“Sore, but I suppose that is a given since I had surgery. I thought I was going to die.” She chokes up, tears flooding her eyes.
“Me too, baby. I have never been so scared in my life.”
I gently hold her, until the nurse comes in and does her check, informing us that she will have a doctor to come and look at her when they come to do rounds.
“Come lie with me,” she asks as soon as the nurse leaves.
She gently scoots over, cautious of her leg. I slide my body along her body, careful of wires and shit. My arm goes around her shoulder, she leans on my chest, and it is awkward but she needs it and whatever she needs, she will get.
We lie in silence for a beat, both just enjoying each other, knowing how bad things could have gotten.
“I love you, Stevie. I think I have since I saw you again. Something inside of me just clicked into place,” I murmur, against her hair.
Her breath hitches, the hand resting on my stomach fisting around the material of my shirt. She sighs, and I feel her lips under my jaw.
“I love you, too.”
Music to my fucking ears.
I pick her hand up off my stomach, and bringing it to my mouth, I kiss the little scratch on her knuckles.
“I am sorry that I did not protect you, but I swear to all my days, I will never let anyone hurt you again.” I look down at her.
She cries softly, but with a smile on her face. Needing to taste her, I lean in, kissing her again. The kiss is a way for my heart and soul to finally recognize that she is here and alive.
Not bleeding out on a dirty floor, like the others.
What she doesn’t know and will never know, is that Vinnie was killed in jail, the day before Valarie was shot and killed. Racer got information from Maverick that it looks like Zeno put a hit on him, to end whatever link he had with the siblings.
“You got me to safety, Logan. Besides, it was me that went inside. I could have told Val, no, but I wanted to hold on toa little shred of hope that we could reconcile. I hate that she is dead, honey, but I can’t help but think she brought this on herself.”
I kiss her frown. “Me too. She will be buried with her crew deep in the mountains. Pres reached out to Maverick, who is a member of my old club.”
“In Fort Lauderdale?”
“Yeah. I will have to take you there to meet them.” She beams at me and I know I said the right thing.
“I would love that.”
“I will make it happen once you are fully recovered. Maybe we can do a club ride, and stop to do some sightseeing along the way. Maybe try some outdoor sex.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
“You are insatiable, Logan Vaughan.”
Pressing my lips to hers, I kiss her long and deep, letting it be known through the kiss what she means to me.
“Only for you, baby. Only for you.”
“Maybe,” she says after a minute, and my cock stirs in my pants.
“Yeah?” She nods, her hand finding its way to my crotch, pressing down on the denim.
“Why not? You only live once, so don’t live it with regrets, right?”
How the hell did I get so damned lucky? She is someone I never thought I would have in my life, after Val. Women were always kept at a distance but I knew one day I would want to settle down. Now, I know that a high power brought me home to be with her.
“Fucking love you. Stevie.”
“And I love you, babe.”
