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I look down at her and give her the most serious face I can manage, which isn’t saying much. “You know exactly why. Now stop.”
Her lips curl as she holds back a laugh. “Yes . . . sir.” If I didn’t love her already for everything she is, that smile right there, that would be enough.
Leaning down, I put my face right above hers as she tries to pull the cover up over her mouth so I can’t see that she’s still fighting a laugh. “Go ahead, keep it up. Because I distinctly remember promising not too long ago that I wouldn’t hesitate to punish you for disobeying me, and the day will come when all your wounds are healed.” I lower my face ever so slightly, my lips dusting against hers now. “And I fully intend on making good on that promise.”
I chuckle as her eyes widen and give her a light kiss on the lips, stopping myself from taking this moment any further. Standing up straight, I hold out my hand. “Come on, I have to take your IV out. Can you sit up for me?”
She takes my hand, using it to help her sit up straight. I clench my teeth as she winces in pain as she moves. I cannot wait to get my hands on Logan. What he did to Harper will be nothing in comparison to the pain we will inflict upon him. He will be begging for death long before we’re finished with him.
Harper, like always, notices my sudden rise in temper. “I’m alright, Ronan. Just a little sore. I’ll heal.”
I give her a smile that I know doesn’t reach my ears. “I know, Baby.” I pull back the covers before asking, “Can you swing your legs over for me?”
She does as I ask, so I get down on my haunches in front of her. Grabbing her hand I set it flat on her thigh, noticing how thin her leg feels. I make a mental note to talk to Mac about her diet over the next few days. Hopefully, with the vitamins Doc gave her and a proper diet, we can put back all the weight she lost.
Suddenly a flash of silver on her thumb catches my eye. I don’t know how I hadn’t noticed it yet; I was probably too focused on her myriad of wounds. Taking a closer look, I see it’s my silver signet ring. I run my thumb over the metal. “Where did you get this?” I ask as I lift my eyes to meet hers.
“I woke up that night to come and find you after I realized what I said in my sleep. I wanted to say it to your face.” Her eyes immediately get glassy at the memory of that night. “I went to your dresser to grab one of your dress shirts to put on because I knew Tanner and Logan were in the apartment, and when I did, I saw your pile of rings on top of it. Don’t ask me why, but” she shrugs her shoulders, “I grabbed this one and slid it on my thumb. It was always my favorite.”
“You’ve had it this whole time?”
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and nods. “It–it helped me, you know. The entire time I was in that cabin, it helped me. Whenever I touched it, I thought of you and how strong you would want me to be. I heard your voice in my head, telling me what to do. It helped me remember you when I thought you were . . .”
She can’t even say the word, and I don’t ask her to. Instead, I just look at her in absolute awe. This amazing, brave, and incredibly strong woman has been through more heartbreak in her life and has survived more trauma than any person should have to bear. And I’m lucky enough to call her mine.
She shakes her head as if trying to shake away the memory. “Anyway, I forgot I even had it on.” She moves her opposite hand to grab the ring I’m still stroking with my thumb. “You can have it back.”
“No.” I grab her hand. “You keep it. It’s yours now. It’s going to be your last initial before long anyway.” I don’t doubt that for even a second.
She doesn’t offer a smart remark; she barely even reacts. The only response I get is a soft smile and an “Okay.”
Whether she’s saying okay to keeping my ring or to taking my last name, I’m not sure. But, I’m going to take it as an okay to both.
She looks down at our joined hands and pinches her brows in confusion. “Where are the rest of your rings?”
Now it’s my turn to shrug. “I haven’t worn any of them since that night.”
Tilting her head, she asks, “Why not?”
“I knew you liked them. Whenever I looked at them sitting on my dresser, all I could think about was how you would shiver when they touched your skin. The thought of putting them on was just . . . it felt like too much.”
“I do really like them,” she answers softly, cupping my face now.
“I’ll put them back on today,” I say as I turn and kiss the palm of her hand. “Come on, let’s get this IV out.”
I move to take the tape off the IV on top of her hand, still resting on her thigh, when she stops me. “Ummm, do you know what you’re doing?”
“Doc showed me what to do before he left. I won’t hurt you, I promise.” Leaning down, I place a soft kiss on top of her hand. Her jade-green eyes meet mine and she nods. I do exactly as Doc showed me, removing the IV carefully. A small drop of blood pools where I pull it out, and instead of moving for a band-aid, I lean down and place my mouth back on top of her hand—this time, dragging my tongue across the drop of blood. I gaze up at Harper just in time to see her eyes glaze over with lust.
Removing my mouth and standing up straight, I hold out both my hands for her to grab onto and pull her up slowly. “Teasing isn’t nice,” she says, looking up at me with flushed cheeks. I swear, I’ve never been so happy to see her blush.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I reply before shooting her a wink. “Why don’t you go soak in a hot bath, and I’ll go see Mac about making us some food. How’s that sound?”
She hits me with another megawatt smile. “That sounds like the best idea you’ve had all day.”
“Can you walk to the bathroom, or do you need me to carry you?” I know she has no severe injuries, but I also know she’s probably still feeling pretty sore and exhausted.
“I can walk. Can you just help me?”
