Only death would make him leave her again. “You can’t get rid of me that easy. I’m not going anywhere.” He eases off his bloody shirt, flinching at the pain of pulling against the bandages Max hastily applied, before lifting the covers and sliding in behind her.
Her soft laugh releases a bit of the tension straining his body. “What are you doing?”
“Coming back to where I should have been all along.” He wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her against his chest, nuzzling her neck.
She closes her eyes, but the smile doesn’t leave her face. “Good. I’ve missed you.”
“Me too, sweetness.”
“I’m sorry I—”
Not as sorry as he is. For everything he’s done to make her think, for even a second, she isn’t his whole world. “Shhhh. You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“But, I’ve—”
“Whatever it is, I don’t give a damn. As long as we’re together, that’s all I care about.”
“Okay.” She snuggles against him and sighs. “I love you, Nick.”
For the first time in three weeks, he enjoys the peace only she can give him. He’ll deal with Carter, Juan, and Jessica tomorrow. Tonight, all of him belongs to Shae. “I love you too.”
*The End*
