Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
His eyes pass over me and then snap back, widening in relief as he shoves out of his seat so fast he stumbles over his own feet. The entire world fades out as he rushes over, the chatter of everyone else waiting going silent as my focus narrows down entirely to the brilliant smile on his handsome face.
“Riley,” he breathes out shakily as he tugs me into a crushing hug. “Thank God you’re okay.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, burying my face into his chest and soaking in the comforting warmth of him as tears prick at my eyes.
“Pretty sure I have you to thank for that, not God,” I joke.
He laughs along with me even as he pulls back, cupping my unbruised cheek with a calloused palm. His steely eyes flit over my injuries, anger and regret etched into the lines of his face, but they fade when he meets my eyes again, replaced with pure affection.
“I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat,” he promises, stroking his thumb along my cheekbone.
My heart twinges in sympathy, sorrow threatening to close my throat up as I reach up to squeeze his hand, tangling our fingers together.
An apology wouldn’t help; it wouldn’t fix anything. I know he wouldn’t accept it anyway. None of this was my fault at the end of the day, but I wish I could go back and stop it from happening.
I’d do anything to stop him from hurting.
“How are you holding up?” I ask softly, squeezing his fingers between mine. “With… everything.”
His hand twitches against my face, but he tugs me closer with the arm around my waist, sighing like the press of my body against his soothes some unseen wound.
“Better now that I can see you,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “You’re so beautiful, Riley.”
I can’t help but laugh at him, rolling my eyes. I’m a mess, and we both know it. The bruise on my jaw is a sickly yellow, slowly fading as it heals, and my nose is still swollen, with dark circles beneath both my eyes from a combination of bruising and exhaustion.
The way he looks at me makes me believe that he means it. Still, I don’t want platitudes right now. I want him to be honest with me. I want to take care of him.
“Nick,” I warn, giving him a stern look.
He sighs fondly, shaking his head even as a sad smile tugs at his lips.
“It’s been hard,” he admits softly. “It’s easier with you.”
My heart trips over itself in my chest, and I untangle my free hand from around his waist to cup his cheek, scratching through the overgrown stubble there.
“I guess I’ll just have to stick around then,” I say with a wry twist of my lips, gazing up at him adoringly. “To make it easier on you, ya’know?”
A bright laugh slips from Nick’s lips as he tugs me forward to kiss me until we’re both breathless. It’s as gentle as either of us can manage right now, careful of my bruises but too desperate for each other to let them stop us.
“You’re sure?” he breathes out against my lips, staring deep into my eyes. “This is your only chance to back out, Princess. I’m not letting you go after this.”
I don’t even have to think about it.
Every part of me—body, mind, soul—knows this is right.
“I’m sure,” I whisper back, smiling brightly up at him. “I can’t imagine a life without the man I love.”
It leaves me breathless to say, and it seems to knock the wind out of Nick too. He freezes for a moment before crushing me against his chest, a wicked grin creasing his face.
“Say it right,” he demands.
I laugh, smiling so wide my face hurts.
“I love you,” I tell him, my chest swelling with warmth and need at the way his eyes shine. “I love you, and you damn well better love me back.”
I know he does.
It was the last thing I heard before I passed out in his arms.
Even if he hadn’t said it, it’s written clear as day across his face right now.
“I like this confidence, Miss Morgan,” he teases, a laugh on his breath as he untangles our fingers so he can run his hand through my hair. “I love you,” he confirms, sure and steady. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything, Riley, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
My breath catches in my lungs, my mind going blank as the weight of his words hits me in full.
“You better not be proposing to me without a ring,” I say breathlessly. “Or in a hospital.”
His laugh is loud and carefree, and I find myself collapsing into a fit of giggles in his arms, so overwhelmed by joy that I can hardly catch my breath.