Page 70 of Merciless
"Yes," I breathed, feeling a smile pull at my face for the first time in weeks. "My husband." I touched his face in return, still marveling at those gorgeous eyes blinking and watching me.
Reaper made a sound like he was trying to clear his throat and I sprung into action, finding a glass of water with a straw.
"Take it easy," I told him, my nose still sniffling. "You haven't swallowed or used your voice in a while."
He accepted a small, tentative drink and then tried again. "How...long?"
"You've been in a coma for about two weeks," I said. "We got you out when you'd been out for about three days already."
"Shadow?" His eyes widened with the question.
"He's fine." I squeezed his hand in assurance. "Everyone is."
I looked behind me to find the room empty, our air mattress bed made and blankets folded neatly over it. It must have been late morning for the guys to all be gone already.
"The Sha?" Reaper asked next, brow furrowed with concern. His voice was sounding stronger already.
"Gone," I said with a broad grin. "We have a lot to tell you, but...it's over, love. We beat him, got everybody out, then we were just waiting for you to wake up—"
I clapped a hand over my mouth because I wanted to scream and yell with victory. With absolute joy. There was nothing,nothing,left to kill myself with worry about. Reaper was awake! I had my whole family with me, and the enemy haunting us was gone forever.
"Come here." Reaper nudged a hand against my side to beckon me closer.
"Fuck," I breathed, holding the side of his face as I leaned down. "It is so good to hear your voice, my love."
"Closer," he said.
I leaned down until I was hovering just a few inches above him. He made a frustrated sound, then impatiently said, "Lips, woman."
I laughed at the realization of what he was asking for, then continued down until my mouth slanted over his.
Reaper in top shape would have held me down, kissed me like he needed my air to breathe, and would fight for every sip with teeth and tongue.
But this kiss was full of longing and relief, a sigh that released the last of our worries. He still wore compression wraps for his broken ribs, so I kept the kisses light--soft sips that didn't impact his breathing, despite the yearning I felt from him to deepen them.
He panted softly after a few moments. It was the most exertion he'd had in weeks, after all. I rested my forehead on his, held his hand and his face, not wanting to lose a single moment of contact with his skin.
"Can I…go home?" he asked after catching his breath.
"Not yet, love. Sorry." I placed a fast peck on his lips. "We still have a lot of work to do. But now that you're awake," I kissed his forehead, "we can get started, then get you home as soon as we can."
Reaper was quiet for another long few minutes, and I almost thought he fell back asleep.
"You're not…not mad…anymore?" he asked softly.
The regret rose up in me again and threatened to choke me like a rope.
"No, love. I haven't been." My fingers ran over his scalp. "I wanted to talk to you the next day, to apologize and finally move forward. But then..." My lips shook. "I'm such a fucking idiot. Fuck, I was so awful to you. I'm so, so sorry."
"Me too, sugar."
"No, stop." I brought my forehead back to his. "You've apologized enough. I shouldn't have let it keep festering."
Reaper brought a finger under my chin, tilting my face up for another kiss, which I happily gave to him.
"Love you," he whispered on my lips. "My wife, forever."
"I love you too." My hand curled around his. "My husband, forever."
