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I was still amazed at this man standing in front of me, who happened to be the only person I had left in the world. When he was done showering, he helped me out of the shower and wrapped a towel around me. He dried my body and wrung my hair out before combing through the tangles gently. I smiled at him with every stroke, knowing I had never been treated this well by anyone in my life. It was almost astonishing what he was doing for me. I looked up in his big blue eyes as he pulled my hair back in a low ponytail to keep it out of my eyes. I didn’t have the heart to tell him no woman could sleep with her wet hair pulled back at that angle, and instead, I figured I would fix it when he wasn’t looking. He then sat me down on the stool in the bathroom and pulled out the tube of ointment the medics had given us. He got down on his knees and gently applied it, carefully running his fingers over the cuts. He smiled at me as he did the same with my wrists.
I watched Blaine as he washed the ointment from his hands and dried them off. He walked over and grabbed me under the arms, helping to lift me up. My legs were still sore from being tied up, and my knees were weak, buckling at every turn. He walked me into the bedroom and helped me climb up under the covers, pulling them up to my chin and walking around the other side. I watched as he pulled his shirt off and showed his muscles, his body shimmering in the light. He was so sexy, but neither of us were in any shape to do anything about that. He pulled his arms around my body and tugged me in close, laying his head on my shoulder and watching my fingers move in and out of his. We sat there, silently watching each other for several minutes, just enjoying the silence and the ability to be close to one another. I couldn’t even begin to thank him for what he had done for me, and I decided not to try. The words were just not fitting together.
“Why did you come back for me?” I asked.
“Why?” He lifted his head and furrowed his eyebrows. “I had no choice. I love you. I couldn’t for one second be okay with letting you go. I will never let you go.”
I smiled and laid my head down on the pillow, feeling his hands trickle over my back. He had risked his life for me, and not just once. This time, though, it was a life or death situation, and I was so glad he brought the FBI with him because if he had come in alone, we would have never made it out alive. I still hadn’t faced all the things that
had happened. I still hadn’t mourned my father’s death or even made arrangements for him, but knowing that Blaine loved me so much really helped seal those wounds.
“Why did you leave?” he asked.
“I didn’t have a choice,” I said. “I love you. I wanted to protect you. I never wanted to think that I was responsible for you getting hurt or killed. I couldn’t have lived with myself if something like that happened. I was going to turn myself in and take the plea, because at least then, the mob would have left you and me alone.”
He rubbed my shoulders. “Do you really believe that? The mob would have always kept you on a string. When you got out of prison, they would have had a new demand. It would have been a never-ending process.”
“I just didn’t know what else to do,” I said, sighing. “My father was dead, and the only other person they had to come after was you. I could never live with being the cause of any pain in your life. I could never imagine my life without you. It would be horrible, and I couldn’t survive it. Honestly, a life behind bars sounded better than a life without you in it. It’s my responsibility to protect the people I love so that’s what I did.”
“No,” he shushed. “It was your father’s responsibility. But I understand now why you go above and beyond to protect others. It’s because no one was there to do that for you. You were left as a kid to take care of your father, and he got so far into his addiction that he didn’t care anymore.”
“You’re right,” I said, my voice beginning to shake. I turned over in the bed and faced Blaine. “I am so sorry. I have put you through hell and back. I put your life in danger, your practice in danger, and everything because my father didn’t pay his debts, and I was too afraid to tell the truth about the mob. I could have gotten you killed. I don’t deserve the amount of amazing things you do for me on a regular basis. I don’t deserve the kind of dedication you put into this whole case. You risked your life for me.”
“And you did the same for me,” he said. “So stop. I would walk through hell for you. If I had the option to do this all over again, the only thing I would change would be being there for you more. I would have never let you go, and instead, I would have taken you to the FBI so they could clear up your charges instead of you putting yourself in harm's way. You are too precious to me to ever think otherwise.”
“You are crazy,” I said, chuckling.
“Well, everything is done now,” he said, sighing. “Now, we can really get back to life, strengthen our bond even more, and really let our love go free. You and I have such an amazing future ahead of us, and it’s just because we will be together. Everything we choose to do from here on out will be done as two people in love. There won’t be anymore drama or questions, and the only thing I’m hoping to have to save you from is when you stub your toe on the corner of the table.”
“I do that a lot,” I said, smiling. “You might have to buy me special shoes when I’m old.”
“I’ll get matching ones so you don’t feel self-conscious,” he said, leaning in and kissing my forehead.
“Thank you,” I replied, smiling at him. “Thank you for loving me like you do. Thank you for changing who you are to be a better person for us. Thank you for holding my hand no matter what. It is absolutely the best feeling ever in the entire world.”
“I will always be there,” he said, smiling. “Now, we need to cuddle up and get some sleep. It’s been a really long two weeks.”
I smiled as I turned back over and let him slide his arms around me. I grabbed onto to his hands and pulled them close to my mouth, kissing each of his fingers. I had never felt so close to anyone in my entire life. I loved this man so much, and I owed him my life, something that I would spend the rest of my days making up to him with kisses, love, and support wherever I could give it. I truly felt that the universe had brought us together at the perfect moment, a moment when we needed each other, even if we didn’t see it right away.
Chapter 33
Blaine
I grasped onto Josie’s hand, feeling completely and totally at ease. We were walking down a hallway layered in windows and bathed in light. The hardwood floors shimmered in the rays of the sun. I looked down to see that I was wearing a white shirt and white cotton pants like the ones you wear at the beach. Josie looked up at me and smiled, her face no longer scarred or bruised, and her hair cascaded in large curls down her back. Her white dress flowed with each step, and her adorable little feet were bare. The air was crisp, and the temperature was absolutely perfect. I looked out the window to see the ocean lapping gently against the shore, it’s blue color clearer than anything I had ever imagined.
As we moved forward, the sound of birds echoed through the hallway, and I could see the doves sitting happily in the bushes to the side. We approached a room, the door sitting open and the sunlight cascading across the floors. I stepped forward, letting go of Josie’s hand but feeling her presence behind me. As I stepped through the archway, the sun brightened the room, and the sounds of the birds faded slightly into the background. I looked up to the side and closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun washing over my body. It was the most complete and calm feeling I had ever experienced. I felt Josie’s hand slide into mine, and I opened my eyes to look over at her. She smiled and nodded her head toward a small oak crib in the corner.
Suddenly, it all became clear. I was standing in a nursery, but instead of murals on the walls, there were real trees and animals running in and out of the limbs. Beneath my feet were soft grass and beautiful flowers. I stepped slowly toward the crib, hearing the coo of a child. When I reached the edge, I peered down into the crib, smiling as a small, dark-haired baby laughed and giggled inside. I reached down and pressed my finger against its nose, something my father had always done when I was a small child. The baby laughed and smiled, reaching up and wrapping his small hands around my finger and squeezing. I looked over as Josie walked up beside us, smiling at me and then leaning over and picking the child up. I watched in amazement as she smoothed her hand carefully over the baby’s head, holding it close to her breast.
I followed the two across the room to a bed of soft white pillows and blankets nested on the ground. We sat down in the softness and laid the baby between us, playing with him as he laughed and cooed, looking lovingly at Josie. The child shifted his glance, and I saw that he had Josie’s eyes, bright and wondrous, like they had been the first time I met her. We sat there for what seemed like hours, loving each other, kissing the baby, and basking in the light from the sun. There was a warm feeling in my chest, and though no words were being spoken, I could feel the bond getting stronger between the two of us. She looked so happy and pleased, just lying there with the child, unable to keep her hands off of his soft beautiful skin. I looked up at the sun as it began to dance toward the horizon, feeling saddened that the day was coming to a close.
When I looked back, Josie and the baby were gone, and I stood quickly, walking forward into the darkness that had approached. My feet suddenly felt the sand, and I whirled around, realizing I was now walking along the beach under the light of the moon. I looked down the sand and saw Josie standing there, now wearing a long black dress, her body filling every curve. She was absolutely stunning, and she reached her hand out for mine. I walked quickly toward her and took her into my arms, looking deep into her eyes. She smiled up at me, her hands moving up my torso and landing on my chest. I could feel her body close to mine, and she leaned forward, closing her eyes and puckering her lips. I closed my eyes as well and leaned into her, feeling her lips brush across mine.
When I opened my eyes again, I had woken up, and I found myself safely tucked away in my bedroom, Josie’s lips kissing me softly. I was slightly bewildered for a moment, looking around the room and wondering where that beautiful dream had gone. I could feel Josie pressing her lips against my neck and my collarbone as I regained my consciousness. It had only been a dream, an amazingly beautiful dream. The smell of lavender filled my nose, and I realized that it had been in my dream as well. I pulled back and looked Josie in the eyes as she continued to kiss my skin. She was just as stunning with her bruises and cuts as she was in my dream. The thought of her holding our child made me feel weak in the knees and sent butterflies floating through my chest and stomach.
I ran my hand down her long hair as she kissed up my neck and back to my lips. I closed my eyes and kissed her back, feeling her love through every single touch. She ran her hands up my torso and rested them on my chest, just like she had in the dream, and I couldn’t help but think that maybe that was more than a dream. Maybe it was a vision of what we had to look forward to in the future. A beautiful home, a beautiful baby, and an even stronger bond than we already had.
I took in a deep breath and brought her close to me, feeling her heaving breasts against my chest. She reached up and pulled her fingers through my hair, leaning forward and kissing me again. This time, though, I could feel the passion behind her lips, and she grabbed onto my face, moving her lips against mine. My hands slid down to her waist, and I leaned into her kisses, parting her lips with my tongue and making the kiss even deeper and more passionate. I
