Chapter 54
A few hours later, Myles had resumed a growingly familiar position next to Tara at the edge of her bed in the hospital room she'd been assigned. While Kelly hadn't done any major damage to her shoulder and collarbone, the doctors wanted to keep her overnight for observation.
Running his fingers gently through her hair, he thought how close he came to losing her not once, not twice, but three times in the last couple of days. Myles didn't know why that bothered him so much, but it did and he couldn't bring himself to leave her, even for a minute.
However, it had taken quite a bit of arm-twisting before Myles was allowed to stay with her, but he wouldn't have it any other way. It seemed to him every time that he took his eyes off her that something happened and he couldn't bring himself to risk letting it happen again.
Really logical there, Leland, Myles admonished himself silently. She's a competent agent and none of this was her fault. I put her into this situation with my fabulous driving, he sighed. Bobby and Jack will probably end up giving me one of those awful nicknames, he couldn't help but groan aloud at that prospect, the noise causing Tara to stir from her slumber.
"Hey," Tara smiled tiredly up at him. "This is becoming a habit I'd like to break," she grinned, indicating the beeping machines over her head with her eyes.
"Me too," Myles grinned down at her. "Er, being here at the hospital, I mean, not with you," he clarified, meeting her hazel eyes tenderly.
"Ah," Tara stammered, a tinge of pink coloring her face as the heat rose to her cheeks at the way he was studying her face, but she didn't break eye contact with him. His eyes drifted to her lips as they parted breathless, not from her injuries but from the intensity of the unspoken words between them.
"Tara," Myles choked, pausing to clear his throat before continuing. "I'm sorry Kelly hurt you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you," he sighed, lowering his eyes sadly to where he held her hand in his.
"Protect me?" Tara started. "You think you have to protect me?" she asked, the anger in her eyes evident as Myles glanced back up, shocked by the tone of her voice.
"I didn't mean…," he spluttered.
"And just what did you mean, Mr. Boston-breed, SWAT trained," Tara spat irately. "If I was more like Jack and Bobby, not some 'computer geek', would you still feel the need to protect me?" Her fury was building the more she thought about what he said.
"Calm down, love," Myles insisted as the monitors started beeping loudly, indicating her rising heart rate.
"I will not calm down," Tara swatted at his hands as he tried to soothe her. "I'm not some invalid," she insisted enraged. "I'm an F.B.I. agent too and I'm perfectly…"
Deciding there was only one quick way to silence her, Myles crushed his mouth to hers. Her shock rippled through him, followed by the overwhelming feeling of belonging as Tara slowly relaxed. He'd wanted to do this for so long, he couldn't hold back.
Gently sliding his arms around her, Myles pulled her close careful of her injuries and splint deepening the kiss. Why did I wait so long? Myles questioned himself, feeling her moan against him. Who cares? I've got her now and I have not intention of letting go, he sighed, more satisfied than he'd been in a long time.