Page 72 of All Your Pain

“Mind your stitches,” she mumbles.

Stitches?Shit. Maybe it was that bad then.

It must have really scared her.

Not knowing what to do with the feelings in me, I hold her tighter.

“I’m so sorry, baby.”

She doesn’t say anything and I feel like I’m losing her.

No, please not again.

We’re out in the real world, not locked up in the safe confines of my house. If she wants to, she could run. Of course, I won’t let her. I wouldn’t hesitate to chase her down and drag her back home kicking and screaming but there are just so many things out of my control here.

“What happened?” I ask her and she tells me about how I was passed out in the front door, bleeding out, that she called Bones and stayed with me in the ambulance to the hospital. I makesure she gives me every detail of what she went through to save me. Not for some egotistical need but to help me figure out why exactly she's here.

Some of the anxiety leaves my chest as I hear Bones was involved. He would have made sure I was seen by our acquaintance here in the hospital and not just anyone. Dr. Luka Vincent is an upstanding citizen and well liked by everyone in this hospital but he also works for the unsavory types, fixing them up when their injuries mean they can’t come to a hospital. He’s made plenty of house visits for me in the past.

“Wait, say that part again.” I grip her chin, my eyes continuously raking over all of her, making sure she’s still here, still safe.

Her cheeks heat up and she looks at my lips as she bites her own. “I told the paramedics I was your wife.”

Fuck,I love the sound of that.Wife.A wide, predatory grin spreads on my face.

I hadn't contemplated marriage before. Didn't think it would be an option, but now that I hear that word,wife,I can't get enough.

Willow will be mine in every possible way.

“It was just to make sure I could come with you! it doesn’t mean anything.”

But it means everything. She may roll her eyes but I see the way she’s biting her cheek trying to hide her own smile. She likes the thought of being my wife just as much as I do.

“You did all of that for me, Willow.” She could have left me to die or ran once I was taken to hospital. But she stayed. For me.Withme.

She buries her face into my neck and inhales deeply. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Maybe I did die, because this certainly feels like heaven.

We lie in silence and honestly, I’m just happy to be holding her. But I don’t think I’ll be able to relax until we’re back home.

“I really thought I’d lost you,” Willow says so quietly I only just catch what she said.

“I know,” I say and she looks up at me, her face covered in streaks of old and new tears. I wipe my thumb over each cheek and kiss her.

Her lips tremble against mine and she barely kisses me back. I want to ask her what’s wrong but I’m not sure if I want the answer. What if she tells me she wants to leave, that she was just doing the right thing getting me to the hospital and now she’s about to tell me goodbye.

Not happening.

Before I can say anything the door opens and Bones walks in followed by Luka. Willow tries to climb off the bed but I pull her back holding her tight to my side.

“Don’t you dare move,” I say, so only she can hear, my voice is rough and comes out harsher than intended but the shiver I feel running up her body makes me think she likes the commanding tone.

“Wow, you look like shit!” Bones says with a grimace.

“And I thought Luka’s bedside manner was bad,” I say with a weak laugh.

“Only for you two,” Luka says as he looks at the chart at the foot of the bed. “The rest of my patients don’t piss me off like the pair of you do.” When he looks up his eyes dart to Willow and she tenses under his gaze.

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