The Unexpected Has Arrived! (Unexpected, #2)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

"Alright, we're almost done for today," Dr. Ian Trunt announced as he gently pressed his thumbs into the lower section of my spine. I had to cringe at the mild pain it still caused.

Over the past week, I had managed to gain a lot of progress with the physical therapy. By now, I was able to sit at ninty degrees and lean over a little way further. Ian was incredibly happy, but I still wanted to be able to walk already. I mean, the wedding was in just over two weeks! I was hoping that I'd be able to stand at the altar at least. I'd already come to terms with the fact that the honeymoon had to be postponed, seeing as it was too risky for my currently delicate pelvis. I can remember that being an awkward topic of conversation with Ian...

* * *

"So, umm," I stuttered, not wanting to discuss this with the guy who still thought he had a chance with me, "what would you - as a highly trained medical expert - say about me... you know..." I trailed off, feeling that I couldn't finish my question.

I heard him release a light chuckle as he wrote things down on his clipboard. "I don't understand what you're saying, Nasettia. Please, just say what's on your mind." I hated the way he said my name! Although he pronounced it correctly, it sounded as though he was saying it too-correctly or something.

I let out a deep sigh. "Okay, what would you say to me... participating in traditional... honeymoon activities...?" As soon as the words were out, I wished that they weren't. I wanted to take them back, but it was already too late.

"Well, as a medical professional, I would have to strongly recommend that you don't risk it. Although the damage has been done to your spine, it has also affected your pelvis, making it quite delicate at this point in time. All is okay, though, you will be able to carry children again if you wish, but first, we need to strengthen your pelvis up again. We'll do this when we start you walking again.

"But, as a regular guy, attracted to beautiful women" he continued, "you'd be too beautiful for me to resist."

* * *

I was quickly brought out of that horrible memory as Taylor's arms wrapped around my shoulders. His lips pressed into my temple which still had the fluttering heart effect on me. But, I knew this was more out of contest than love this time. For the entire week, he'd been trying to continuously show Ian that I was already taken.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Yeah, not too bad today," I replied, sounding a little depressed.

Taylor gave me a sympathetic peck. "You've only got the weekend to stay here, then I'll take you home."

Those words made my outlook marginally better. "Mmm," I mumbled in approval. I couldn't wait to be at my own home... in my own bed again.

"Alright, that's today's session finished. I'll see you two tomorrow," Ian said, "do you need help getting off the platform?"

"No, I've got it," I said, knowing I was able to now lift my body in and out of the wheelchair without any assistance.

Taylor hovered over me - as he always did - whilst I lifted myself with my arms into the wheelchair. My legs still flopped helplessly to the side, so I used my hands to lift them into the foot placings.

We said our goodbyes and thank-you's to the creepy doctor and I wheeled myself back to my room. There, we were greeted by the same machines, cards, wilting flowers and white bed sheets.

"I can't wait to get out of here, Tay," I said as I wheeled myself to the window that overlooked the city.

"We all miss you so much at home," he replied. He came to stand behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, bringing his face to my jawline where he pressed his lips ever so softly. It made my heart flutter uncontrollably.

"And I can't wait to finally marry you." Taylor's arms coiled around me tightly.

"You're absolutely sure that you want to continue through with it... even after the accident?" he asked cautiously.

"Of course I do. Why do you keep asking that?" Over the past week he'd been constantly asking whether I still wanted the wedding to proceed, and in truth, his questioning was becoming annoying.

"I just want you to be sure" - he stopped me from interceding - "and I don't want you to regret it."

"What?! Regret?! What on Earth are you saying?! You think I'll regret marrying you?!" I was beyond confused.

"No, silly," he said, pressing his lips to my neck, "I just don't want you to look back upon the wedding and wish that you'd put it off a few months so that you could walk down the isle instead of being wheeled down it."

I huffed out a sigh. "Tay," I began slowly, "I have been waiting almost three years to finally become your wife" - I felt his mouth form into a smile against my neck - "and nothing will stop me from doing that. Yes, I've accepted that the honeymoon has to be postponed, but that doesn't mean the wedding does too. See, if it were to be postponed, the day it was supposed to be would feel empty, miserable and foreign for the rest of eternity. I don't want it to change one bit."

Suddenly, my wheelchair was being spinned around. I didn't have time to organise my head correctly, because Taylor's lips were coming down hard on mine. Instinctively, my hands travelled through his short brown hair and I pulled him even closer to me which caused him to unexpectedly trip over the wheelchair and fall atop of my legs. The pressure hurt a little.

I couldn't help but let a small giggle escape. "Are you okay?" I asked, combing my fingers through his hair still.

He quickly organised himself as he stood up. "I'm fine. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to crash on you like that. Are you okay?"

"Never been better," I smiled. He mirrored my facial expression.

As I was lost in his eyes, I felt my whole body being lifted from the wheelchair.

"Hey!" I retorted, "What are you doing?!"

"I didn't think we'd finished," Taylor explained as he sat me on the edge of my hospital bed.

I caught on to his idea as his lips again crashed down on mine. This time, we were at a more even height, so he didn't fall over me at all. Instead, I pulled him with me as I lay down on the bed.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

I couldn't help but grin. I could feel a blush too. "Getting comfortable. It is your birthday - I do have a present to give you."

He eagerly jumped onto the bed next to me, making the small space of the hospital bed even more limited. "What is it?"

Instead of replying to his question, I met my lips with his and kissed him deeply. When I thought I was going to feint from lack of oxygen, I slowly pulled away from the kiss. I opened my eyes to see his still closed, but eventually, they began to flutter open.

"I'm sorry," I said, "I haven't had the opportunity to get anything for you." In truth, I felt extremely guilty. Even more so that I knew he'd forgive me.

"That doesn't matter, Nas," he replied, brushing my chestnut hair from my face, "as long as I have you in one piece, that's all I need." He kissed me lightly before pulling me into a tight embrace.

I smiled against his chest contently. He'd always been extremely easy-going. Hell, even when Chad was being his jerk-self. Taylor had been there for me the entire time with a laid-back typical Aussie-bloke attitude. Although, he was much better than your archetypal Aussie. He was so much more and I was beyond lucky to have him all to myself. My toes curled in a flirtatious manner.

Wait! My toes?!

I sat up slightly and looked down my forgotten legs to my toes. Tay did the same after my sudden reaction. "What's up?" he asked.

I wriggled my toes and amazingly, they did. "Tay... my toes! I can move them!" I continued to move them, having more control on my left toes than those on my right foot, but still, they moved!

Next moment, my eyes were taken away from my toes and I was deeply gazing into Taylor's eyes. "I love you," I said, brushing my fingers down his jaw, letting a tear or two of happiness escape.

His smile grew almost too wide to fit on his narrow face. "I love you more!" And before I could argue that, he smashed his mouth to mine and kissed me with so much passion I felt the bed was going to vanish. Luckily, that wasn't the case.