No Safeword: Matte - Happily Ever After (Safewords) by Candace Blevins

this house, without you, nearly broke me when I was driving to the hospital, and then waiting while they operated on you. Please don’t expect me to go to that bed without you.” His voice broke as he finished with, “I don’t think I can.”
    “Oh, Ethan.” Sam sat up, swung her legs around, and stood. She’d taken her sling off already, so she just held her left arm to her abdomen as she wrapped her right arm around his body in a hug. “I’m so sorry for what I’ve put you through.”
    “Don’t you dare apologize.” He hugged her back, super careful to keep from hurting her. “I just wanted you to understand why I need to wait until you can come to bed with me. I’m fine on the sofa; it’s going to be damned luxurious after the convertible chair whatchamacallit in the hospital.”
    “When are you planning to go back to work? I’m sure I’ll be fine by myself during the day, but I may need you to drive me to appointments for a while. I hate that you’re missing so much, and the sooner you go back, the less guilty I’ll feel about asking you to drive me.”
    “I don’t know, let’s give it a couple of days and let me see how well you’re getting around. Maybe spend a day letting you do everything, with me here in case something’s too much, and if you make it okay then I’ll feel better about leaving you.”
    Sam kissed his hand and made her way back to the bed. “Masterson’s dead, you don’t have to worry about him coming after me again.”
    “I know.” His voice was tight. Pissed.
    “I need to talk to the guard who shot him. I don’t remember hearing what the guards said to Masterson after he shot me, but I understand they warned him several times to drop his gun, and when he didn’t, and looked like he was about to shoot again, the guard took him out.”
    “Why do you need to talk to him?”
    “I just do. He either saved me from having another huge hole in my body, or possibly saved my life, and I hope he isn’t beating himself up about taking someone’s life. I guess I need to say thank you, and make sure he feels good about his decision to shoot.”
    “His boss came to the hospital while you were in surgery, to see how you were doing. I expressed our thanks and asked him to pass them along.”
    Sam’s head jerked at the news and she winced. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I didn’t think of it. So much happened, I’d forgotten until you mentioned wanting to talk to the guard.”
    Ethan stayed home with Sam another three days before returning to work. She couldn’t manage the lids on jars, or even the pull-up lids on plastic containers. Vivian brought them a meal in a bowl with a locking lid Sam could easily manage, and Ethan went to the store and bought a bunch of them in a variety of sizes. He moved the condiments into them, and precooked all of her comfort foods and kept them well stocked. He even scooped a serving size of ice cream into some, and stacked them neatly in the freezer.
    Tara dropped by to visit her every couple of days, and took it upon herself to check Sam’s wound, change the dressing, and just generally play nurse. She never stayed long, but was worried about infection and about Sam pushing too hard. Sam didn’t mind her lectures, which was odd, since everyone else tended to piss her off when they told her what she needed to do to get better.
    Even though Sam assured Ethan she was fine spending the day alone, he arranged for Vivian to come spend time with her Saturday while he worked.
    “Come on in,” Sam said, as she opened the door when her friend arrived. “I can’t believe Ethan thought I needed a babysitter for the day; I’ve managed okay by myself during the week.” She took a breath and added, “But I can’t say I’m upset you’re here. It’ll be nice to have some girl talk.”
    “Tyler’s out of town on an assignment so I’m happy to have the company. What do you feel up to? I know you aren’t supposed to do anything too