CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) (2 page)

“I wasn’t going to let her hurt you,” I
choke out shaking my head. “Not for me.” I try to move so I can hug him, but a
sharp, shooting pain runs through my right lung and across my shoulder blade. It
makes me wince in pain; I try not to cry out.

“God damn it Coral, keep still! Did you
hear what I said? She shot you, you need to be careful, keep still!” He snaps.

Tears prick my eyes as it all comes
crashing down on me. I saved Tristan, he’s safe now and Susannah is locked away
somewhere, she can't hurt him now…she can't hurt him.

Tristan strokes my forehead as he hovers
above me again. “Hey, there’s no need for tears. I’m sorry I got mad,” he
murmurs, then gently kisses my forehead. I close my eyes I must be dreaming
this, I must be. Then I remember my Mother.

“Was it her Tristan?” I whisper, opening my
eyes, staring up into his. “Did Susannah kill my Mom?” I whimper. I’m not even
sure if I want to know the answer to that one.

“No baby, Gladys told me it was heart
failure.”

“Oh.” I choke back the tears that threaten
again. Then I remember… “My photograph?” I shout, feeling incensed again that
Susannah took it.

“Coral, I really don't want you to worry
about things like’ – “Did they get it back?” I snap, feeling like I want to
stamp my feet.

“Yes, it was found in her hotel room along
with the photo of us. And they found a set of your keys on her when they
arrested her.”

“Good,” I whisper. “That’s good.” I close
my eyes again…I really do feel out of it. I hear the door open, my eyes dart
open, I watch as a woman in a white coat walks in the room.

“Mr Freeman,” she nods in his direction.
“Well now....” she turns and smiles at me. “How are you feeling Coral?” she
asks.

“Groggy, confused…” I don’t really know
what else to say.

“Do you remember me?” she asks.

“We’ve met?” I question, looking from her
to Tristan for an explanation.

“Yes, yesterday morning. My name is Dr
Green.” I frown back at her.

“We did?” I say in surprise, I do not
remember meeting her –
What’s wrong with me?

“Coral, has Mr Freeman explained why you
are in here?”

I nod my head. “Yes, Susannah shot me,” I
whisper.

“And has Mr Freeman explained’ – “Dr
Green,” he snaps, interrupting her. “I haven’t had chance to
explain…everything.” He adds. They stare at one another for a moment. Dr Green
doesn’t look too happy, and I can see it in Tristan’s face – whatever they are
disagreeing about, Tristan will not budge! Finally, she turns to me and smiles.

“Coral, all your vital signs are looking
good, you’re healing quickly but I’m afraid we’re going to have to keep you in
here a little while longer, I want to monitor you a little more. I want to be
absolutely sure that all is as it should be before we send you home. If you
have any further questions regarding this, or if you would like to speak to me
about anything, just let Nurse Jenny know you want to see me,” she says patting
my hand.

“Nurse Jenny?” I question.

“Your nurse,” she and Tristan both answer
at the same time.
Uh-oh!
Something is definitely going on there.

“Ok, thanks…Dr Green.” I smile weakly at
her.

“You are very welcome Coral.” She smiles
back at me, shoots a disappointed look at Tristan then walks out off the room.

“What have you done?” I turn to Tristan
with one eyebrow cocked up.

“Nothing,” he says avoiding eye contact, so
I know he’s done something.

“Tristan!” I scold.

“It’s not important,” he says. He’s not
going to tell me, so I decide to leave it for now. I look down the bed and
around the room –
Smells funny in here!

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I glance over at him. “A while longer…?” I
say anxiously. “I hate hospitals,” I add.

“I know, but like it or not you’re staying.
You’re healing nicely but they just want to be sure you’re ok; so do I,” he says
frowning deeply and squeezing my hand.

“It was just a gunshot,” I say, hoping he’ll
change his mind and take me home. “It doesn’t hurt. I'm ok, you can take me
home now.” I wince as I try to move –
God damn it!

“Don’t do that Coral,” he softly admonishes.

“Do what?” I feign innocence.

“Lie to me,” he growls. “And stop thinking
you have to be so tough all the time will you. Christ!” Tristan runs his hand
through his hair in frustration.

“Sorry,” I say, tears welling up again. “I
don't mean to be difficult....” I choke.

“I know,” he sighs and kisses me again.
“Now go to back to sleep, you need to rest.”

“Why are you still here?” I ask.

“Where else would I be?” he asks
incredulously.

“Tristan you should go home, get some rest,
you look exhausted,” I tell him. He just stares at me, his big chocolate eyes,
wide and weary. “You’re not going to leave?” I whisper.

“No.” He tells me firmly, then reaching up
he gently strokes my hair.

“Am I dreaming?” I whisper.

“No.” Tristan gazes down at me with those
deep, soulful eyes of his.

“Am I dead?” I question.

“No.” He states clearly.

“Prove it,” I challenge.

Tristan leans forward and gently rests his
forehead against mine. “Feel this?” He says clutching my hand in his.

“Yes,” I whisper, it feels heavenly.

“And this?” He says, kissing my forehead, I
smile up at him. “I love you,” he tells me. “More than life itself. When I
thought I’d nearly lost you’ – I press my fingertips against his full, soft
lips. Now I know I'm not dreaming; I can smell his hypnotic scent invading all
my senses….
He smells like home.

“I love you too,” I softly say, and slowly
but surely his lips gently meet mine…

MY STOMACH GRUMBLES LOUDLY
making us both smile. I look up at Tristan; I guess the kissing is over for
now.
“Hungry?” He asks.

“Yes, I feel like I haven’t eaten in a week,” I state. Tristan
frowns and looks down at our entwined fingers. “What?” I question. “What are
you looking so worried about?” He silently shakes his head at me. “Tristan!”

“You’ve been in here a while baby, you took your time coming
round after the operation.”

Operation?
“So what are you saying?” I ask.

“You’ve been out for ten days baby.” I frown back at him,
then smile –
He’s winding me up, he’s got to be
. Lifting my hand to his
lips, he softly kisses my knuckles. “Happy birthday darling.”
Shit! He’s telling
the truth.

“It’s my birthday?” I squeak in horror.

“Yes.” Tristan kisses my hand again trying to soothe me.

“But...but, Gladys and Malcolm were getting married today!”
I squeak, suddenly remembering that conversation.

Tristan shakes his head at me. “They’ve cancelled it baby.”

“What?” I screech. The machine that I'm hooked up to starts
rapidly beeping; echoing my anxiety.

“Coral, with everything that’s happened, it was the last
thing on their mind, don't you understand? You were shot baby, your heart...”
Tristan stops for a moment and squeezes his eyes closed, it’s as though he’s in
pain, then he opens them and glares down at me. “They had to resuscitate you...you
came back but you’d lost a lot of blood, they had to give you a transfusion.
Then they took you down to surgery, we all thought...prayed you would pull
through,” he takes another deep breath.

“When you were wheeled into ICU after your op, we all
breathed a sigh of relief, but then you wouldn’t wake up....I thought....” He takes
a deep steadying breath. “It’s been the most horrendous ten days of my life,” he
says, his eyes wide, weary and full of fear. “I thought you’d never wake up
again,” he says bowing his head as he chokes back tears.

“Tristan!” I gasp and pull him to me. I take his head and rest
it on my chest, it hurts like hell, but I don't care; I need to comfort him. “Baby,
don't cry, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere,” I say running my fingers
through his thick, soft hair.

He lifts his head and I see the fear and the pain behind his
eyes, he’s been to hell and back. He sniffs loudly, kisses me with his soft
tear stained lips and puts his head back on my chest.

“Tristan, you look terrible. When was the last time you
slept? I ask.

“I don't know...” he mumbles, looking up at me.

I place my hands on his cheeks. “Baby, when I get out of
here I need you to be fit and healthy so you can look after me, not so
exhausted that you’ll get ill, now go home.” I order.

“No!” he barks back.

“You’re being very stubborn,” I mutter.

“Yes, just like you,” he says cocking one eyebrow up at me.

I shake my head at him, trying to think of a way to get him
home, he looks awful. “Ok, I’ll make a deal with you,” I say.

“A deal?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, I’m all ears,” he says.

“We eat something, because you look like you haven’t had a
decent meal in you for days, then you go home. I don't expect to see you until
tomorrow morning, deal?”

“No, no deal,” he says, shaking his head at me.

“Tristan!” I moan.

“I’m not leaving Coral, so drop it,” he snaps.

I roll my eyes at him. “Fine!” I bob my tongue out at him.

“Fine!” he mimics me then smiles his cheeky grin.

“You’re crazy,” I say laughing and shaking my head at him.

“And hungry,” he says.

“Tristan, there’s no excuse for you not eating!”
Why the
hell hasn’t Gladys fed him up while I’ve been in here?

“What are you hungry for beautiful?” He asks, ignoring my telling
off.

“You,” I tease. His smile spreads from ear to ear.

“As I am, for you my darling,” Tristan says, softly stroking
my cheek.

Then he gets to his feet, he seems very tired and weary. His
face contorts as he stares down at my body, then he leans down pulls the covers
back, and lifts up my horrid, hospital nightgown and plants a soft kiss on my
belly – I notice a funny look in his eyes as he does this. Then he slowly brushes
his prickly jaw against my skin, it sends tingles to all the right places –
I
so would right now, if I could.

“Don’t tempt me,” I growl, running my hands through his
hair.

“Temp you?” he asks, brushing his stubble against me again.

“Just because I’m in hospital and unable to move, doesn’t
stop me shagging your brains out!” I grumble.
He has no idea the effect he
has on me.

“Yes it does,” he firmly says, kissing my belly once more.

“Get up here,” I say, pulling on his hair. Tristan smiles shyly
as I pull his lips down to meet mine. The machine suddenly goes silent as my
heart splutters to a stop. I still can’t get used to the feel of his lips
against mine.

Tristan instantly stops kissing me, his lips frozen
millimetres from mine. Then he looks across at the machine, just as my heart
thuds a couple of times, then zooms into action. I blow out a deep breath.

“What was that all about?” he asks.

“You just…
drive me wild!”
I say against his lips.

“Wild eh?”
Ok, he’s enjoying this.

“More than you’ll ever know,” I add.

“Ditto baby,” he says sweetly, kissing me softly again.

“Tristan, I really want you to’ – “I know what you’re going
to say,” he interrupts. “And I’m not going anywhere, the only time I’m walking
out of this hospital is with you in my arms,” he states.

“Tristan, that’s silly,” I admonish.

“You nearly died Coral so I don’t think it’s silly at all.
Now, what are you hungry for?”

“I’ve told you. You!” I pout, wishing I could make love to
him.

“Well I’m afraid I’m off the menu for a while….so?” Tristan
cocks his head to the side waiting for my answer. For some unfathomable reason
I’m craving Macaroni Cheese, yet I never eat that stuff?
How odd?

“Well?” Tristan pushes.

“Macaroni Cheese,” I answer.

“Sounds good,” he chuckles.

“You like it too?” I question.

“Yes.” Tristan kisses me again, then takes out his mobile
and types up a text.

“What time is it?”

“Lunchtime.”

“Who are you texting?” I ask.

“Stuart.”

“Why?”

“To get us some food from the cafeteria, he’s been here the
whole time Coral, to get anything we need,” he adds.
There’s a cafeteria
here?

“He has?” I squeak.

“Yes, he’s been worried about you too.”

“Well he should take your sorry ass home, so you can shower,
shave and get your butt into bed for some rest,” I admonish. I don't want him
to know, but I’m really worried about him, he looks terrible.

“You don’t like the beard?” he asks running his hand across
his jaw.

“Actually I do, I think it looks really sexy but’ – “You
do?” he says in surprise.

“Um...yeah,” I smile. “Tristan, I think you’re sexy with or without
it, so do want you want to do baby, keep it if you like it,” I say smiling up
at him.

He smiles his shy smile, then shakes his head at me in
wonder.

“What?”

“Nothing, I just...Coral, I love that you care about me so
much, that you think I should go home, but I can rest here,” he says, patting
the bed next to me.

“Yes, you can,” I say smiling broadly at him. “And of course
I care about you like that, I love you Tristan, that’s why I took a bullet for
you. But now I think about it maybe I shouldn’t have?” I say staring down at the
bed. “It was a really silly thing for me to have done, and now I’m in pain and
I can’t move, which means I can’t bed you whenever I want to,” I say putting on
a pretend pout, teasing him.

“Ah baby...” He leans down to kiss me, chuckling hard against
my lips.

“S’not funny!” I moan. Really thinking about it now – If I’m
in this much pain lying still, there’s no way any sex is going to happening!
God
damn it!

“Sex deprived?” he titters.

“You’re going to have a lot of making up to do you know,” I
mumble.

His eyes glint wickedly. “Oh, it’s a dirty job, but someone’s
got to do it,” he chuckles.

“I’m glad it’s you,” I say.

“Yeah?” He croaks.

“Yes, you’re my man baby. You make me feel safe, protected,
loved. All those women that wanted you, I feel sorry for them. They lost out,
but I got you and I’ll always remember that, I’ll never take you for granted.”
I say surprising myself.

Tristan loses his grin. His face falls and his eyes grow
dark. “Baby...” he chokes trying his best to hold me without hurting me. “It’s
always been you, always will be,” he whispers then pulls back, gazing adoringly
at me again - like I'm the air that he breathes.
God knows why?

“How much longer do you think I’ll have to stay in here?” I
ask.

“You want to go home?”

“Yes, I want to go home.”

“When you say
home
?” he questions. My heart sinks.
Doesn’t
he want me with him?

“Well, I mean with you...I mean...well I can't go back to my
studio...?” I say frowning deeply at him.

“You sure this is what you want?” He asks.

I sigh inwardly. “Tristan nowhere has ever been home to me.
I mean...I love Gladys and Debs, the house I was raised in, but...well, the
first time I ever felt
at home
, was when I met you. So my
home
is
where you are.” Tristan silently nods as he digests this information. “I’ll
heal quicker there, I know I will. Please baby....” I stop remembering
something. “Dr Andrews works here,” I say hoping he’ll sign me out.

“Coral, he’s in a completely different department. He can't
sign you out if that’s what you’re thinking?” My face falls.
I so want out
of here.

“But I’ll see what I can do, I don't want you leaving’ –
“Tristan, nothing is going to happen to me. I want to go home, I want to sleep
in our bed, I want to sit on the sofa with you and eat home cooked food. Please
baby, get me out of here.” I beg.

“Sounds heavenly,” he says. “I’ll see what they say,” he
adds.

“I don't care what they say, I want out.” I pout.

“I know,” he says kissing me again. “Let’s eat and then I’ll
go talk to them.”

I smile back at him. “Thank you Tristan.” I lean forward to
kiss him and wince –
Fuck that hurt!
“Where’s the nurse?” I ask panting
in pain.

“You want pain killers?” Tristan asks. I nod frantically at
him. Tristan leans over and presses the button again.

“She’ll be here in a sec,” he says squeezing my hand in his.
“Nice deep breaths baby,” he soothes. I close my eyes briefly and concentrate
on blocking out the pain. The door opens and a nurse in a blue uniform enters.

“Hi Coral,” she smiles. “Sorry about the delay, we’re really
busy today. You need some painkillers?”

“Please,” I whimper.

“Alright honey,” I watch her inject something into my drip.
“You feeling better?” she asks, I nod back at her. She smiles and walks out of the
room.

“You know if we go home you’ll have to take painkillers in
tablet form, it won't be this easy,” he tells me.

“Tristan, you’re rich,” I rightly point out. “I want a nurse
and a drip at home,” I say gritting my teeth. Tristan chuckles at my little
rant, then we both look up as the door is opened again.

“Stuart!” I beam.

Tristan is straight to his feet taking the tray off Stuart
and placing it on the table in front of me –
It smells delicious!

“How are you feeling Coral?” Stuart asks.

“Good thanks; you?” I smile.

“No complaints, glad to see you’re awake,” he says nodding once
at me.

“Thanks Stu.” Tristan says.

“Can I get anything else for you?” he asks.

“Coral?” Tristan looks across at me.

“Yes, can you wait till were finished, then take Tristan
home so he can shower’ – “Coral, we’ve discussed this,” he says, his eyes
narrowed, a deep frown etched into his features.

“Fine!” I grumble.

“Fine!” He grumbles back at me. Stuart smiles softly at me,
nods to Tristan and discreetly disappears out the door. Tristan pulls the table
closer to us.
Wow, that smells so good!

“Honestly, you’re so huffy sometimes,” I say.

“So are you,” he retorts. “Can we eat now?” he adds.

He looks angry, which is making me want to laugh, because he
really does look pissed off –
Honestly, men and no food, not a good
combination.

“Eat!” I tell him, trying to hide my smirk.

“It’s not funny Coral!” he barks.

“Fine, it’s not funny!” I chuckle.

Tristan shakes his head in frustration, removes the plastic
top to each of our bowls, silently hands a spoon to me, and starts munching on
his macaroni. I smile down at my poor baby, who’s been through so much, and dig
into my food. I have so many questions for him. There’s so much to talk about,
but this food tastes so good, I don't want to stop eating to talk.

It doesn’t take long for us both to finish. Tristan places
both our bowls down and pushes the table back down the end of the bed.

“Curl up with me?” I whisper, suddenly feeling drained.

“Here?” he questions.

“Yes please,” I whimper, I need to feel him close to me.

Tristan shakes his head at me. “I don't want to hurt you.”

“How are you going to hurt me?” I huff.

“I might turn over and catch you or something’ – “Tristan
please, I want to you to lay down next to me. Please...” I beg.

Tristan shrugs, kicks off his trainers and climbs in beside
me –
Now I’m happy
.