Page 21 of Nightcrawler
I know, right?
Normally, mPreg is fine with me, but the birth of these babies by a man who wouldn’t know a douche if one ran up and squirted him in the face, is the reason this title has earned my negative two-star review. I won’t tell you how the book ends because…trust me, unless you’re into scat…youreallydon’t want to know.
I typed out the review of the last book I’d read on my phone before posting it on my Bestreads page as I lay in Trigg’s bed the following morning. Rolling my head on his pillow to look at the man who slept in the easy chair beside me, I smiled. A sliver of early morning light filtered into the room between slats in the Venetian blinds at the room’s single window, allowing me to admire his profile. Dark stubble had grown out over his square jaw and for the first time, I got a chance to study his thick, black eyelashes. I couldn’t help but be charmed by his good looks.
As I recalled the kiss he’d given me the night before, I reached up and touched my lips. It had been the best first kiss of my life. He’d straightened, looking slightly surprised at himself, and immediately wished me a good night, disappearing into the bathroom. I’d fallen asleep listening to the sound of the shower running. I really hoped there’d be more kisses in our future. The man was perfection. I’d woken when it was still dark, feeling a hell of a lot better than I had the night before, but now, the painkillers had worn off. I was more achy than anything else. I knew I’d feel a lot better in a few days. I healed fast, convinced that my mostly healthy diet was the reason for it.
My bladder was full and since I didn’t want to wake Trigg, I decided it was worth a try to make it to the bathroom without bothering him. I sat up, keeping a hand over the wound in my side and stood with little effort. I made it to the bathroom, closing the door behind me, and using the toilet. I took noteof my face in the mirror. The dark circles from last night were gone which was a relief. I decided I needed a shave although I grew very little facial hair and never any chest hair. The hair on my chin never came in even, so I couldn’t grow a decent beard, which was kind of disappointing since they were all the fashion rage at the moment. The lack of a beard came with my Native American heritage. The hairs which had sprouted over the last couple of days just made me look messy.
After shaving and another sponge bath, I felt a little less grimy but I still needed a bath. I made up my mind to ask Trigg to take me home after his friend Vonne’s visit. He’d do a dressing change and give me another dose of antibiotics, and then I supposed I’d be free to go home. I wanted to stay in Trigg’s orbit as long as I could, but not this way. I didn’t like feeling like an imposition on anyone and I wanted him to have his bed to sleep in tonight. A soft knock came at the door and when I opened it, I found my host standing there wearing a deep scowl.
“Why didn’t you wake me up? You could have taken a fall or—”
“I’m fine,” I interrupted him, putting the palm of my hand on his chest. When he didn’t step back, I felt a pulse of electricity go through me. A spark lit his dark eyes as I went on. “Really, I’m fine, Trigg. I feel a hell of a lot better. You’re a worrier.” The corners of his lips turned up.
“How’s my patient?”
Vonne appeared in the doorway with a big grin on his face. The smile was warm and the deep laugh lines around his eyes and mouth told me that expression was normal for him. Trigg dragged his gaze away from me and backed up, and I noticed how both men watched me with skeptical looks.
“I’m good, Vonne.” I shook his hand. “I feel like a new man.”
Vonne chuckled, and Trigg grunted as I walked back to the bed and sat down on the edge, bracing myself with both hands. They stood over me, and I looked up at them. Vonne turned to look at his friend. “Why don’t you stop cluckin’ and go make some coffee?”
When I snorted, Trigg scowled at us both but he complied, walking off to the kitchen with Stanley following close at his heels. I smiled at Vonne. “He’s the grumpy sort,” I said under my breath.
Vonne threw his head back and laughed. “Don’t I know it! Been in a lot of foxholes with that boy. You should see how he gets when he ain’t eaten for a while. That word hangry was invented ‘cause-a him.”
I smiled at him, nodding as he helped me out of the baggy T-shirt and bent to begin unwrapping my torso. “Not bad,” he said, getting a look at the bandages, front and back. He patted me on the shoulder as he straightened. “Bleedin’ has stopped. Let’s get these bandages changed and then I’ll give you another shot of antibiotics.” As he began working, he whistled a catchy tune. “How’s the pain?”
“Good…I mean fine, just a little achy.”
“Glad to hear it. You’re an easy patient.”
“I got a great doc,” I said, smiling at him.
He smiled back. After the bandages were changed, he asked me to get up and lower my “drawers” so he could give me the shot. It made me wince, but the pat he gave me on the shoulder helped take the sting away. “Take it easy for a couple of days but as long as you continue to feel better, you won’t need a medic,” he said. “You know if you feel feverish or anythin’, you need to call me right away.” He nodded to Trigg who was walking backover to us carrying two cups of coffee. He handed each of us a mug. “He has my number,” Vonne said, nodding to his friend.
“Keep him clear of medical professionals until those wounds are healed up. You know the drill. We wouldn’t want them askin’ questions. Call me if there’s complications.” He turned to me. “I think you can resume normal activities in a couple of days.”
“That fast?” Trigg asked, looking doubtful.
We both turned to look at him. “I’m fine, Trigg. That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier.”
“Don’t mind him. He was our superior out in the field, so he’s always mothered us. It’s just the way he’s wired.”
“You make me sound like a pussy,” Trigg grumbled under his breath.
Vonne laughed. “Hardly, Trigg.” He turned to me, lifting an eyebrow. “You know how Miguel here got the name Trigg?”
“Vonne—” Trigg warned.
“How?”
“One day we was buried up to our calves in mud, sloggin’ our way through some steamy jungle,” Vonne said. “We wasn’t necessarily tryin’ to get noticed if you know what I mean.”
I nodded.
“Anyway, he was out on point as usual, when he suddenly lets out a high-pitched holler and the next thing I know, we’re droppin’ face first into mud. When we looked up, we seen he’d drawn his sidearm and blown the head off a twenty-foot python which was just hangin’ around waitin’ for someone stupid enough to walk under the tree he was roostin’ in.”