Page 95 of Redeeming

Can’t think. Can’t speak. Can’t breathe.

Until I’m limp in his arms and Callen is the only thing holding me together.

Until I’m promising to never leave him again. To forgive him. To love him.

Until I’m no longer broken, and he’s put the jagged, shattered pieces of my heart back together.

Until a raw, primal sound is ripped from somewhere deep inside his chest, and my name is shouted out into the room.

We fall to the bed tangled in each other. Unable to move. Unwilling to care.

And it’s not until hours later, when I know neither of us has slept, just stayed safe in each other’s arms, that I turn and place my face inches from his. “I never stopped loving you, Callen Sinclair. I never will. But don’t hurt me again because I don’t know how much trust I can keep giving you if you keep breaking me.”

“Never again, Caitie. You’re it. You and our daughter. Everyone else in the universe can fuck off. I don’t care about any of them as long as I have the two of you.”

My tired eyes search his face for any kind of insincerity. But I come up lacking.

I ghost my lips over his. “Promise me we’ll show this baby a healthy love.”

“I promise.”

Those two words manage to somehow give me the peace I’ve been searching for, and I close my eyes. “I love you, Callen.”

“I’ll always love you, Caitlin. I promise.”

CALLEN

Dad

Your mom wants to have everyone over for a party this weekend.

Nattie

Everything okay?

Murphy

He said to celebrate, Nat.

Cooper

They just won the Super Bowl. Pretty sure it’s safe to celebrate, Nat.

Carys

I mean, it was three weeks ago.

Declan

You have the attention spans of an ant.

Dad

Our house. Sunday night. Think you can make it?

Nattie

We’re in.

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