Page 205 of Captive Ruin

I go still. Neither of us breathes. “You were saying?”

“Uh…” A furious blush spreads over her cheeks, down her pretty neck. “Nothing.”

“Finish that sentence,” I order. “What do you love, Little Stray?”

“…our dates,” she finishes lamely.

I gaze at her. “Then we’ll have some more.”

We both know what she was about to say. My wife loves me. My blood heats, and suddenly, none of my injuries matter.

“Yes,” she says, quiet and thoughtful. “When you’re better.”

“Lie down with me?” I ask. “My right side is fine.”

She doesn’t hesitate, squeezing in against me. It pulls at my wounds, but the pain is worth it. I fight not to tense or wince, and then she’s settled, half draped over me, my arm around her. The scrubs she’s wearing are thin, her body soft and warm beneath, and her hair smells fresh and clean.

She is the best medicine of all.

“You were wonderful last night,” I say softly.

Her hand presses against my chest. “It was Bastien, mostly. He sent a helicopter. This place is amazing.”

“Yes, it’s part of Apex Medical. Bastien owns it, we’re safe here.”

“Tony’s on the door outside. I saw Jorge, too.”

Bastien being overprotective. “That’s a bonus.”

“I hesitated,” she says bitterly. “I got you shot, and if I’d come when you said—”

“Then he would’ve killed you.” I almost choke on the words. “You would’ve been between him and me, and I would never have reached you in time.”

She tenses beneath my arm, her breathing rapid.

“So it all worked out for the best, didn’t it?” I say, forcing calm for her benefit. “You handled yourself perfectly. So strong, so fierce.”

“You haven’t seen the Maybach yet.”

I chuckle. “Don’t we have a racetrack on the date list?”

“Gun ranges. Advanced driving. Are you trying to recruit me, Mr. Van Wyk?”

“Lukas,” I say with a smile.

“That was different,” she argues. “I said ‘mister’ that time.”

“I know. I caught it.” I kiss the top of her head. “I don’t think you’re cut out for my line of work.”

“Neither are you.”

“I quit, remember? From now on, no more violence.”

She’s quiet for a long moment. “That would be nice,” she says at last. “Is it true, though?”

“I’ll do the best I can,” I promise her.

It’s a long moment before she speaks again. “I’ll accept that. Thank you for not lying.”