A Big No-No ( Mature 18+)

Chapter 20

Mea's POV

I'm wasn't sure how much time had passed while I leaned against Z's bike waiting for him and Rio to come back, I could feel Tink hovering behind me to grab me should I start to go down but for the moment I was able to stand, well lean, under my own power.

I honestly tried not to focus on the constant throbbing of my body and the sting from the open lacerations that were now stuck to the bandages that covered my upper body. I knew if I did the pain would consume me and I wasn't ready to let go yet, not until I was sure the guys made it back in one piece.

I watched Tink straighten as he looked towards the direction of the trail-like road where a few seconds later Z and Rio made an appearance. You could easily see the plumes of grey smoke billowing up behind them as they made their way to us but all I could think was he was alright, he was whole and I could finally let go. I let myself start to slide down the side of the bike, the last thing I remember is calling for Z as I faded into the black warmth around me.

When I finally came to it was to find myself a guest at the local hospital, in a private room... well as private as it could be with Z passed out in a chair by my bed, Rio and Tink playing cards quietly at a little table off to the side with a sleeping Tawny leaning against him holding tightly to Phoenix's leash.

I wasn't even going to ask how she got away with bringing our boy here but I was happy to see him. He seemed to sense I was awake as his head came up and he gave a low woof in greeting, careful not to disturb Tawny but enough to let me know he was watching out. Content I left myself drift back into the black and the peace it provided.

I wasn't sure how long I had been out for this time but my mouth and throat were like the Sahara desert so I was going to guess it had been for a while. I had barely made a noise when Z's head snapped up and his eyes lit up when they met mine. I gave him a soft smile and managed to croke out, "water" which made the others fly over from across the room.

Phoenix, my protector, unwilling to be ignored nosed his way to the bottom of my bed and with one giant leap was up and snuggled with his body covering my legs and head snuggled in what would be my lap, before anyone could think to stop him.

"Phoenix-" Z started to reprimand him and made to snag his collar to pull him from the bed which was rewarded with a negative noise from my boy and a baleful glare.

"Z, he's alright! My boy is just going to keep watch over us."

Z glared back at the dog before he turned back to me and started what could only be politely called the "inquisition". There were so many questions fired at me all at once and while I tried to answer them all as best I could I quickly felt exhaustion take over after only answering a few while I still had several of my own that needed to be answered.

I awoke a few hours later to the smell of Chinese and I couldn't control the rumbling of my belly. Z looked over from his take out with a smile as it was certainly loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Hungry are you darlin'?" he questioned as he made his way over to me, holding out a chicken ball on his fork to my waiting mouth.

Making eye contact with him I slid the chicken ball slowly off the fork and as I chewed it I slipped my tongue across my lips, letting my eyes show what I really wanted to be licking.

With a groan he leaned in for a chaste kiss that earned him another baleful glare from my canine protector, whisper "I see someone is feeling better!" before making his way back over to the group group and fixing me my own plate. The group quickly re-adjusted their eating area to around my bed so I could participate in the banter that was going on between them.