Page 63 of 4-Ever

“Fuck, these stitches are itchy,” he grumbled as he slid to his back. He turned his head and gave me a slow perusal. “How’s your face feeling? Did you sleep?”

I opened my mouth, but the words were stuck in my head.

“Faise, you okay?”

No, no I was not fucking okay.

“Uh, yeah. I mean, sure. My jaw aches a bit but I passed out right away. You?”

“Same. All the stress from last night. Holy shit, I can’t believe we were attacked like that. It doesn’t seem real.”

Ronin stretched and sat up, the sheet falling down around his waist. Then he chucked the sheet aside, and stood up, his naked ass right there in front of me. When he turned around, I was greeted by his morning wood.

My own hardened in response. Hell, just that one single touch of our lips meeting had my body lighting up like most incredible fireworks. I glanced up at him, confused, shocked, and fucking horny. Until I zeroed in on the bandage on his chest.

“Last night,” I croaked, a sudden lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. “If it had been worse. If anything had happened to you, I don’t… I don’t think I can?—”

I held my face in my hands, too choked up to breathe, everything hitting me all at once.

The bed depressed but I didn’t look up. My eyes were a blurry mess, the tears coming out of nowhere, sliding down my face. Ronin gently took my hands and placed them over his pecs. I reached higher, my fingers clutching his shoulders, so solid, warm, and real.

He was right here with me. I couldn’t ever lose him.

“I’m okay,” he reassured me. “You can see I’m fine. It’s over.”

He pulled me into his arms and wrapped me up tight.

“But your wound, doesn’t it hurt?” I protested and made to move away, but Ronin wouldn’t let go.

“It’s fine. I’ve got my medicine right here,” he replied as he squeezed me tighter.

I snorted at his corny joke.

Like always, I notched my face under his bearded chin and breathed him in. Neither of us had showered last night, so we smelled like stale sweat and booze. But it didn’t matter. He clutched me so tightly I couldn’t take in air. Didn’t need to. If I didn’t have him, I’d have no reason for oxygen.

“Ro,” I whispered against the heated skin of his neck. “I’ve got to tell you?—”

The knock on his bedroom door had us jolting. He slowly pulled away from me and I shivered at the loss.

“Don’t move,” he demanded and reached for his jeans.

He slipped them on and padded over to the door while I lay back down, dizzy, my heart pounding hard, my vision spinning.

My lips tingled, and I rang my fingertips over them, still in awe. Had that really happened? Had Ronin kissed me? Was it just him being more affectionate than usual or…

“Faise?”

I didn’t even hear Ronin’s return to bed.

“Yeah?”

“The police are back. They got Ciara’s stuff from the hotel, but they still have questions for her.”

“Of course. I’ll get dressed and out of your way.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” He shook his head, the dark waves of his hair falling around his face. “Please stay. She needs you. I need you.”

I nodded, pulling the sheet around me. “I’ll just take a quick shower and meet you downstairs.”

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