Page 133 of Sweet Ruin

“Are you in pain?” I asked.

“You kidding? I got all the good drugs tonight.”

I chuckled. I was surprised I was able to laugh at all after the night we’d just endured. After the weeks of chaos we’d been through.

Noah lifted his arm, gesturing for me to come closer. I smiled and shuffled to place my head on his chest, making sure to stay clear of the wound on his other side. He wrapped his arm around me, and my head fit so perfectly between his shoulder and his neck it felt like that space had been carved out just for me.

It was hard to fully relax as he held me close. “Tonight’s the third time you’ve ended up in a hospital because of me,” I said.

“And I’d make the same choices all over again if I had to,” he murmured.

“Still, I hate that it was my fault.”

“You aren’t to blame for any of this,” Noah growled. “My grandfather has a lot to answer for. If one small positive came from tonight, it’s that he’ll be spending a long time behind bars for what he’s done.”

“It doesn’t feel like enough,” I said.

“No, and it probably never will,” Noah agreed. “But I think it will help me sleep better at night knowing that he can’t hurt you or anyone else.”

“True.”

I glanced up and found Noah staring down at me, a gentle look in his eyes. “I have a confession,” he said.

“Okay…”

“I didn’t come in here to talk about my grandfather.”

“Fair enough.” I didn’t particularly want to talk about William either. “Was there something you did want to talk about?”

“Nothing. Everything. Honestly, I just wanted to be close to you.” Noah let out a sigh as he considered the door. “I know I’m supposed to be resting, but I’m really struggling to be away from you right now.”

“Yeah, me too.” It felt like a part of me was missing when he wasn’t at my side, and I worried too much about him when he was gone. I’d been so awake and alert before he’d entered my room, but since he’d arrived, I felt calmer. I was safe with him by my side, and it was the first time all night I’d thought sleep was even a possibility.

“Would you stay here with me tonight?” I asked. “I know Matthew would probably freak, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to get any rest without you next to me.”

Noah swallowed.

“You don’t have to say yes if you don’t want.” I stumbled over my words when he didn’t respond right away. “I know you probably want to sleep in your own bed so you can recover.”

“No,” he replied. “No, I want nothing more than to be here with you. It just took me a moment to reply because I can’t believe this is real. That you’re in my arms and asking me to stay. Holding you is what I dreamed about when we weren’t together, and I just can’t believe you’re really mine.”

“I’m finding it hard to believe this is real too,” I admitted.

He gave me a small smile. “You told me you loved me tonight.”

“Because I do,” I replied. “You said it too. And then you proved it when you jumped in front of a bullet for me.”

“Well, if I’d known all I had to do was jump in front of a bullet to prove my love for you, I would have done it sooner.” He laughed but quickly stopped and put his hand to his injured torso.

I might have laughed with him, but the reminder he was injured stayed my lips. I hated he’d been hurt. That his life had been in danger.

“Please promise me you won’t ever do that again.”

“I can’t do that, Crash. I’m always going to be there to catch you when you fall. But, I have to admit, as fun as it is to rescue you on a weekly basis, I’m really hoping that your brushes with death have come to an end now my grandfather is in custody.”

“I really hope so too,” I agreed.

He lifted a hand and gently brushed his thumb against my cheek. “I have a feeling we’ll be okay.” He lowered his lips to mine in a soft and sweet kiss. Our kisses had always been passionate before, but this one made me feel like I was truly adored. I wanted to hold him tighter. To kiss until we were breathless and my mind was completely muddled, but we had time to kiss that way tomorrow or the day after that. It seemed too much to imagine it, but I had a feeling we’d get a lifetime of those kisses.

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