Tale 1: War of the Protector

Chapter 26

I don't think I had ever felt as comfortable as I did right there, in the crook of Cody's arm on his hospital bed. It sounds bizarre, but it was true. Even though the bed wasn't set so we could sleep lying down, and the place smelled like hospital, I'd never felt more at home.

I opened my eyes, something stirring me awake. I found that something to be Cody, massaging my hand with the one that wasn't wrapped around me.

I yawned and used his shoulder to rub my nose.

"Hey, don't do that," he mumbled sleepily.

Maybe it was the wonderful rest I had. I wasn't entirely sure. But I decided to play. "What? This?"

I rubbed my nose on his shoulder again.

"Yeah, stop. It tickles."

A big smile crept across my face.

He grimaced once he realized his mistake. "Shit."

"You're ticklish?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Then you would be completely fine if I were to try something like..."

I blew softly on a popular sensitive spot behind his ear.

"You pulled away," I noted.

"Yeah, some weirdo is blowing in my ear."

"No, that was a ticklish reaction."

"Nope. Some creep is blowing on my ear."

I smiled, my fingers coming up, poised for the attack. "Oh yeah?"

"I'm a man. I'm not ticklish."

I raised my eyebrows.

"What about you?" Cody asked, suddenly mischievous. "Are you ticklish?"

"No."

"Oh really? I guess you wouldn't mind me doing this, then?"

I couldn't answer. I was too busy laughing and fighting off his hand which was too strong for me to push away. I squealed with laughter. "Dammit!"

He tickled me until I begged for mercy. By then I was completely exhausted. It reminded me a little of the days with Ryan, but I quickly pushed that to the back of my mind.

I breathed heavily, trying to catch my breath. "You bastard," I said. Cody laughed. It was when I felt the rumble through his chest that I realized I was pressed flush against him.

I don't know what possessed me to do it. But I snuggled closer.

I sighed and looked up at him. He was looking down at me.

We held eyes for a moment. Those familiar hazel eyes that, with the bright sunlight streaming in, looked almost gold.

His arm tightened around me. His arms, always there around me, even when they physically weren't. God.

His other hand floated up to my face. He traced his thumb down my jaw and to my chin, gently holding my face there, as if on a pedestal.

"Have I ever told you how pretty you are?" he whispered.

My face flushed. "No?"

"No? Well... you're beautiful."

He grinned at my flabbergasted reaction, and pressed his forehead to mine.

With a contented sigh he pulled me even closer, if that was possible. I was practically half on top of him at that point.

"Cody," I said soberly. One of my hands gingerly touched his chest where I knew claws had gouged into his chest. "Are you okay?"