Page 156 of State of Retribution

“Won’t the DNA take care of that for us?”

“It will, but you’ll still have to testify.”

“Okay.”

He squeezed the hand he was holding.“Your courage amazes me.”

“I don’t want to be a victim, and I refuse to allow him to ruin the nicest thing that’s ever happened to me.So let’s call Erica and do our part to put this guy where he belongs so we can get on with much more important things.”

“Such as?”Archie smiled even though he was still full of turmoil since realizing her relationship with him had led to her abduction.And the reason she’d been less than forthcoming with him was due to the problems she’d had with her ex-husband and not because of any great secrets she was keeping.

She crooked her finger to bring him closer and took his breath away when she placed her hand on his face and leaned in to press her lips to his.“This, for one thing,” she whispered.“Lots and lots of this.”

Archie wanted to weep from the sweet pleasure of kissing her for the first time since the attack, for the way she ran her lips over his and how they curled up at the corners in a smile that reached her eyes.That she wasn’t blaming him or banishing him, that she forgave him for bringing evil into her life, would go down as one of the greatest gifts he’d ever received.

“Easy, sweetheart,” he whispered.“You’re still recovering.”

“I feel great right now, stronger than I have since it happened, and you know what I want?”

He tucked a strand of silky auburn hair behind her ear.“What’s that?”

“I want to lie with you in bed and have you hold me the way you would if I wasn’t injured.”

“You’re not ready for me to hold you that way.”

“Yes, I am, and it’s what I want.And need.”She looked away before seeming to force herself to bring her gaze back to him.“I want to reclaim myself.Does that make sense?”

“It does, but we need to go slowly so you don’t suffer any setbacks.”He was as concerned about her mental health as he was about the physical.

“I’m fine with slowly.Will you hold me, Archie?”

He got up and extended a hand to help her.“With pleasure.”

She winced as she straightened and walked slowly with him to his room, proving his point that she was a long way from recovered.

When she was seated on the bed, he took out his phone and composed a text to Erica, letting her know that Harlowe recognized Dylan Offenbach as the man who attacked her.She’s willing to make a statement or whatever you need, but maybe we could do that tomorrow?It’s been a lot for both of us to realize a, it was him, and b, it was tied to my work.

Erica responded right away.This is good to know, and I’ll pass it on to the others here as well as the FBI.Yes, let’s talk tomorrow about a statement of what she recalls.Her parents are settled at the Willard and asked that she get in touch if she’d like to see them.

Thanks, Erica.

He showed the texts to Harlowe.

“Okay, good.Now, enough of that.I don’t want to think about it until I have to.”

Archie helped her get comfortable in his bed.

Harlowe is in my bed!He needed to enjoy this moment and let go of the distress that had gripped him for hours.If she didn’t want to think about it, then he shouldn’t either.

When she was settled, he went around to the other side and stretched out next to her.

“Come closer, and don’t be afraid to touch me.I won’t break.”

Archie slid across the bed and snuggled up to her, putting his arm around her waist, below the worst of the bruising.“Is this okay?”

“You could be closer.”

He moved the last few inches toward her, pressed his body to hers and smiled when she sighed.

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