Page 43 of Darkest Love
The fact that I don’t know scares me.
“We’ll give you two a moment,” Mom says, ushering my sisters out of the room so Adrien and I can have some alone time.
He stands by my bed, awkwardly patting his sides and not knowing what to do. My confident husband looking unsure. It’s cute.
“I’m glad you’re not dead,” he says after a beat. “I’m… I was worried that you wouldn’t make it.” In one quick motion, heslumps onto the chair beside the bed. “I was so worried I’d lose you.” There’s desperation and pain in his voice.
“You were?”
“I was. I know I said I don’t believe in love but I’m not completely heartless. I…” He stares down at his lap for a long moment before speaking. “I lost my mother when I was young. I saw her dead body. She had been murdered.”
I inhale sharply. “Adrien…”
“It’s the reason I never wanted to love someone. It had hurt so much losing her that when I got older, I kept my distance from women. I would sleep with them but then I’d move on. It was just easier. But today… I thought I would lose you and it made me realize that I can pretend all day long that I don’t have feelings for you but… I do. I care for you, Ana. And I’m scared.”
“I’m scared too,” I admit. “I’m scared to give you my heart and watch you step all over it. But I survived today. Why don’t we start anew? Give each other a real chance? Because when I saw Remy had a gun to your head, I didn’t hesitate to push him to the side. I don’t want to lose you, Adrien. I want us to try. Will you try with me? For once?”
He looks into my eyes for a long moment before he takes my hand in his. “I want to try too. I may be scared but I want all of you, Ana. And knowing I could have lost you today made me realize all of that. So, let’s start brand new.”
I lean forward and press my lips to his. For the first time since marrying Adrien, I’m excited to actually kiss him because it means we have hope for the future.
Chapter Eighteen
Anastasia
Ireturn home with my arm in a sling. The front foyer is covered in bullet holes from the shootout but the dead bodies have been removed. My entire family is with me and Adrien so it doesn’t really give me and Adrien a chance to talk more.
I stare at Adrien out of the corner of my eye as my sisters flutter around me, making sure I’m ok. He wants to make an effort with me and there’s nothing I want more. I was ready to give him my heart the first time I saw him. If he wants it, he can have it.
He saved my life today and I helped save his. Things have shifted and changed between us.
I reach my hand out to him and my fingers graze his before my sisters whisk me away to the bedroom, claiming I need to rest. I am exhausted after the day I’ve had, I’ll give them that.
After I settle into my bed and my sisters leave, Adrien shows up. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired.”
He stands next to the bed, awkwardly nodding at it like he doesn’t know what to do. “Can I join you?”
“It’s also your bed.”
“I know. But I’m trying to be more respectful after everything you’ve been through.”
“I want you to lay down beside me. Hold me?” I whisper, biting my lip, worried that he’ll say no.
But Adrien gets into the bed and wraps his arms around me, pulling me in close to him. We stay like that. It’s not a sexual moment. It’s a tender, loving moment.
“You’re not going to pressure me for sex?” I ask.
“No. And I never should have done that in the first place. I am sorry for how much of an ass I was to you. After almost losing you today, I am going to change. So, for now, I’ll just hold you.”
“I want that.”
And we lay in each other’s arms, allowing ourselves to touch without any pressures of sex. My heart is ready and open for him. Adrien’s body slowly relaxes the longer he holds me. If he’s willing to love me, then I’m ready for it.
I’m able to take my sling off after a week. The bullet didn’t do much damage to my arm, even if it is sore most of the time.
After Adrien and I return home from the hospital, I’m confronted with the sight of my sisters and all of their luggage.
