28. Piper

Chapter twenty-eight

Piper

I was floating in the darkness, my body weightless as I basked in the peace it provided. There was no pain, no screaming, and no hunger, just me and the whispers. They were less urgent here, showing me things one at a time, giving me a chance to contemplate what it all meant.

"Piper? Can you hear me?"

A voice filtered into my safe place, and they sounded decidedly pissed off. One of my whispers told me it was Cain, and they led me down his path. I followed him as he walked from the jail, watching him burn the bodies, and felt a glimmer of satisfaction that Jake was truly gone.

"You disappear from jail, duck my calls, and then show up here out of the blue?! Are you fucking kidding me?! Oh, and can you please explain to me why everyone is calling me your WIFE?!"

My Little Spider was pissed, and it made me want to smile. I didn't want to leave my safe place, but I would for a chance to have her in my arms again. When I tried to blink, my eyelids felt weighed down. I tried to move my hand, but it felt wrong, like it wasn't quite there. The more I came back into the present, the more awareness flooded back into my cells. And fuck, was it awful.

"Li… Spid…" My tongue didn't want to work, and my lips cracked when I opened my mouth to talk. Everything hurt, every inch of my skin, every bone, every nerve. All I felt was pain.

"I'm here! Piper, I'm here! Oh, thank fuck you're awake!" Addy sounded sad. I hated that I'd made her sad. Her hand found my cheek, and I groaned, leaning into her touch. It was like a beam of sunshine. I wanted to curl up in it and nap for hours. I forced my eyes to open, but nothing happened, even when I blinked. I reached up with my right hand, trying to grab the bandage or whatever was covering them. Addy caught my hand in hers and held it tightly. "Don't, Piper," she murmured, and I frowned, turning toward the sound of her voice. I could see an outline of her, glowing in the darkness like a star.

"‘s wrong with m'eyes?" I mumbled, and she squeezed my hand.

"The doctors are going to run some tests, but you got hit really hard in the head, and it damaged something. I'm not sure… oh Piper. I'm so sorry."

Everything was darkness now. It finally made sense. Someone touched my shoulder, and I flinched, trying to see them, but there was only a faint glow there, nothing like the light Addy emitted.

"It's me," Austin rasped, and I sighed, feeling his hand smoothing down my hair. "You're safe now. I killed them all." Addy shushed him quickly, but I smiled, feeling my lip split open.

"I'm so sorry, Piper. This is all my fault." Cain's voice was faint, as though he was standing far away. I looked toward his voice and saw a flickering outline in front of me.

"It's not... didn't see it," I mumbled, and Addy squeezed my hand. "Should've seen it."

"It's nobody's fault," Addy replied sharply. "Well, it's Jake's, but that's it," she amended, making me smile.

"I found them, by the way," Cain offered, and I nodded, remembering what I'd seen. "The building was still on fire when my taxi went past on the way here."

"For the love of god, could we wait until we get home to discuss this?" Addy groaned. "You just got out of jail. You should know better!"

The bickering was comforting, and I felt myself drifting off as I listened to them talk around me, my body too weak to stay conscious.

I'd drifted in and out of consciousness a lot over the next few days, or at least, that was what Addy told me. It was hard to tell, now that the passage of time was even less apparent to me than it used to be. They'd run their tests as promised, but apparently the damage had been left untreated for too long, so it was unlikely that there'd be anything they could do to restore my sight. The doctors had given me daily doses of antibiotics to treat the swamp of infections currently hosted in my body. They made me nauseous and groggy, and more than once, Cain had to hold a bucket while I'd puked up the sad excuses for meals they provided in the hospital. Addy told me it had only been five days since I arrived here, but it honestly felt like months.

At least one of them stayed with me during the day, except Wyatt, who was stuck at home thanks to his own injuries. Addy read to me when she visited, or just talked with me, telling me about the foods making her nauseous or how her colleagues reacted to the death of the girl at work. Austin was quiet when he stayed, but he touched me more, his hands traveling up and down every inch of my skin that he could reach. He got in trouble once already for climbing onto the bed and curling up at my side, but the nurses were too scared of him now to say anything.

Cain camped out in the room with me at night, refusing to leave even after the visitor hours were over. During the day, he forced me out of the bed and got me walking around, bullying me to use the cane they provided to keep me from walking into a wall. I held on to his arm as we shuffled down the hallways, back and forth for hours, until I was exhausted and frustrated. It was torture, being inside this long. I was not used to being this aware of… everything. The whispers didn't overlap with my vision anymore, so the past and the future didn't bleed together like they used to. If I saw something, it was clearly a vision from the whispers, so I didn't get as confused anymore.

But the present was exhausting, painful, and overwhelming at times, and the hospital was stifling. I needed to go back home and heal in my own way. Cain could tell I was struggling here, so he convinced the doctors to discharge me as soon as the infections were cleared out and I was off the antibiotics.

Addy took the day off to help me get home. She brought me a comfortable pair of sweats and a tee-shirt to change into, and I already began to feel better once I was out of the stupid hospital gown. I held onto Addy's arm tightly as we walked outside, the cool fresh air filling my lungs like a soothing balm. She hopped in the backseat with me and Cain drove us home, leaving the windows rolled down so I could experience the wind on my face. The city felt so loud now, like someone had turned the volume up on the world.

I had a low, thrumming headache by the time we reached the studio, and Addy and Cain steadied me on either side as we made our way up the stairs. I heard Austin's footsteps approaching as we reached the top of the stairs, Cain cursing for a moment as he banged on something metallic-sounding. "We put in the baby gates early," Addy explained, her hair tickling my cheek. "My husband was worried you might fall. But now he can't get the damn things open." I heard the laughter in her voice, and Cain cursed louder, slamming his hand on the gate.

"I said I was sorry. It's just a piece of paper, it's not a big deal," Cain muttered as the metal gate rattled.

"It's just a lift and pull, for god's sake," Addy sighed, exasperated, jostling me as she pushed past. I heard a metallic creak as she pushed the gate open and pulled me up with her. "Austin, be gentle!" was the only warning I got before arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into a fierce hug. It felt so good to be home where I belonged. I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. Austin smelled like Addy's favorite honey and oat shampoo, but underneath it was the earthy and wild scent I always associated with him.

"Excuse me, you assholes have seen him all week," Wyatt interrupted, and I heard soft thumps on the floor approaching us. "Let the cripple through, please."

Austin hissed and let me go, his hands lingering briefly on my hips in a silent promise. Wyatt smelled like clean linens mixed with the coppery tang of old blood as he wrapped his arms around me, his cast brushing up against my neck. Immediately, the pain in my body lost its edge, my headache receding into nothing.

"You look worse than I do, and I was hit by a fucking car," he murmured in my ear, and I laughed, the tightness in my chest lightening.

"Speaking of which, you need a bath," Addy announced. "The doc said water is fine as long as you don't get your bandages wet." Her hand was on my arm again, pulling me along. She showed me how to tug the gate upward to have it swing open, and then counted the number of stairs until we reached the top floor. She must've been reading about how to adjust to blindness or something, but it did make me feel more confident.

"You'll sleep in the bedroom with me until I…" she trailed off, her voice getting a bit echo-y. We must've walked into the bathroom. "Until I feel like you won't disappear on me again." She pulled away from me, leaving me stranded in an ocean of darkness. I heard the water turn on nearby, filling the tub.

"I won't be going anywhere for a while, trust me," I murmured, taking a tentative step toward her, shuffling my feet so I wouldn't trip. I could still see her outline. That hadn't been a weird by-product of my medications, after all. But it seemed to be reserved for just my family, or maybe people with… weird abilities. It was hard to say. Hands gripped my arms, steadying me, and Addy's outline grew a little stronger before I felt her lips on mine.

"Not without me you won't," she replied, her lips still ghosting mine. "My heart couldn't take it.

"Are you saying you can't live without me?" I teased, but my throat felt thick with emotion. Addy kissed me again, more insistently this time, and I could feel the tears on her cheeks dampening my skin.

"I'm saying I love you, you idiot. So no more vanishing acts. And keep your damn cellphone on you from now on!" She smacked me in the chest, and I nodded solemnly, my fingers trailing up her sides.

"I'm sure those baby gates will keep me contained for a while at least," I murmured, earning myself a choked-up laugh. "I love you too, Little Spider. Your name was written on my heart back before we even met."

Addy helped me underdress, laughing when she uncovered the tattoo Wyatt had given me, a beautiful little black widow spider sitting on a tattered web over my heart. She stroked her fingertips across it for a moment before helping me into the tub. I lowered myself down to sit while she rummaged around, muttering under her breath about someone using her shampoo.

"Nope, I'll do it. I've been eyeing this patch of blood all week and today it's gone," Addy announced. I flinched a little as water poured suddenly onto my head, but I quickly relaxed as she began working the shampoo into my scalp. Her nails felt like sin as she worked her way over my hair, careful to avoid the stitches in my temple. She warned me before she began washing it out, and I let my eyes close as the water poured down my face and neck, humming quietly as she did it all over again. Once she was finally satisfied with my hair, she took a gentle washcloth and went over every cut and bruise on my face and my chest, making sure they were all clean and healing.

I was getting sleepy by the time she deemed me properly clean and helped me out of the tub, wrapping me carefully in a clean towel before walking me into the bedroom. "You can sleep closest to the bathroom, and you can wake one of us up if you need to get up during the night," she told me gently, sitting me down on the bed. I was still naked, but I didn't care. I slid under the covers and pulled them up to my chest. They smelled like earth and smoke, honey and safety, my family. My eyes started to close before Addy had finished talking.

I dozed for a while before the bed shifted, and Austin's muscular frame tucked in behind me. He was also naked, and I heard his hum of approval as his hands slid down my body, pulling me tightly against him. I could feel the roughness of his patches of scales as his chest rubbed against my back. I was half-asleep, but he knew I didn't mind if he woke me up like this, so I laid still and enjoyed the feel of his body against mine as he kissed my neck. "I missed you," he hissed, nipping at my earlobe. A groan worked its way out of my throat when his hand wrapped around my cock, his own already hard and pressing against my thigh.

"I missed you too," I told him earnestly, my hips jerking into his hand, seeking friction. He was playing coy tonight, and he squeezed down at the base of my cock, making me swear. "Please, Austin?" I begged, rolling over onto my back, my hand seeking out his face so I could touch him, draw him in for a kiss.

"No, this is a punishment tonight," Austin replied, stroking me once before squeezing the base, sending a jolt of need down my spine. "You should never have left us," he murmured, and I could hear the hurt in his voice. His touch had a bite to it, a stinging edge that left me feeling as raw as he sounded.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking… I didn't mean to leave. I was coming back," I insisted, and was rewarded with a tongue swirling over my head, his hand still firm and unmoving. "All I wanted was some time to think. I wanted to buy Addy a gift," I mumbled, and his tongue swiped across the tip once more, making me groan.

"You scared her, she was crying," he hissed, capturing my lips before I could apologize again. He nipped lightly at my bottom lip, making me moan. The door opened and Austin pulled away from me, but his hand never let go of my cock.

"Austin, what the hell! I told you to let him sleep," Addy bit out, her footsteps approaching. "What are you doing? He looks like you're torturing him!"

"Just a little…" Austin replied, giving me another squeeze. I groaned and thrust into his hand, gripping the sheets beside my head. "But he likes it, obviously." I swear I could hear the smirk in that husky voice of his.

I heard something soft hit the floor, and the bed dipped as Addy whispered something in a low voice. Austin's hold on my cock loosened as he pulled away, and I groaned in frustration. "It's okay baby, I've got you," Addy murmured, and her thigh slid over mine to straddle my lap. "I won't let him torture you like that." She situated herself over me, and I reached for her, but Austin caught my arms, pulling them up over my head and pinning them down.

"But you are going to make it up to both of us," Austin hissed, as Addy sank down onto my cock, the walls of her pussy squeezing me like a vise. I nodded as he pressed my arms into the bed, and I felt the tip of his cock nudge against my lips.

"Yes," I murmured, opening my mouth so he could slide his length across my tongue. Addy was gentle, her hands teasing my sides as she clenched her thighs around mine, rocking her hips, using me to hit that spot that made her moan. Austin was still punishing me, holding me still underneath him as he thrust into my mouth, gagging me when he buried himself in my throat.

The two of them overwhelmed my senses, setting my nerves on fire as pleasure began to trickle down my spine. Without my sight, every sound was more clear, every feeling intensified. Addy's soft whimpers as she pleasured herself with my cock, the gentle sting as Austin buried his fingers in my hair and gripped it tight.

"You'd better make her come," Austin rasped, pulling out to let me breathe only for a moment before his pubic bone pressed into my nose once more. "I want to hear her scream before you think about marking her." I shuddered around his cock, a line of drool trailing out of my mouth as I swallowed him down.

Addy moaned and shifted her hips, and I felt her pussy flutter around me. "God, yes!" My balls tightened when she clamped down around me, crying out as her orgasm hit her, her voice thick with tears. Austin hissed in warning before he thrust one more time and spilled out over my tongue. I sucked him down, swallowing every drop until he finally pulled out of my mouth, releasing my arms.

"I forgive you," he murmured, kissing me roughly, and I whimpered as Addy shifted on my lap, leaning forward and taking me deeper inside of her.

"Can I…" I swallowed, reaching out for Addy. I found her face, and cupped it with my good hand, cleaning the tears off her cheek. She clasped my hand gently and moved it lower to her breast. She took up my entire palm now, and I pinched her nipple, reveling in the sound she made when I did. "That's my Little Spider, so fucking responsive," I groaned, flicking it with my thumb as she writhed on my lap. I moved my hand lower, trailing down her stomach, feeling the bump that hadn't been there before. I felt her orgasm starting to build, so I moved toward her clit. Austin helped me, dragging my fingers through the wet folds. I had her body memorized in a heartbeat, and she arched as I circled her clit with my fingers, teasing her until she clamped down around me once more, screaming my name as I spilled into her with a moan. My hands dropped to the bed, and I was utterly spent, barely feeling as Addy climbed off of me.

Someone – maybe Austin? – took a damp cloth and cleaned me off before tucking me back into bed. It wasn't long before the mattress dipped and Addy slipped in beside me, wrapping herself in my arms. I felt another arm curl around my waist from behind and Austin's lips pressed against my ear. Twice more, the bed shifted as everyone climbed in. Addy had to get up once or twice, but she always came back to snuggle into my arms. I held my Little Spider close, refusing to let her go again.