Page 144 of Before I Loved You

“Why would I do that? Simple. To make you feel comfortable if you ever wanted to spend the night here.” I lift a shoulder nonchalantly.

Staring down into her glimmering eyes, I see awe. She bites her bottom lip, holding her emotions inside like always. Something that she’s quite good at and something that I wish she would stop doing.

She doesn’t need to hide her feelings from me. I want her to let me in. I want her to know she no longer needs to go through anything alone.

Never again.

The protectiveness I feel over both Sarah and our unborn baby fiercely surrounds me. Maybe it’s not a good idea to leave her here without me. We don’t even know where this guy is, for sure. And if anything happens to her, I would never forgive—

“I’ll be fine.” She reaches up, gliding her hand over my stubble, her thumb stroking my cheek. “Don’t worry about me.”

“That’s easier said than done.” I run a hand over my head, a nagging feeling that the last thing I should be doing is leaving her. “Promise me you’ll stay in here. And if anything happens, you’ll call me.”

She nods. “I promise.”

Her eyes catch on something behind me, and I turn to see what’s got her lips twisting up into an adorable smile.

“You really did keep it,” she mutters softly, admiring the piece of priceless artwork.

Our piece of art hangs on the opposite wall of my bed and provides some much-needed color to my dreary room.

“I told you no one was ever seeing that perfect ass except me.”

She blushes. “You should go. I’m just going to shower and head to bed, anyway.”

“Okay.” I turn to the dresser and take out one of my shirts for her to wear. Leaning down, I caress my lips against hers softly before devouring her, giving her a kiss that tells her everything I need her to know at this moment.

I love you so goddamn much, baby girl.

I pull back, knowing I won’t be able to stop if I continue. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Keep the bed warm for me. And enjoy the art.” I wink as I close the door and wait for the lock to activate. Heading toward the stairs, I walk away with an impending doom that I shouldn’t leave her alone.

That I should never leave her alone again.

thirty-one

SARAH

I’m safe.

Paul’s safe.

I’m safe.

Paul’s safe.

The words keep repeating in my head like a broken record as I clutch the blankets tightly to my chest, waiting for the door to burst open, revealing Paul in one piece.

I keep checking my phone for updates from Natalie, but the last one was from two hours ago, just letting me know that Vanessa is doing okay and that they’re just running some tests, which is a relief. But I won’t be able to sleep until Paul returns.

I know how protective he is of people he cares about, and when he saw Vanessa at the bottom of the stairs, I witnessed unrelenting anger simmer in his dark eyes.

A turn-on? Absolutely.

But I’m worried something has happened to him, and I can’t bear the dread building inside me.

I thought I could do this alone, but I can’t. I need him.

Because…I love him.

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