The Biker's Fate Chapter 252

"I got you," Hatch said, and I felt instant relief as he hit the pain pump button.

"You're here," I breathed out, smacking my lips, my mouth dry.

"I'm here," he said, and handed me a cup of water.

I took a long sip and sighed. "Can you get a nurse, please?"

"You okay?"

"Yep. I just need the nurse."

"Can I help?" he asked.

"No."

"You sure?"

"Hatch," I breathed in frustration, then whispered, "I have to go to the loo."

"And I'm guessin' that's way too much for you if I take you."

I screwed up my face in horror. "You can't be serious."

He chuckled. "I'll get the nurse."

"Thank you."

Hatch left the room and a nurse walked in a few minutes later and helped me do my thing. I don't know if Hatch came back because I fell asleep as soon as I was back in bed.

I didn't wake up again until the sun peeked in through the vertical blinds. Glancing around, I realized I was pain free… and alone. Frowning, I pressed the call button and waited for a nurse, who arrived a few minutes later.

"Hi, Maisie. I'm Sally. I'm here with you all day today." Sally was in her fifties, short dark hair, and kind brown eyes. "Let's get some vitals."

"Do I have time to use the restroom first?" I asked.

"Sure. I'll help you."

"Did Hatch leave?"

"Your husband?" Sally asked.

"Um, sure." It was easier to just agree rather than trying to explain.

"He said he was going to the cafeteria."

"Oh, okay." I was surprisingly glad he didn't leave the hospital, but still wished he'd been there when I woke up.

"I can't believe I didn't wake up during the night in pain. I must be healing faster than I thought," I said, once I was back in bed.

Sally checked the pain pump and smiled. "You got your pain dose every four hours, that's probably why. The night nurse said she showed your husband how to dose you, so he must have set his alarm and taken care of it."

"Really?"

She nodded with a smile. "You've got a good man there."

"Apparently so," I agreed. "Is it possible to get a toothbrush?"

"Oh, sure, hon." She opened a cabinet and pulled down everything I needed, then helped me put paste on the brush. It was tough to clean my teeth with my left hand, but I soldiered on, then I fell back into bed relieved that my teeth were no longer wearing fuzzy jumpers.

Sally went through my vitals and deemed I could eat if I was hungry. My stomach rumbled in response.

"What can I get you?" she asked.

"Pudding would be amazing," I said, my mouth watering.

"Chocolate, vanilla, or butterscotch?"

"Um, all of them?" I asked, hopefully.

Sally chuckled. "Coming right up."

Hatch walked in just as Sally was leaving.

"You're awake," he said, and smiled as he made his way over to me. "How do you feel?"

"Like I need a shower."

He chuckled. "I bet."

"But really well-rested. Thank you for monitoring my pump," I said, and reached for his hand. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Yeah, baby, I slept." He smiled. "But more importantly, I'm glad you did."

"You don't have to stay here all day, Hatch."

"I don't actually plan to."

"Okay, good." I said it, but I was actually disappointed he would be leaving.

"But I'm not leavin' for a while, so get that devastated look off your face, Sunshine."

I gasped, releasing his hand with a frown. "I'm not devastated."

"You look pretty devastated."

"I'm not even a little bit sad."

He chuckled. "Just messin' with you."

"How rude." I straightened my bedding. "Have you forgotten that I'm infirm, sir?"

His smile widened. "You're fuckin' sexy when you're speakin' all hoity toity," he whispered.

"So I'm sexy all the time, then?" I challenged.

Hatch leaned down and kissed my cheek, whispering, "Yeah, Sunshine. All the fuckin' time."

I shivered, closing my eyes briefly, but our moment was interrupted by Sally returning with pudding cups.

"Behave," I ordered.

"No promises." Hatch sat in the chair next to the bed.

"Which one would you like first?" Sally asked.

"Chocolate, please."

The nurse opened the pudding and handed me a spoon.

"Do you need some help?" she asked.

"No, I'm good, thanks, love."

She nodded and then left the room and I tried to dig into my pudding. Failing miserably. I quickly discovered it was really difficult to eat pudding (well anything, really) when your dominant hand was useless.

Before I managed to dump chocolate all over myself, the cup was taken from me as Hatch sat on the edge of the bed. "Let me help."

I hated being so vulnerable, but the fact I was starving trumped my pride. Hatch lifted the spoon to my mouth, and I wrapped my mouth around it, sighing as I swallowed the sweetness.

"I think I can feed myself, Hatch, if you just hold it for me."

He smiled. "I like this better."

I wrinkled my nose. "This seems like a big jump forward in our getting to know each other."

"Feeling a little exposed?"

"More than a little, yes."

"You've been alone a long time, Maisie. It's gonna take a minute to get used to having a partner again. We'll get there."

I turned my head away from the spoon coming at me. "I don't want to rush things, Hatch. I know nothing about you."

"I get it, Sunshine, and we'll go slow, but the fact you're laid up won't last forever. Plus, this gives me brownie points towards our first fight."

"If you do everything I tell you to do and don't piss me off, we won't fight."

"I'll keep that in mind. Now eat your pudding."

I giggled.

"What now?" he asked.

"Pudding's just a funny word," I admitted.

"Yeah, I guess it is." He grinned and shoved the spoon in my mouth again. "Did they say when you could go home?"

"Tomorrow I think." I pushed his hand away when I'd enough to eat. "Do you need to go?"

"Soon. We're almost done with your car and I'm not likin' what we're findin'."

I frowned. "What are you finding?"

"Can we wait until you're feelin' better?"

"No. I'm fine, Hatch. Just tell me the truth."

"Someone cut your brake lines and disabled your airbags, and this person knew enough about new cars to do it," he said. "I also think someone fucked with your fuse."

"You think this was intentional?"

"Yeah."

"Who on earth would try to hurt me? And Poppy?" I bit back tears. "Who?"

"I don't know, baby. We're workin' on it. Can you think of anyone who might want you out of the way?"

"No."

"Think, Maisie. Has anyone ever made any threats? Given you the creeps? Anything?"

"I'm the CEO of a sex toy company, Hatch. I've had to deal with a few kooks, but I've never had death threats."

He frowned. "How many kooks?"

"Not many. My lawyer handles these things. Stephanie, my assistant, doesn't even show them to me anymore, she just forwards anything like that to him. The only reason I know she gets them is she gives me the weekly kook list tally. Usually, I only have one or two a month, maybe."