Imperial Moon [Complete]

Chapter Nineteen - Choice

Kat stared at him as he slept. His chest rose and fell with each breath. Her heart fluttered with each confirmation of his life. 

The swelling around his eye was gone, the gashes across his skin fading fast. His back was heavily bandaged. They'd whipped him with something dipped in silver, Kat knew. That's why his wounds wouldn't close. She wondered how he'd respond to his stitches.

She leaned over him, burying her head in his neck and breathing him in. She wondered what he would think when he was awake. What he would say about her. She felt the nerves build in her stomach as she feared his rejection. 

She brushed her thumb over the dark stubble growing on his chin. She quite liked him unshaven. She liked him full stop. She loved him.

Kat sighed. 

"I haven't seen anything like this, the wounds to his torso are definitely caused by an animal, we pulled fur from under his fingernails. This man has fought a bear. And lived?"
"And she still won't tell us his name?"
"No. She says she found him on the side of the road. But the way she looks at him, she knows him."
Kat rolled her eyes as the doctors approached.

They drew the curtain back around Cal and gave her fake smiles. One doctor left to attend to another patient while the other spoke with Kat.

"Miss-"

"Andrews."

"Yes, Miss Andrews, we've checked him over and he seems to be recovering well. Hopefully he'll wake up soon. There was an anomaly with his blood test but it doesn't seem to be anything to worry about. We just need to watch the - swelling - around - his - Justin! Look at this!"

The other doctor ran around the curtain.

"His eye? The swelling has gone completely, and look at his chest, clear. How is he healing so fast?" 

They looked at Kat. She shrugged, mirroring their confusion. 

"We should run further tests!" The doctors hurried away, Kat heard them muttering, arguing about Jesus and The Antichrist and Resurrection. 

Kat leaned over Cal again, grazing her teeth against his neck, "Time to wake up, I think." She whispered.

She heard him suck in a deep breath, felt his lust awaken.

"Kat." His voice was hoarse. She looked into his dark eyes.

"Come on, we have to be quick." 

She threw him his clothes as he pulled his hospital gown off. Kat averted her eyes so she wouldn't get distracted. 

They ran from the hospital to her car, pulling the multiple parking tickets off the front screen.
Cal made to jump into the drivers seat but Kat shoved him away, laughing. He grumbled and got in the passenger side.

Just as Kat moved to start the car, strong arms wrapped around her. Cal pulled her into his chest, slightly crushing her. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed deeply. She sagged against him, enjoying every moment, waiting for him to remember and push her away.

"We'll talk when we get back, okay?" His voice rumbled above her. She nodded into his chest.

He moved away slowly, kissing her on the head, before she put the car into gear and drove home.

Home. 

They drove in silence for a while, Kat stealing looks at him. He was pale, clearly still in pain from his wounds.

"Are we close enough for you to check in with Tate?" Kat mumbled.

Cal's eyes glazed over for a moment.