Page 128 of Save Me

I stare at Micah’s pretty blue eyes and his light blue hair, his words floating in my head. I’ve saved him. Right, the concept almost makes me snort. Here we are, lying naked in bed, and my heartbeat is slow. Everything feels relaxed and happy, like it’s been dipped in glow powder. Like all the dark parts of the room aren’t scary anymore.

Like I’m safe.

I stare up at the ceiling, a warm looseness filling my chest. It’s stamped with a pattern, and as I look closer, there are little wrinkles in a circle, all over the ceiling.

A butthole ceiling. We have a butthole ceiling.

The relief washes over me in a wave, and I can’t keep the chuckle down. We’re going to lie here every night with approximately four hundred buttholes staring down at us.

“What?” Micah looks over at me.

“The ceiling.” I gesture at it, realizing just how ridiculous trying to explain it would sound. Which of course makes me laugh harder.

There’s a pause where I’m sure Micah is trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with me. Only, instead of making a shitty comment or judging, he merely rolls over so he’s halfway on top of me, grinning.

“I love seeing you happy, my little M&M.”

I stare at him, his look genuine. The corners of his eyes are crinkling up, and his gaze bounces between mine.

“Little?” I gasp in mock outrage.

Micah smirks. “Oh yeah. Minuscule. So small I doubt you could pin me down, really–”

I don’t let him get the last part of that sentence out as I flip both of us over, both of his wrists pinned by his head. Micah struggles, but it’s half-hearted, followed by him arching his groin into me. His movement is soft, careful, making sure he’s not moving harshly enough to hurt me. He’s so soft, so kind, just like his heart. I think I’ll spend the rest of my life realizing over and over again just how good Micah is, deep down to the core.

I lean down for a kiss, suddenly overwhelmed by gratitude. Because I don’t think I’ve saved Micah Stevens.

I think he saved me.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

“Hear me out: mini Highland cows.”

“No,” I whisper into the phone. “We only just got an outdoor enclosure built for like…cats! The cow fence is going to take like a million years to make solid.”

Ronan huffs out a breath. “I don’t see anything but time on your schedule, bluey.”

I twist my face at the nickname, then there’s a clinking, and I glance into the kitchen. Maddox is setting the table with real settings, not paper plates. Princess is following behind, as well as Minky, getting all tangled in his legs. Maddox smiles, a real smile, contentment oozing from his relaxed shoulders and easy dodging. He grins, setting two extra plates, one for Princess and one for Minky, the little softy. They’re gonna get fat, but Maddox doesn’t care.

“Helloooo,” Ronan drawls. “Cows. Focus.”

“Right,” I say absently. Because suddenly, my vision from the day I met Maddox flashes before my eyes. Maddox, Princess Cupcake, and I in our forever house, happily sharing Thanksgiving dinner together, me shoving mashed potatoes in Maddox’s mouth and him shoving them away but laughing at me with a sparkle in his eye. Outside our warm house, there’s a warm barn filled with animals we’ve rescued as a couple.

My eyes fill with tears because we’ve accomplished it. We’re safe. We have our animals. We’re working on fixing up the house bit by bit. I have everything I ever wanted, plus more. For a second, all I can do is stare. Maddox saved me from my past, that curse, and from not loving myself, whether he knows it or not. I’ll forever be worshiping at his feet.

Realizing I’m still holding the phone, I hang up, tuck it in my pocket, and run to the kitchen. I throw my hands around the man I love. “I love you.”

Maddox looks startled.

Oh no! Abort, abort, I said it too fast!

“You don’t have to say it back,” I rush out. I just had to say it because it’s true. I love Maddox McAllister, and I’d do anything for him, including loving myself. I’m gonna be okay. We’re gonna be okay.

Behind his back, I see Maddox trying to hide the extra plates of food. He looks at me, then to the animals, then around the home we’ve made for ourselves. Then Maddox rolls his eyes. “I love you too, fucker. Now turn away so I can sneak food to these gremlins without you yelling at me.”

I’m stunned. Did he just… Is he for real? The biggest wave of happiness and peace washes over me. Maddox feels safe enough to love again.

I grin and turn away from him just as he asked.