Page 97 of The Front Runner
His breath shudders, and his hand shoots into my hair, lovingly cupping my head. “I can’t ever lose you. I’m so sorry I walked away.” His words rumble across my scalp as he burrows into me. “I love you too fucking much.”
“I know,” I reply, stroking his hair. “I love you too, Stefan.”
“Nothing else mattered when I thought you might die.Nothing.There is nothing you could do to make me leave you behind. And I’ll never forgive myself for doing it once.”
I nod into the warmth of his chest, feeling my eyes leak again.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep you safe. But I want to spend forever trying if you’ll let me.”
“Oh, Stefan. You already do.” My voice is thick as I stroke my hand over the length of his broad back. “You saved me last night. You believe me. You listen to me. You protect me. You stood up to my family for me, Stefan. And Patrick? You took him out for me.” I laugh through the tears. “I mean, shit. You lied to the cops for me when I egged the principal’s car with Nadia.”
“That guy fucking deserved it.”
I laugh again, but it’s cut short when he pulls away and tips my chin up. “I love you, Mira.” His confession is quiet and deep. Private and just for us. Even though he’s already said it, this time it really sinks in. “You make me a better man. A happier man. I said it once before, and I meant it: you are mine and I am yours. I will drink whatever ungodly coffee concoctions you bring me. I will worship your body.” His eyes drop to my lips, and even in a hospital bed feeling more roughed up than I ever have, whenhelooks atmelikethat, I feel more beautiful than I ever have. “I would walk through fire for you any day. Over and over again.”
And then his lips descend on mine. Soft and searching. Perfect and panty melting. His hands cup me like I’m the most precious thing he’s ever held in his hands.
And I melt. I melt into him. Into us.
I whimper, overcome with emotion. Soaking in the feel of him and how he surrounds me, feeling infinitely safe in his arms.
“Does it hurt?” He draws back, concern etching his handsome face.
I fist the neckline of his T-shirt, gathering it between my fingers as our legs tangle together on the small hospital bed.
“No,” I murmur. “Please.” I sigh. “Don’t ever stop,” I implore.
He drops his forehead to mine. “I love it when you beg, Dr. Thorne.”
His lips press against one cheek, in the sweetest kiss. “I love you.” Before moving over to the other, butterflies erupt in my stomach. “I love you.” Our lips meet in a soul-searing kiss, the perfect fit, and he says it a third time. “I love you.”
And nothing in my life has ever felt more real.
I love him. I love him. I love him.
Epilogue - Stefan
three months later
I feel Mira’s fingers dig into my thigh from where she sits at the dinner table beside me. Hank sits across from us, and we’ve just finished a beautiful dinner I cooked for two of the most important people in my life. Seared duck breast, complete with a special blueberry sauce Mira concocted. Just to remind me of our very first “fake” date.
I’ve just placed an envelope in the middle of the table. It holds the results of our DNA test. It’s what I’ve been waiting for, except now that it’s here, I’m not sure I want to open it. Hank and I have been spending time together as though he is my father. Making up for lost time. And I’ve been soaking it up. No matter how much time I spend with the man, it’s just never quite enough. I always feel like I want more. I have so much to share with him in whatever time we might have left. My perception of making the most of the time we have has drastically changed since the fire. Some might say it was a wake-up call to stop living in the past.
“Is that what I think it is?” Hank asks, eyes glued to the yellow envelope.
Who knew something so life altering could come in such a generic looking package?
“It is.”
He swallows and I watch him, feeling Mira’s steady presence beside me. The tips of her dainty fingers press into my inner thigh, making me think about things I shouldn’t be at a moment like this. But then, she’s always had that effect on me.
“It’s funny”—Hank’s voice is all gravel as he smiles and looks up at us—“because I’ve been looking forward to this, and now that it’s staring me in the face… well, I think I’d be happy to go on pretending that it’s exactly as we think it is.”
A silence descends over the table before Hank continues, “You know, Stefan, even if this envelope doesn’t hold what we’re both hoping it does. I’d… well, I’d like to keep doing what we’ve been doing. Everything I felt about your mom is still true, and I like to think she’d be happy to see us spending time together regardless of DNA.”
I lick my lips and wish away the stinging sensation across the bridge of my nose. “I would like that.”
“Do you guys want me to read it first?” Mira asks quietly, her thumb rubbing soothing circles against my jeans. Her head volleys between us, her shiny black hair brushing the tops of her shoulders. After the fire, she cut the burnt ends and went for a straight blunt bob and it suits her to a tee. She is striking, and there’s still plenty for me to wrap between my fingers when I take her from behind.
