Free Withstanding Me by Crystal Spears

smarts off.
    “But worth it,” I say, putting my two cents in.
    “Yes, worth it,” she agrees, leaning down to hug me goodbye. “They finish tomorrow anyways. Love you.”
    “Love you, too.” I say back and wave to Braxxon.
    “Can you send Sniper here when you’re done with him? I want that hall covered while we’re in here. And can you make sure someone at least tries to tail Tatiana right now?” ZZ asks Braxxon before he exits the door.
    “Sure thing, brother.”
    “Thanks, Prez,” he grips Braxxon’s shoulder in a manly ‘thanks man’ kinda move.
    They nod, and Braxxon and Winter leave.
    “You need any more pain meds right now?” ZZ asks quietly.
    “No, I’m good.”
    “Great, scoot that fine ass over. I’m tired and I’m not leaving you, so that means we’re bunkin up, darlin.”
    I know my cheeks flame red. The thought of sleeping next to him all night does things to my tummy. “Okay,” I squeak out.
    I watch as ZZ kicks off his boots and sets his gun on the tray table. He moves the tray closer to the side of the bed and I know that I need to scoot to the other side. He wants to be close to the door. I find my voice and ask, “Do you want some of the blanket?”
    ZZ sits on the bed, turning towards me. “Of course I do. Who the hell sleeps without a fuckin blanket?”
    I can’t help it. I laugh. I love him.
    “Watch your leg baby, I’m comin in,” he smirks as he lies down next to me and throws the blanket over both of us.
    As his smell invades my senses and his body heat swarms with mine, I decide I’m no longer going to withstand him.

Chapter 11
    Storm
    I know the drugs aren’t what helped me sleep last night. It was the hard brick of a man sleeping beside me.
    Of course, when we woke up, and ZZ took me to Winter and the girls for the dress fitting, his soft mood was gone and the hard exterior came back. He leaves us with Sniper, and I immediately miss him. I crave him, and sometimes I love that I do, and other times I hate that I do. My thoughts are interrupted when Winter comes around the corner with a wheel chair.
    “I’m not sitting in that,” I grumble, trying to cross my arms, but the crutches make it hard.
    “Yes you are.” She smarts back.
    “No. I’m not a cripple.”
    “Never said you were babe, but we’ll be here for a while,” she says while stopping the god-awful wheel chair in front of me. She couldn’t at least get a newer one? Or you know, deck it out in some cute shit? It’s an ugly ass brown color.
    “Where in the hell did you get this thing? It looks like it came from the 70’s. Send it back through whatever time machine you got it from.” I try to push it away with one of my crutches.
    “Miss Grumpy Pants must’ve not gotten any sleep last night,” Winter smirks as she pretty much rips my crutches from me.
    “I got plenty of sleep. In fact, it was some of the best sleep I’ve had.” I laugh trying to reach for my crutches.
    “Nope. Sit your pretty little ass down.”
    That’s enough for me. Her tone was serious. So I reign in my anger because I know she’s doing this because she cares about me. I do as I’m told, and sit in the awful ugly ass brown wheelchair. I let a huff out as she moves me over to the mirrored landing.
    “You frustrate me. Just so you know.”
    “Well… you frustrate me, too!” She exclaims, but not without trying to hide her smile.
    “Whatever. Let’s just do this dress thing.” I huff and cross my arms.
    “Yes. Ma’am.” She salutes all smart ass like.
    ***
    We’re halfway through the dress fittings, I think, when Shadow comes strolling in. That man is one fine mystery. Once I caught him putting in light blue contacts just to cover his coal black eyes. I made a comment that he should leave them out, and that was the first time I seen that dude smile. Something about these guys all wearing badass shades does something to female insides. Makes us putty in their hands.
    “All you need is some Go-Go boots,