Page 79 of The Hunted

Tears begin to fill my eyes as he lifts his hand up to cup my cheek.

“Little Bird.” His voice sounds hoarse from sleep, tubes, and underuse.

A laugh escapes me as the tears begin to fall.

He manages a small smile, then what he says fills my heart with adoration. “Meeting you changed my life. You are my life. I had nothing before you. I was nothing before you.”

The doctors enter the room, and I grasp his hand on my cheek and give it a small squeeze before laying it beside his body on the bed. I step to the side so the team can do what they need to. Knox doesn’t take his eyes off me as they check his vitals, his wound, and ask him countless questions.

“Can he have water?”

One of the nurses shakes her head no but before she can speak Knox cuts her off.

“Give me some water baby.” He cuts his eyes at the nurse and I bite my lip trying to suppress my giggle. Still bossy. I step up and put the straw to his lips.

He stares at me as he drinks, and the heat in his eyes sets me on fire. I’ve missed him so much. His intensity, his passion. Him. I don’t ever want to be without it again.

He grabs my wrist, pulling me to him, the cup of water flying from my hand in the process, splashing onto us and the floor. I try to steady myself to keep my weight from his wound but he tries to pull me to his chest in his embrace.

“I love you.”

His sweet words are whispered into my hair, only for me to hear as he peppers my cheek in kisses. I can’t contain my laughter, my happiness. The team of doctors stand off to the side watching us but it doesn’t stop Knox from dragging me over the bed railing and into bed with him. I shriek but laugh and nestle into his side, very much aware of his wound.

“Get out.” He turns his head to look at the doctors.

“Sir, we have a few tests we need to run before you. . .”

“Get the fuck out. I’m paying you all a shit ton of money, I’m certain, so please, get the fuck out. I’ll do this test shit later.”

The doctors appear a little shocked but hustle out the door.

“Now, where were we? That’s right. Give me that sexy as fuck mouth. Had dreams about those lips.” He leans in and captures my face with one hand while his other arm bands around my waist. It feels like a lifetime ago since he held me. A small groan escapes my lips, and he devours it as he tilts my face deepening our kiss. By the time he pulls back, I’m a panting mess.

“Am I hurting you? You’re still recovering.”

“Wouldn’t matter if you were. I wouldn’t care. Never letting you go.”

His hand slides under my shirt as his firm fingers rub my nipple into a stiff peak.

“It feels like forever since I’ve been inside you. Let’s change that.”

“Knox, we can’t. You were shot, a week ago.”

“All the more reason to make up for lost time.”

He waggles his brows at me, a coy smile on his lips. I laugh, a real laugh for the first time in as long as I can remember.

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