Page 101 of Savagely Scarred

She places her palm against my cheek. “I’m right here.”

Her voice is rough, barely above a whisper. But it’s enough to quiet the panic, loosening the vise around my ribs.

I press my forehead against hers and close my eyes. Her fingers slip into mine and this time when I squeeze her hand, she squeezes back.

“Is he…” she trails off.

I lean back and look down at her. Her blue eyes are pleading behind the tears filling them.

“It’s over. He’s never going to hurt you again.”

She closes her eyes and the first tear falls on a heavy sigh. My thumb brushes it away and she wraps her fingers around my wrist.

The nightmare is finally over.

The devil is back in hell where he belongs.

Where he will stay.

The door opens and a nurse enters carrying a bag of blood. “Oh! You’re awake! I will let the doctor know as soon as I get this hung.”

I stare as she rounds the bed to the IV pump and hangs the bag onto the pole. She connects the tubing to another line running clear fluids, her brown hair falling into her face.

“Hopefully, this will be the last bag. How is your pain?”

“I’m okay right now. Just a little sore.” Liv winces when she shifts in the bed and my attention drifts to her stomach.

“Okay. You’re due for another dose soon. I will be back in with the doctor. Can I get you anything right now?”

“Water, please.” She licks her dry lips.

“Sure thing.” The nurse grins and leaves the room.

Holding Liv’s hand, I sit back down in the chair. Her head turns toward me, and she smiles softly before closing her eyes.

I almost never got to see that smile again.

I almost lost her. Again.

“Liv.”

I swallow nervously. Her lashes flutter open, and those devastatingly glacier eyes lock onto mine.

“I don’t want to spend another day without you. You have been it for me since the day I met you. I don’t want to wait anymore.”

I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring my mother gave me with shaky fingers. It’s vintage and not overly flashy. A small pear-shaped diamond surrounded by tiny ones. Perfect for her.

“Sage,” she whispers.

“This was the ring my father gave to my mom. She kept it for me in case I ever wanted it. There will never be anyone else that deserves this more than you. You always claim that I fixed you. But it’s you who filled the cracks inside of my soul that I didn’t even know I had.”

Her jaw trembles, fighting to hold back more tears.

“Marry me, Liv,” I breathe.

She smiles and nods frantically. Grabbing her hand, I slide the ring into place and crash my lips onto hers. The kiss is slow but raw, stripping away every negative emotion we’ve been harboring.

“I have one condition,” she says when we break apart.