Soul-Mates Forever Read online

  It’s now the day before my big night, singing in front of a bunch of people I don’t know. Oh, my God! I am already so freaking nervous! By that afternoon, I start coughing, sneezing and my head feels like it’s going to blow off my shoulders. Just great! Tuck takes me to the doctor, and I have bronchitis, a sinus infection and my lungs are wheezing to death. Lying in bed with a thermometer stuck in my mouth and a cool washcloth over my forehead, Dr. Tuck is checking my pulse. Too cute! He can play doctor with me anytime!

  “Cwan I twake it out nwow?” I mumble.

  He looks away from his watch and into my eyes, concern etched on his face. He doesn’t reply but simply looks back at his watch, for what seems like forever, then removes his fingers from my wrist and takes the stupid thing out of my mouth. “Yep, still 101,” he says sadly. “If your fever doesn’t go down soon, I’m taking you to the emergency room.”

  I let out a sigh. “Babe, he just started me on the antibiotics like two minutes ago. Give them a chance to kick in.” He gives me a smirk and then smiles. “Now, come cuddle me. I need sleep and you know I don’t sleep well without you.” He doesn’t hesitate to jump over me, bring me closer to him, and I am out.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “No, sorry guys. There’s no way she can sing tonight. Yeah. Her fever is still around 100, she’s coughing so much and now is losing her voice. I know. Hopefully next weekend.” I turn to look at my sleeping beauty, watching her breath slowly until she starts coughing again. “Thanks guys. I’ll tell her. Yeah, I’m planning on it but if she gets worse you all may have to go on without me or cancel. Shane would understand. Ok. I’ll keep you updated.” I hang up the phone as Pax wakes up.

  “Babe, can I have a drink of water please?” She whispers with a croaky voice. I pour her a glass of fresh water from the pitcher I brought up a few minutes ago.

  “Don’t talk, baby. Here.” I bring the glass to her dry lips and watch as she tries to swallow. She winces every time and pushes the glass back towards me. “I know it hurts but you need to keep hydrated, beauty. Please? For me?” I get her famous eye roll for that but she gives in and drinks a little more. Fluffing up the pillows for her, she lays back down, rolls over on her side and falls back to sleep. Sitting in the corner chair, I watch her for a while. Her insistent coughing causing her not to sleep well and making me panic every time. I don’t know what to do for her. I feel helpless.

  Walking out into the hallway so I can be near, I call Doc Maddison. “I’m worried. I know she just started on the medicine but her coughing is getting worse and she isn’t sleeping well. Yes. Only down to 100 degrees. Ok, thanks! No. I’ll have someone go pick it up for me. I appreciate it. I know. Bye.” Hanging up I call Shane quickly.

  “Tuck? What’s up, mate? How’s our girl doing?” He asks as soon as his phone rings.

  “Man, she’s bad, Shane. Really bad. Can you do me a favor and pick up some medicine for me?” I peek around the door and see her sleeping for once. Thank, God! “I can’t leave her. She needs me.”

  “Of course, mate! Be glad to. You know Allie wishes she could be there but with the pregnancy…”

  “Oh, no! Of course! Pax understands and wouldn’t want her here. I’m sure she knows Allie would want to be but would kill herself if something happened to her or the baby. Tell her not to worry.”

  “I’ll tell her. I’ll let you go and go get the meds and bring them right over. Hulk still out front? He gives me the creeps,” he chuckles.

  I can’t help but laugh. “Yes, and a few of his buddies. They may creep you out too. I’ll let him know to tell his guys you’re coming, don’t worry. Thanks, mate! I owe you again.”

  While hanging up, I walk downstairs and out the front door. Hulk stands up and faces me. “She ok?”

  “Not really. Just called the doc for more meds to help her. Shane is picking them up and bringing them over in a bit so make sure you call the hounds off.” We both laugh but the look of sadness returns to both our faces quickly.

  He reaches over and pats my arm. “She’ll be ok. Fighter that one, tough as nails. You need some rest too, ya know, or you won’t be any good to her. I’ll tell Shane to bring the meds on up as soon as he gets here. You need anything, let me know.” I take his arm and squeeze it, nodding my thanks. Turns out he’s a pretty good guy, for a Hulk.

  Running up the stairs I find out just how exhausted I really am. I crawl into bed behind my girl, my arm snaking around her waist and my hand finding its favorite spot. She doesn’t stir, and I relax.

  “Run, Tuck. Get out, now.” Croaky whispers wake me up from my short sleep. “I can’t… I can’t… Go.” Reaching over her, I touch her forehead. Fuck, it’s hotter than ever. Jumping out of bed I run into the hallway, dial and push call.

  “Yeah. My girlfr… My wife is burning with fever. Yes, Doc Morrison already saw her but she’s getting worse. Please, hurry!” I give the dispatcher our address, and end the call and go flying down the stairs, slamming open the front door. Hulk stands up in alert and runs towards me. “Ambulance is on the way. She’s burning up. Let them in.” Panting heavily, I turn and run back inside and up the stairs. Pax is moaning, moving her head back and forth and coughing in between. “I’m here, beauty. I’m here.” I grab the washcloth from the bowl on the table, run into the bathroom and rewet it, run back to her and place it on her forehead. “Help is coming, baby. Hang in there for me.”

  It’s late afternoon by the time they check her and get her set up in a room. I finally walk in and stop dead in my tracks. There’s an oxygen hose in her nose, an I.V. hooked into her right hand, and she is as pale as a ghost. I grab the closest chair, pull it up as close as I can get it to her bed, and take her warm hand as I sit, resting my forehead against the bed and cry. I’ve never really cried before, and I have had plenty of reasons to in my short life. My parents treated me worse than shit growing up. I found my dad dead, most of the time I didn’t know where my next meal would come from and had to call the cops to come get my mom when she was overdosing on her drug of the day. Yeah, I had a ton of reasons to cry, but I never did. I figured this was my life so suck it up and make myself a better one. Well, I did. And she’s right here in this bed.

  “God, if you can hear me, I know I haven’t really paid much attention to you. I guess no one showed me the way but… I need you now. No. Paxton needs you. She deserves a good life and a healthy life. Can you help her? Will you help her? Please?”

  I stay there for a long time, my head lying on her bed and wait.

  “Tuck.” Why is someone calling my name when we are at home in bed? Weird dreams. “Tucker.” My eyes open to see Shane standing next to me. I turn to see Pax in a hospital bed. Her pale skin lit up by the moonlight coming in through the shades covering the window. Damn! Thought that part was just a nightmare, and I would wake up and make love to my beauty.

  Leaning forward, I kiss my girl on her hot forehead, kiss the top of her hand, careful not to jar the I.V. and tilt my head to the door to Shane. We walk into the hallway. I take the door, leaving it open only slightly so I can see my girl, and I turn to my mate. “Hey, sorry about that. I guess I fell asleep.” I rub my face and then my eyes to clear them. I notice Hulk standing on the other side of the door. He winks at me and heads down the hallway to give us some privacy.

  Shane’s hand pats my shoulder. “No apologies needed, mate. You need some sleep. You look like shit,” he says grinning. His face turns serious. “How’s our girl doing? Any better?” Shaking my head slowly I sit down in the chair by the door, and he follows suit sitting in the chair beside it.

  “No. Not yet.” I lean down, elbows on my knees, my face in my hands and cry softly. “I don’t know what to do. I’m lost. I can’t…” I feel his hand rub my back. We sit in silence for a while until I hear my name called out faintly. My head whips around to look in the doorway and see my girl moving around in bed. Rushing up to her side, I take her hand and smooth her damp hair back from her forehead.

&nbs
p; “Hey, my sleeping beauty.” Her eyes open a little bit, and I can see a very small smile on her dry lips. “There you are,” I smile brightly.

  Just at that moment, a nurse comes into the room, smiles at me, then at Pax, and I move away so she can check on her. I watch as she checks her pulse, her heart and places a thermometer in her mouth. Pax’s eyes move to mine, and she tries to smile. Once the nurse is done, she winks at me as she leaves and shuts the door.

  “You still have the ladies winking at you,” Pax whispers then begins coughing. I rush over, pour her some water and put the straw up to her lips.

  “Hey, now. No bitching at me while you’re sick,” I chuckle. She giggles a little, pushing the straw out of her mouth with her tongue and proceeds to cough again. Once she settles down I move the straw up to her lips again, and she drinks eagerly. “See what it does to you. Ok. I’ll stop. Apparently my great sense of humor makes you cough and choke.” That did it. She removes the straw again, laughing and the coughing resumes. Ok, no more jokes for awhile.

  Sitting down on the side of the bed, I take her hand and her fingers immediately move in between mine. Her hand actually feels a bit cooler to me. Good sign. She lays quietly as I talk about how the guys in the band miss her and how Shane and Allie have been asking about her. I keep the conversation up until my head turns around when the door opens. Doc Maddison walks in with the nurse following her.

  “Tucker, how are you? You look like you could use some good sleep,” she asks me with concern on her face. I reach out and shake her hand.

  “I’m ok Doc, really. I’m more worried about Paxton. How’s she doing? Is she getting any better? Her hand feels cooler to me,” I say in a rush.

  Doc chuckles and pulls up a chair, sitting down and crossing her legs. “Now when are you gonna call me Blake? I think we’ve known each other long enough.” Her eyebrows rise, and I relax. She looks over at Pax, to me again and then back at my beauty. “Miss Davenport, I just looked over your chart after Nurse Simms brought it to me and there is most definitely an improvement.” I sigh deeply in relief while squeezing my beauty’s hand. I look at her and can tell she is relieved too. “I’d still like to keep you at least one more night and then we’ll see about letting you go home tomorrow but…” The worry is back on Pax’s face when she looks at me quickly. “If I don’t feel you are ready to leave us by then I may recommend another night here. I want to make sure you’re in the best possible condition before you leave us.”

  “I think that sounds reasonable, don’t you, baby?” I ask Pax as she sighs again. “We need to be sure you’re good before you leave so you don’t end up back here, right? I don’t want to take any chances.” She looks my way, smiles and then back at Doc and nods.

  Doc stands and walks to the bed. “Good. Dear, I would refrain from any talking or anything else that might set off your coughing for a while.” She looks my way and laughs. “And that means no more joking with her. I’ve heard that you can get her going pretty good.” Busted! She continues to laugh as she walks out the door.

  “Busted,” Pax whispers and starts to cough. I smirk at her as I hold the straw up to her luscious lips again.

  “Quit, you’re gonna get me in more trouble.” She winks at me as she drinks. “I think maybe I should just be quiet, might help you not cough so much,” I state winking back. “How about I climb into bed with you, instead, and we can cuddle and watch T.V?” She pushes the straw from her mouth and nods, her beautiful smile spreading across her face.

  We cuddled. While she slept, I watch T.V. until I fall asleep with her in my arms. Right where I should be.

  * * *

  My eyes open slowly and I see my sexy rocker man sleeping next to me. Damn! He’s so fine, and I’m so lucky. The hair growth on his face makes him look so much sexier than he already is. I can just imagine rubbing my face against his. It must be pretty early in the morning as I only see a little light peeking in through the window blinds. Turning a bit I reach for my water mug and take a drink through the straw and swallow. Doesn’t hurt quite as bad today. Maybe I can go home today after all. I sure hope so, I want to be in my bed at home and my man making love to me. Yep. I feel tons better. I’m horny.

  I lay there awake, but my eyes start to feel heavy as I watch my man sleep. When I awake again his side of the small bed is empty. I look around but am alone in the room. I turn on the T.V. just as the door opens and the love of my life comes sauntering in carrying a tray of food. Growl, grumble. Yep, I am starved!

  “Thought so! The nurse came and checked on you while you were sleeping and said you could eat a little this morning,” he says laughing. He sets the tray on the roll table and pushes it over my bed. Leaning over me, he hits the button and the back of the bed starts to rise. I can smell the mixture of eggs and all Tuck. What an aroma! He places the napkin in my lap, lifts the lid of the tray and hands me the fork. “Doc says she will check on you in a bit and if all is good she will get the release papers ready.” He kisses my temple and smiles against it. “I can’t wait to get you home and all well.”

  I turn my head and catch his mouth with mine as he pulls back. “Thank you. You take such great care of me and I feel so loved,” I whisper, my throat still scratchy. My mouth still pressed to his, he kisses me back and smiles.

  “I will always take care of you. You are my life, my love, my soul-mate forever. I love you my beauty.” His lips still pressed to mine as he speaks. So sweet!

  I start to eat and he watches me. “Do you want some? You must be starved. You probably haven’t eaten as long as me.”

  He shakes his head. “I actually grabbed a bite down in the cafeteria while the nurse was checking you. I figure that was a good time since you wouldn’t be alone. She waited until I came back before she left. Trust me, I was starving,” he laughs.

  We talk while I eat, but it doesn’t take me long to finish. He asks me if I want more, and I nod eagerly. Leaving me for a short time, he arrives back with another tray. He tells me the nurse says it’s a good sign that I’m so hungry. Damn, she ain’t kidding. By the time I get done with the second tray of food the doc strolls in smiling. She tells me I am good to go home, but I have to rest for the next week, no activity at all, she tells us as she looks at Tuck. Well, shit! We’ll see about that.

  After being wheeled out to the front of the hospital, I see our SUV sitting in the front drive waiting for us. Bull gets out of the car and runs around to open the back door for me. Not sure why Tuck insists on calling him Hulk. Bull. Hulk. Same thing to me. Tuck helps me up from the chair, seems I am rather weak, gets me in the car and buckles me in. After he climbs in after me, he sits as close as his seat belt allows and wraps his arm around me. My head immediately lays on his shoulder, and my eyes close of their own accord.

  My eyes blink rapidly and then close again. I’m so comfortable. I grab something soft by my head and snuggle into it. No, that’s not working. I open my eyes again and see I am holding Tucks pillow close. Where’s my man? I roll over and push myself up into a sitting position. Dang, I feel a little lightheaded. Heading to the closet I slip on my robe, go into the bathroom and brush my teeth. Wow, I needed that. Slowly, I make my way downstairs, holding onto the railing as I go, my legs feeling a little wobbly. As I get closer to the kitchen, I start to hear voices.

  “Man, she won’t be up to it by then. No! I’m not leaving her here alone with a fucking prick out there that wants her so he can make me pay for putting him away! Fuck you! She means more to me than some fucking job! Asshole!”

  I creep to the kitchen and stop at the doorway just as Tuck is slamming his phone down on the table, causing me to jump. He looks over at me, stands up and rushes over to me. “Baby, I’m sorry you heard that. Come here and sit down.” He puts his arm around my shoulder and guides me over to the chair he was sitting in. Pulling up another chair he sits down and takes my hands. “Hungry?”

  I nod but hold his hands tighter as he begins to rise. “Tuck. Who was that?”
>
  Settling back down in the chair he looks into my eyes. “Beauty, it was just that charity gig in New York. It’s next week and I told them we can’t play. I won’t put anything in front of you. You’re more important than a stupid job.” He leans over and kisses my lips.

  Of course, I kiss him back and then smile. “Oh, my wonderful sexy rocker. I’m fine and if it’s Darndage you’re worried about then I’ll just come with you.” He begins to huff so I press a finger against his lips. “Call the nice coordinator back and tell them you’ll be there with bells on. This is the guys’ and your career. I’ll talk to Hulk about going with us and I’ll even call Lana to see if she’s up for a trip. Then she and I can hang out in the hotel suite while my rocker band rocks the house at the charity.”

  His smile brightens as his lips kiss my finger. Once I have removed my finger his lips find mine. “You. Are. Incredible. The most unselfish person I have ever met. And some call you a bitch.” We both laugh as he gets up to make me something to eat.

  The rest of the day we lounge around on the couch but early evening I insist he get the band together and go practice in the studio. It takes quite a while, but he finally relinquishes, calls his buddy’s and leaves. I call Lana while watching T.V., and she is excited to go with us to New York. Tuck had talked to Bull earlier, and he will be accompanying us too. I think he’s really taken a liking to Tuck, but he’d never admit it. So, we’re all set!

  I’m getting stronger as the days pass but still doesn’t take too much to get me to take a nap. Tomorrow we leave for New York, and I am already exhausted after packing. That night we snuggle in bed, Tuck sharing how he’s still concerned about me and me? I surprise him by climbing on top of him and showing him just how fine I am. It’s been too long since we’ve made love, and I just couldn’t wait any longer. This time he reached his climax first, but I followed shortly after. Yes, that did take a lot of my energy but totally worth it! After he cleans us both up, and we get snuggled close, my eyes grow heavy and I fall into a deep sleep.