Page 177 of Sinner's Obsession

We burst into laughter and Alessandra says, “I wish it was easier, but...”

I wonder if this is all that will remain of our new friendship, just memories.

Inside the bedroom, I wheel myself onto the balcony, so many thoughts running through my head, and Kieran finds me here.

“I was scared to lose myself in you. Now I know love implies a bit of losing, giving, serving. I thought I owed it to that girl in me to escape. But you can’t escape your feelings.”

He crouches in front of me, taking my hand in his. He brings my palm to his mouth and places a kiss in the middle of it. “Thank you for choosing to stay, for giving me another chance, remaining mine.”

“Is something wrong with me if I want that?”

“There is nothing wrong with you. You’re everything. And if loving me means something is wrong with you, then we’re both defective. And if it works for us, then it’s fine.”

“I want to go home.”

“We’ll fly out tomorrow.”

He scoops me up gently, and I kiss his chest, my fingers gliding down his side.

“Sweetheart.”

“I really, really need you.”

“Believe me when I say I won’t get out of you for days after you recover.”

I pout and he says, “You were shot. Lost so much blood, and I don’t remember once when you didn’t overexert yourself while fucking.”

When he puts it like that... We have time. I trust that we’ll have time for all we want.

Kieran kisses me all over my face and places me on the bed.

Cuddled in his arms, I caress his wound, and he says, “Those two days... If it wasn’t for the chip, I would have gone crazy. I know you hated it, but still you take me, this life, as it is, glamorous on the outside, bloody on the inside. If I was a better man, perhaps I would let you go, but I am selfish. And I will continue to be selfish because we’re going to have children, and my enemies, even though I have them in check, the power struggle never ends.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Fuck if I know.”

My heart expands with all my love for him at his open vulnerability. “It’s you and me. Our life, that’s it. I am your queen.”

“Yes, you are. I’m sorry.”

I caress his cheek, pressing my lips against his.

“I’ve read that the first year of marriage is the rockiest. We’ll have a lifetime to make up for it.”

He chuckles, serenity softening his expression. “I adore you, sweetheart. I fucking adore you.”

***

Back home, I am pampered by everyone, even by my mother-in-law. I told her everything. Nora cried as if to expunge all the venom she gathered and set herself to move past the hurt and heal. I take it as a good sign that she cares because I am now an orphan, needing all the parental love I can get. I even told her about Hayden and she said, “I’d like to meet him.”

That surprised not only me but also Kieran. And to his mortification, she treats Hayden as her child. Even Leonie, after a few times, calls him brother. Hayden’s getting a bit of peace in the inferno of his pain and I could burst with relief.

I can’t say the same about my very jealous, very possessive husband.

But I show him every day he’s my world, with my heart, with my body. A body that is continuously sore from all the lovemaking. I have no complaints, though. I am possibly even bragging. We’re insatiable for each other. But in the weeks following my recovery, a lot has happened.

I am so grateful that our love gives us the capacity to keep going and face all the trials that will come. As well as a place to call home. Peace with danger constantly looming.

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