Page 115 of The Science of Attraction

Liam stroked my face. “Well, as it happens, I’ve been doing some thinking about that, and while you were sleeping in the shed last night, a possible solution came to me, at least a temporary one.”

I groaned. “God, was that only last night?”

He sighed. “I know, right?”

I sighed and tried not to sound too petulant but, hey, bullet holes. “Possibleandtemporarydon’t exactly sound definitive.”

He studied me with gentle eyes. “I love you, Jules.That’sdefinitive. I’m not walking away from us, not now, even if it takes a bit of to and fro to get things in place. I mean, you didn’t have to go and get yourself fucking shot just to prove your point, but I’m willing to overlook that little wrinkle and put it down to a case of desperate attention seeking.”

I laughed then winced because, ow. “Obviously. I don’t know how I’ve survived without you.”

His cheeks pinked. “It might’ve been said before. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that thepossibleandtemporarypart only refers to how we go about the next step,together. As inwe,plural,you and me.So, you can reel in that lower lip before you trip over it and fall into a pool of your own self-pity.”

I snorted. “You say the sweetest things.”

“I know.” He grinned up at me. “I’m working on that.”

“Come here.” I tugged on his hand. “I need you to kiss me again. I’ve been shot for Chrissakes. What’s a boy have to do to get your attention?”

“Indeed.” Liam reached up and pressed his lips to mine, his tongue sweeping inside for a thoroughly non-PG mauling that I was totally on board with. And when he was done sucking on my tonsils, he rested his head carefully on the pillow next to mine and sighed happily. “You do realise your parents are out there waiting to see you?”

I rested my head against his. “I’m not ready to let you go yet. Maybe not ever.”

I felt his grin against my temple. “Are you sure about that? I can be a demanding son of a bitch.”

“I’m counting on it.” I turned my head enough to bring us eye to eye. “You do know how much I fucking love you, right?”

He drew a deep breath, his eyes glistening under the stark hospital lights. “I’m hoping it’s as much as I love you.” He ran a fingertip over my lips. “Because I think we’re gonna need every scrap of it over the next few months. This isn’t going to be a walk in the park, baby. Right now, your father’s had a shock and he’s having to take stock of his life. But he isn’t going to change overnight and start hanging pride flags by the front door.”

I almost choked on the idea. Liam was right. And then there was Marty and what the hell was next for himandme. Not to mention my need to start running the stationmyway if things were going to progress. That is, if I even had a station to run anymore. And on top of that, there was everything that had been said and done. What had almost come to pass. All those hurtful words and actions had ripped wounds that would need more than just time to heal. There were many more conversations to be had in my future.

I sighed and lost myself in those beautiful hazel eyes. “Do you think we have what it takes to get through this?”

Liam smiled and cupped my cheek in his warm hand. “If we keep each other front and centre. If we protect what we have and keep an open mind about what our future might look like, then yeah, I think we can do it. How about you?”

A slow smile crept over my face. “Protect what we have. Put ourselves first. Yeah, if we can do that, I think we have a fighting chance.” I tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. “You know, I heard you today.”

He frowned, confused.

“When you told me that I belonged to you, and that I better not think about dying. It was one of the first things I remembered when I woke up.”

“Oh.” A tide of red crept up Liam’s face.

“But you belong to me too, right?” I forced myself to focus as the drugs and the adrenaline crash started to catch up with me again.

Liam watched me closely. “I do.”

I nodded. “Good. Then there’s something you need to know about me. Ialwayslook after what belongs to me, baby. That’s what I do. It’s in my genes. I’m a shepherd. Nothing gets past me to harm you.Ever.No wolves. No homophobic arsehole fathers.Nothing.You might like to take charge and boss me around in bed, but I have your back everywhere else. You’re always safe with me.Always.I need you to know that.”

Liam’s smile was incandescent. “I do. And you with me.” He burrowed into my side and kissed my shoulder. “Now, let me tell you about this idea of mine.”

EPILOGUE

February, three months later.

Jules

“We’re going to be late.”Liam ferreted in his bag before pulling out his deodorant and reaching under his shirt. “Did you remember the presents? Gil’s gonna kill us.”

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