Page 104 of Tide and Seek
I slumped with relief.“I was afraid I lost it in the cave.”
“Nope.The hospital removed your jewelry so I took it for safe keeping.”He leaned forward, his eyes warm.“You’re still engaged to me.Can’t get out of it that easy.”
“Like I’d want to get out of it,” I mumbled, tugging him closer.“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Max.And I ain’t saying that just because you risked your life and saved me from drowning.”
He smirked.“You sure?I was pretty heroic.”
“You were,” I said softly.“I’ll never forget how scared, but relieved, I was to see you pop up in that damn cave.Couldn’t believe my eyes.”
He touched my cheek, his expression very serious.“Scariest moment of my life wasn’t being in that cave.It… it was not knowing where you were for hours on end.”He pressed his warm mouth to mine in a tender kiss.
When he pulled back, I smiled weakly.“Is there some reason we can’t ever just go on vacation without almost dying?”
He winced.“Maybe when we tie the knot, we should skip the honeymoon, just to be safe.”
I scowled.“Hell, no.”
He laughed.“You’re a glutton for punishment, I see.”
“Nah,” I said softly.“It’s just… I came so close to losing everything yesterday, it makes me want it all the more, Max.I want every moment I can get with you.The good, the bad, I don’t care.As long as we’re together, I’m okay with whatever happens.”
He swallowed hard, his eyes a little shiny.“Damn, Royce.Stop it.You’re going to get me all emotional.That’s not nice.”
“Told you I wasn’t the nice boyfriend.”
“Yes, you are, and we both know it.”He gave a tearful laugh, wiping roughly at his eyes and he leaned in and kissed me again.“How about you scoot over and make room for me?”
I gave a surprised laugh, shifting over.“You’re coming up?”
“Yes.I miss you and plus my ass is sore from sitting in that damn plastic chair all night.I don’t care if the nurse doesn’t approve.If I want to snuggle with my boyfriend after his near-death experience, that’s my business.”
“Well I ain’t complaining.Get your ass up here.”I patted the spot beside me.
He kicked his shoes off and gingerly crawled up beside me.He slipped his arm around my waist, lowering his head onto my shoulder.He let out a tired sigh, his breath warm against my throat.In those caves, I hadn’t been sure I’d ever get to hold him again.I had a lump in my throat as I pulled him closer, reveling in the fact that we were both alive.
His warm lips brushed my skin, and a tremor went through him.I knew he was feeling as shellshocked after our ordeal as I was.I was happy he wasn’t acting all stoic and was instead admitting he needed comfort.I sure as hell did.
“That was too close,” he said thickly.
“Yes.”
He whispered, “I… I was going to kill him, Royce.”
I frowned.“Who?”
“Ethan,” he said hoarsely.“If he hadn’t taken me to you.I… I think I might have actually pulled the trigger.”He sounded guilty, but also a little defensive.
I kissed his temple, inhaling the familiar scent of his skin and relishing the heat of his warm body.“I’m no saint, Max.When you were missing in that damn sinkhole, if Lucas hadn’t been there with River, there’s no telling what I might have done out in that desert.I understand your desperation because I felt the same.”
He buried his face in my shoulder, his breathing uneven.I rubbed his back and we stayed like that for a long while.When the nurse came in to check my IV and vitals, she left us alone.She did her thing and crept quietly out of my room.
We ended up falling asleep, but I kept waking up with nightmares of drowning in that horrible, dank cave.Each time, Max would quietly talk me through the lingering terror, reassuringly stroking my hair until I’d drift off again.He left the bed at one point, and when I woke again, he was sitting beside the bed, holding my hand and watching me.
“Sorry I’m sleeping so much,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.
He wrinkled his brow.“It’s not a problem.That’s how you’ll heal.”
“I’m sure you’re bored.”
