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CHAPTER 45
BELLE
I'm trying my best not to cry. I'm holding Killian's hand while we’re riding in the car on the way back to the prison. We made love twice more last night, and I'm deliciously sore in a lot of places. My ribs—thankfully—are the least of them. Whatever discomfort I’m feeling, last night was definitely more than worth it.
Killian on the other hand feels guilty. He’s been fretting over me all morning. He’s afraid that we’ve pushed things too soon. He’s worried he’s made my injuries worse. As if he can read my thoughts, he looks at me and asks again.
"Are you sure you're okay?" His voice is full of concern and so soft it makes my heart ache. I reach up and touch the side of his face, fighting through the deep blush I feel blooming on my face. I smile up at him making sure he can see my love and nothing but pleasure on my face.
“I've never been better.” I’m not lying either. Although he's leaving and I hate it, the way we made love to one another last night will see me through until we’re together again.
He leans over, capturing my lips softly, but the car takes that moment to turn into the checkpoint at the prison. He pulls me close to him. I hold my breath as we eventually move slowly forward and park in the designated lot.
"Damn it, Belle. I don't want to leave you," Killian says, his lips brushing against my hair. I bite my lip to keep it from wobbling. The tears I'm straining to hold back burn my eyes.
“I feel the same. I love you." I barely get the words out around the lump in my throat. I'm trying to be strong for him. He pulls my chin up to give me another kiss. "I'll be waiting on you. I will be here every time I’m allowed until the pardon comes through,” I vow.
"What happens if the pardon doesn't come through?" he asks. My husband is strong and self-assured. He doesn’t let anything shake him. I’ve learned that about him just in the short time we’ve known one another. Yet, right now, I can see the fear on his face, and it kills me. I have the same fear that we are getting our hopes up for nothing, but I don’t want him to know that. I want nothing more than to give him a home. This is the only plan we have, and Ryan and I both are putting everything we have into it.
"It will, Killian. I truly believe that. The governor is very nice," I murmur, leaning into him, but he pulls back to look at me.
"When have you spoken to the governor?" he asks, frowning.
"Ryan arranged a call while you were all gone on business," I confess.
"Why did the governor call you?" Confusion is etched on his face as he tries to put the pieces together.
"Because my father was the one that drugged and set you up. He even bragged about it to me and then disappeared out of the country with his girlfriend and money," I respond simply. I already told him most of it, so I might as well spill it all. "Although, Ryan did say that I needed to claim my father's nickname was Bones and tell him how he kept drawers full of fake IDs.”
“Jesus,” he hisses.
I shrug in response.
"Gee, did you tell the governor why your father picked me to set up?" Killian asks sarcastically.
"My father hated my husband because he didn't want us to get married. Plus, you were going to file charges on him for hitting me. My father was afraid that any investigation would uncover all his secrets," I answer, barely stopping myself from giggling at the look on Killian’s face.
"If I knew he was hitting you, I would've killed him," he mutters, holding his hand against the side of my neck. His thumb stretches out to rub against my cheek.
"And then we would have been in worse shape. I doubt the governor would entertain a pardon so easily if you had more than just this charge against you."
He pulls me into another kiss. I follow as he climbs out of the car, but he stops me by the limo.
"This is as far as I want you to go," he says, looking solemn. I want to argue, but I can already see the mask he wears around others snap back into place. I don't take it personally. He needs it here to survive.
"Let me walk you in," I practically beg, grabbing his hand. Why does this feel so final?
"No, I need you to stay here. I don't want you to see the guards chain me up again. It will hurt too bad to walk away from you and hear those doors slam between us. I need you to be strong."
