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“You’re awake!” She got up and hurried to my side. “You’re okay!”
“Yes,” I said. She grabbed my hands in her own and gave them a squeeze. Such a drastic change from the last time we’d seen each other. “I’m more than okay. I’m great.”
“Yeah? You don’t feel sick anymore?”
I frowned. “A bit tired, I suppose, but otherwise the same as always.”
“It’s like a miracle,” she whispered. Louder she said, “We weren’t sure if you were going to live or die. When I got here, your fever was so high, and you were delusional. Kept saying my name and something about your father and the woods. It didn’t make sense to anyone.”
“I was that far gone?” I asked. “The last thing I remember is being in a storm. I was hit by the elements. Wind, hail, lightning. I crashed. From there things start to get hazy.”
She stroked my cheek with her fingers. “Yeah? Well what matters now is that you’re better. I was able to get your fever down, and now you’re awake. It’s been about three days total.”
“That long?”
“You were tired.”
“Apparently.” I chuckled, glad to be alive.
“I was so worried,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “Dymitri came to the house and told me what happened. I had to be here. I needed you to wake up so I could... I could...”
I gazed at her, worried she was about to break up with me all over again. “You could?”
“Apologize.” Tears fell down her cheeks. “I was wrong to push you away. It’s not okay for me to dump the baggage of my past on your shoulders to carry. Just because others have hurt me doesn’t mean you will too. I should have told you about the appointment to see the baby. You’re his or her father! However much involvement you want, that’s what you’re going to have. That’s how it always should be.”
Her words touched my heart, but I wanted so much more. “I want to be a part of it all. Every check-up. Every diaper. The works.”
I couldn’t help but start grinning.
“There’s more,” she said. “I’m sorry I tried to get you to deny yourself. That I pushed you into a cell and put the chains around your neck. It was so unfair of me. Please forgive me.”
I struggled to sit up and she hurried to push more pillow behind me.
“I do forgive,” I said, finally sitting up, I grabbed her hand. “You talk about making me carry your baggage. I’ve done the same to you. It’s why I keep leaving instead of staying to fight. I’m afraid of fighting. I’m afraid of losing control.”
“I’d like to work on it with you. If you can help me open up, I can help you calm down.” She paused. “If you’ll still have me. I’d understand if you don’t want to, anymore. Not because of how I look or how I live, but just because I hurt you so badly. The fact you forgive me is huge already. Most people I know would leave forever.”
I smirked. “It’s a good thing I’m not most people. However, I do think we need to create some ground rules to prevent this from happening again.”
“Yes. Like talking to each other more. Being honest when things aren’t right.”
“Naturally.” I shifted so I could lean in and kiss her.
She smiled against my lips. “And I don’t want to live here in the castle. I want our own place. I liked having a house. Smaller, sure, but simplicity is much more my style.”
Was she saying that she’d stay here? In my world?
“A small house would be perfect,” I purred. “Your wish is my command.”
“I’m still not sure about this realm...”
“I know, my love.” I kissed her again. “We can iron out all the details later. We have plenty of time. Right now, I would much rather make up with you properly.”
She blushed, and it was incredibly sexy. “Really? You’re feeling that much better?”
We kissed again and a wave of lust moved over me. I shifted more so she could join me on the bed, but then a sharp pain knifed through my abdomen. “Ah, it seems I’m still tender.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She said, settling into my side and kissing me softly.
