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“Emilia, I need you to stay with us.”
I tried so hard to stay awake, because I needed to see Jase, but the darkness pulled me under.
When I opened them again, I was disoriented. I didn’t know where I was and my surroundings felt unfamiliar. I tried to sit up, but moving sent a jolt of pain through me, making me moan.
“Easy, sweetheart. Try not to move.”
Oh, that voice. As smooth as velvet and as rich as dark chocolate, I would have recognized Jason Bennett’s voice anywhere. “Jase?” My voice was croaky, my throat dry.
“I’m here, Em. Right by your side. Here, let me help prop you up a bit.”
He very slowly helped me up and shoved some pillows behind my back, so I was able to sit up a little straighter. I looked around as my eyes focused and realized I was in the hospital. I had an IV in my arm and was hooked up to a machine that was monitoring my heart rate.
Jase poured some water into a plastic cup and placed a straw in it, then helped me drink. The cool liquid soothed my throat and moistened my lips a little. Once I was done, he placed the cup back on the nightstand and sat on the bed next to me, taking my right hand in his.
“You’re safe now, sweetheart. You’re going to be just fine. The doctors here are wonderful and are taking very good care of you.”
I squeezed his hand as tightly as I could. “It hurts everywhere.”
“I know it does.” His lips pressed against my forehead softly. “You had to have surgery. The kick to your stomach caused internal bleeding, but they were able to stop it.” He trailed his lips down the side of my face, placing gentle kisses on my skin.
Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them. “If they hadn’t found me in time…” The thought was unbearable. I could have died in that cold, dark warehouse if Julian and Dominic hadn’t rescued me. I owed them a debt of gratitude I could never hope to repay.
“But they did.” His mouth brushed mine so softly I barely felt it, and when he went to pull back I placed my hand on his cheek.
“Kiss me, Jase.”
I didn’t have to ask twice. His lips on mine made all the pain melt away for a few moments. It was just me and him, as it always had been. Our kisses were chaste, as my mouth was still sore from where I’d been slapped by Helena. It felt like I had a cut inside my mouth and my lips were puffy.
“You should get some rest, sweetheart.”
My eyes widened. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
“Of course not.” He stroked my hair gently. “I’m staying right here, Em. I’m not going home until you come with me, I promise.”
Relief surged through me. Now that I had Jase next to me, I didn’t want him to go anywhere.
He kicked off his shoes and got up on the large bed with me, lying down next to me and putting one arm over me carefully. I curled into his side as much as I could without moving or disturbing the IV. My head was on his shoulder and I felt the kisses he continued to press against my head.
“Jase?”
“Hmm?”
“I want to get married as soon as I get out of here.” I managed to lift my head up far enough to look into his eyes, and my vision became blurry. “I don’t want to wait anymore.”
“Then we won’t.” He dropped a feather-light kiss on my mouth. “As soon as the doctors clear you to fly, I’ll make you Mrs. Bennett.”
“Promise?”
“I promise, Em. Now get some rest. We can talk more about it tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I was silent for a few moments. “One more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I love you, Jason Bennett.”
He smiled, and warmth speared through me. “I love you, too, Emilia Quinn.” After one more kiss, I drifted off to sleep in the arms of the man I loved, and the last thing I thought was finding a place to marry under the stars. Shooting stars, if we were lucky.
