Page 187 of Loyalty

The rules of the facility were clear when it came to patients and visitors. Hugs were okay, but any romantic displays were not appropriate or encouraged. Patients were there to get healthy, not go on a date.

Even knowing it might be a mark against him, or another long chat with Leonard about walking the right lines, John grabbed hold of Siena the second she was close enough for him to do it. He dragged her close, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her hard.

The way her lips curved into a sweet smile sent his racing heart slowing down to a more settled tempo. All those nerves finally drifted away. She was still his peace, it seemed. His one place of calm inside a continuous storm of chaos.

He had been worrying nonstop since he found out she was coming. He knew in that second that his worries had been for nothing.

“John,” she whispered.

He kissed her nose. And then her eyelids. Finally, her mouth again.

Someone cleared their throat nearby.

The warning was clear.

John ignored it.

Siena cupped his face with her hands, and she drew him in close again. Not to kiss, but just to stare in his eyes for a moment.

“You look better,” she said.

He laughed.

Damn.

It felt so fucking good to laugh.

“I feel better,” he admitted.

She smiled.

A bright, beautiful smile.

Lighting up his life just like that.

John had a million and one questions for Siena, but the nurse that was closing in said he needed to put a bit of distance between them. It’d be a fucking shame if they took her away from him before he even really had her again.

“Come sit down with me?”

Siena nodded. “Of course.”

The visiting area was not closed to just the indoor areas. They were allowed to go outside, but the heavy snow falling down didn’t look particular warm today.

Siena took a seat next to John on the white leather couch. Her fingers found his, and wove tight.

He had done so much in a very short period of time. He had done so much to her.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Siena peered over at him. “Never do that, John.”

“What?”

“Apologize for being you. I never want you to do that with me.”

“You do understand everything that happened, and what I did, right?”

“I know.”