Page 105 of Death Wish

“Warm.”

Jesse chuckled. “How’s the pain level?”

She considered downplaying the pain and knew she wouldn’t get away with it, so why bother? “Aggravating. That’s what woke me.”

He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck and rolled away from her. A moment later, he presented her with two more capsules. “We’ll land in another hour,” he said as he handed her a bottle of water. “Do you want to sleep more?”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to.”

Jesse checked the IV and changed out the bag for a fresh one.

“You do this all the time for your teammates?” she asked.

“Not all the time.”

“But a fair amount.”

He nodded. “We’re in a dangerous business. That’s why most of our black ops teams have medics. All operatives have field medicine training but medics are trained to a much higher level.”

Jesse sat in the chair beside the bed and wrapped his hand around hers. “Can you handle it, Simone?”

She studied him, ignoring the throbbing in her shoulder and side. He was worried. Why? When she made a commitment, she didn’t back down. “It’s your job, Jesse.”

“I can get another job. I don’t have to work for Fortress.”

Stunned at the sacrifice he was willing to make for her, Simone turned her hand and threaded their fingers together. “You love your job and your team. I would never stand between you and what fulfills you. I’ll deal with the fear and loneliness.”

“Why?”

She blinked. “I love you. Your job makes you happy. I want what’s best for you.”

“Even if I’m out of the country for six months out of the year?”

Simone shrugged her uninjured shoulder. “It’s better than what military families deal with when their loved ones are deployed. Besides, I have Sage, Poppy, and Willow to keep me company while you’re deployed. However, if it’s safe, I expect text messages or phone calls while you’re gone.”

“Deal.” He kissed the back of her hand. “You might even have a few special deliveries.”

“While that would be fun, I’m more interested in communicating with you daily and you coming home to me.”

He squeezed her hand. “You said you love me.”

Simone smiled. “I did. It’s true, you know.”

“Enough to marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?”

“Yes.”

Jesse’s eyes widened. “You said yes?”

“Need your hearing checked?” She brought his hand to her face and nuzzled her cheek against his palm. “I said yes earlier, I said it again just now, and I’m not taking it back.”

“Good, because I won’t let you back out now. I love you, Simone Kent. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

“As long as we’re together, I’ll be happy.”

He watched her a beat. “There’s something else we need to talk about.”

“What?”

---