Page 205 of Burn the Wild

“Reese,” he breathes again. I gasp as his hands cup my face and his lips devour mine. His heat is scorching. His big hands move in a velvet caress as they touch every inch of me. Then I’m crying and laughing at the same time.

“You should be in bed,” he husks, kissing my cheek, my throat. Then he picks me up and carries me back to the plush white bed.

He pours me a glass of water and perches on the edge of the bed, near my waist.

But I don’t want water. I want Ford. I wipe my face, drying my tears, then I reach out, my fingers skimming his scruffy cheek. “Come here. I need you.”

His face almost breaks. “You have me,” he says, pulling me into his arms and resting his forehead against mine.

“How long have I been asleep?” I ask.

“Long enough for me to be out of my damn mind,” he says gravely. Sighing heavily, he lifts his head and locks his gaze to mine. “Three days.”

“What happened?” I look around the room. “Where am I?”

“Ruby and Charlie’s.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “The road into town was out because of the storm. We had to set up a hospital room on the ranch with our on-site medic.”

I shut my eyes and take a shuddery breath. “How close was it?”

His face darkens. “Gavin shot you up with so much fucking sedative it’s a wonder you woke up.” I watch the way his muscles tense at the memory.

I look down at my bandages, my eyes like saucers. “My arms…”

“He missed,” Ford says bitterly. His face clouds with pain. “You were lucky. Any deeper and—” He breaks off, unable to finish.

“What happened to Gavin?”

Ford’s face tightens. “He drowned.”

My eyes widen in understanding, in disbelief, as his words settle over me.

I’m truly free. I don’t know how something so horrifying feels like a relief.

Tears blur my vision, and I ask what I already know. “Ford, did you…”

Ford’s vigilant gaze stays on my face. “He hurt you,” he says, the primal protection in his voice catching my breath. “He took you from me. No regrets.”

I sit there, stunned. Overwhelmed by what he did. This man rode in on a white horse and crushed my demons.

All the pain that Gavin inflicted, all the hurt I survived, it’s over.

I cover my eyes and cry. Ford holds me.

“Just breathe, Birdie.” His big hand strokes over my hair. “It’s over. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“I’m glad he’s dead,” I whisper. “I’m sorry, but I am.”

“Don’t apologize. Not for him.” He brings me tighter against his chest. “I hope he burns in hell.” His voice bites with murder.

I cup his scruffy cheek. “Ford.”

Guilt and agony war on Ford’s handsome face. He dips his head, sweeping his lips across my palm. “I told you I’d protect you.”

“And you did,” I say sternly, refusing to let him blame himself. “You came for me. You saved me.”

“It was too close.” The tone of his voice is rough and low.“I was almost too late.”

“Don’t.” I wrap my arms around him and pull him close. My body molds to the man I’m meant to love. I inhale deep, smelling coffee and soap on his skin. Ford buries his face into my neck, his entire body trembling. A burning flame crackles between us.

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