Page 21 of Hard Limits

ARACELY

My eyes fluttered open and I squinted from the bright streams of light that shone through the windows. I tried to sit up and pain shot up my abdomen and stole my breath away.

“Lie still.”

His deep voice resonated through me and I looked up to find him staring down at me. He looked tired and worn out, his hair was mussed up, his eyes dark and exhausted. I reached out to him and he grabbed my hand.

“You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.” He kissed my hand and my heart sang.

I didn’t really want to say anything, so I let my tears fall. He’d become my savior in so many ways, the only person in this world who knew me. Yet, he wanted me. Broken and all and he wanted me.

I gently placed my hand on his cheek, and he closed his eyes, leaning into it. I wanted to say so much, yet there were no words to express how grateful I was to him, how much I needed him, how much I cared for him.

“The police have Shane in custody. He’ll be facing prosecution soon.”

I frowned, not fully understanding what happened. “How?”

“I shot him. He won’t ever walk straight again, I assure you.”

“I thought you killed him.”

He nodded. “I was going to. Fuck, I wanted to rip his heart out for what he did. But I realized something last night.”

“What was that?”

“I couldn’t kill him. I didn’t want to.”

“Oh?”

“Aracely…” he looked down at my hand for a long time. I could see his jaw clenching, his throat working, he was fighting something deep.

“It’s okay, you can tell me. You can tell me anything.”

His eyes met mine, sorrow and tears shimmered in those dark cerulean orbs. “You’re mine.”

I smiled. “Yes, I think you’ve mentioned that before.”

He shook his head. “In every way. I realized last night that I didn’t want to be anywhere else, but here. I realized I have been fighting so hard to keep you safe, and in an instant it all slipped through my fingers. I don’t want to lose you, Aracely. I’m scared shitless thinking I could have lost you because I wasn’t here.”

“You’ll never lose me,” I flinched as the pain shot through me again.

“I swear, I should have fucked him up for life.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. I’d much rather have you here by my side. Always. Rather than behind bars somewhere.”

“I deserve that too. I’m not a good man, Aracely.”

I smiled. Up at him. “No, you’re not. You’re an amazing man.”

He leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you.”

I swore I would always remember that moment. The sound of his broken voice as tears fell onto my cheeks. The feel of his warmth hovering over me, protecting me.

“I love you, Eric.”

His lips touched mine in a tender kiss. The sweetest most profound kiss I’d ever gotten in my life.

“I’m yours,” I breathed, and he gently wrapped me up in his arms, his breath at my neck. Pain ricocheted through me, but I didn’t care. He was everything I wasn’t looking for, everything I should have stayed away from, but he was perfect just the same.

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