Page 86 of Unchained

She sighed. “And the other man who was mentioned?”

He shrugged. “No recollection.”

“Well, I hope you’re telling the truth. Cole Holmes is a very dangerous man. If you see him, it would be in your best interest to notify me.” She glided to the door, her heels clicking on the way out.

Cam shimmied closer to him on the bed. “They want Cole badly.”

He snorted. “No shit.”

Despite the detective’s pit-bull-like grip on Cole, by the sounds of it they had very little to connect Brooks or the brothers to Conrad’s murder. He brought his attention back to Cam and caught her cheek in his palm. “You okay?”

She chuckled. “You already asked me that.”

“But are you, really?”

Her eyes lowered to the sheet over his middle, and she smoothed one of the wrinkles with her fingers. She lifted her lashes, and the ocean-green depths of her orbs slammed into him. The sunlight filling the room caught her pale-blonde hair and smooth complexion. Her mascara was smudged under her eyes and her eyeshadow was long gone, but her natural beauty stopped his damn heart, the pain in his chest familiar to what he’d endured last night.

“I am now that you’re awake. It was touch-and-go all night.” She grabbed his wrist and kissed his palm.

He pulled her close, bringing his lips to hers. Her body trembled against his, and the air in the room changed. He kissed her cheek then connected his forehead to hers. “I love you, Camryn Royce, Bayfield, or whatever the hell your name is.”

She let out a loose laugh, and tears hovered at her lashes. She swatted his chest, but he caught her hand. “I mean it.”

“You’re just saying that to me because I said it in a moment of desperation last night.”

He swirled his thumb around the inside of her palm and watched her pupils dilate with attraction. “That so?”

She bit her bottom lip. “I meant it.”

He wiped a tear from her cheek. “I know you did. And I love you, Cam. Thank you for being there for me—for saving me.”

She threw her arms around his neck, and he buried his face into the comfort of her lavender scent, pushing away the pungent hospital smells. He’d been given a second chance. The long-term effects of Axalantheum were still unknown, but one thing was for sure: he’d spend every moment of his life loving Cam.

CHAPTER 26

Brooks shoved the key into the door of Lexi and Nash’s safe house and bumped it open. Even though the house wasn’t theirs, it sure felt nice to be somewhere familiar.

Theirs.

That one word made his heart patter. He was thinking way, way too far ahead. But how could he not? After the intensity of the last week, he might as well add eight months to the time he’d known Cam. Their circumstances might have taken them to hell and back, but it had also brought them together and strengthened their feelings for each other.

Cam brushed past him and kicked off her shoes. He did the same and followed her into the kitchen. The extra huffiness of his breath told him he’d already exerted himself. Just from the drive and the short stint into the house.

Christ, he needed a drink.

“You should rest.” Cam caught his arm and towed him toward the stairs.

“I’m fine, babe. Glad to be out of that damn place.”

She tsk-tsked. “You really should have waited for a proper discharge.”

“Nah.” He caught her fingers and pulled her to his chest. “I wanted to be with you.” He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. More than anything, he’d needed to be alone with Cam. To see for himself that she was okay, to take care of her and not be nursed like a baby.

She scrunched up her shoulder and squirmed. “That tickles!”

He nipped her flesh. If it weren’t for the fatigue of his muscles and fogginess of his brain, he’d carry her ass to bed.

She placed a hand on his chest, pushing him back. Her eyebrows pulled together fiercely. “Easy. You’ll hurt yourself.”

---