treatment do they recommend?”

“They determined it is stage one, which means the cancer cells are only in one lymph node.” He lifted his hand and pointed to his armpit. “Here. Chemo and radiation is what they suggested, but I’m not having either.”

“Oh yes you are. Where’s your computer?”

“I’ve been through this with my mother, Gya. I’m not doing it.”

She kissed him again. “Perhaps you didn’t hear me, Mr. Strait. I said yes you are.”

He couldn’t help but grin. “You’re used to getting your way, aren’t you?”

“Actually, no. Now where’s your computer.”

He shrugged, knowing she was ready to dive into every website that had even the slightest mention of his disease on it.
I can’t let her have false hope.

“I’ll tear this house apart if I have to, Aaron. You have no idea how determined I can be.”

“But I do, Gya.” He pulled her close and devoured her lips. He sent his tongue into her mouth and heat exploded through his entire body.
She wanted to have one day with me, and I must have at least one night with her.

Her arms wrapped around him and he inhaled every one of her sweet moans.

His cock hardened in his boxers.

“Since doctor’s orders are not to put weight on my foot, I don’t know how I’m going to get to bed. I guess you’re going to have to help me.”

Her face was nicely flushed. “That’s the first intelligent thing you’ve said all evening.”

He came up to his feet and leaned on her. “Ohhh…it hurts, Gya. Help me.”

She giggled. “My pleasure.”

“Thank goodness, my room is on the first floor. It shouldn’t be too hard for you to get me there, doc.”

“Stop calling me doc, Mr. Sunglasses.”

“You got a deal, sweetheart.”

They walked into his bedroom. He turned to her. “In here, Gya. I’m in charge.” He pulled her down onto the bed and gave in to his desires, kissing and caressing her like mad.

“You big faker. You’re not hurting that bad.” She kissed him back, causing his pulse to burn hot in his veins.

“It worked, didn’t it?” He removed the large T-shirt over her head and gazed at her gorgeous, full breasts with taut nipples. “Wow, Gya.”

She laughed. “I’ve been considering having a reduction.”

“Don’t you fucking dare. They are perfect.” He cupped them, loving the feel of their softness.