Page 150 of Wicked Rockstar

She shook her head. “You know I believe things happen the way they’re supposed to.”

I nodded, wincing at the movement. “And now? What do you believe about us?” I held my breath, suddenly terrified of her answer. Old insecurities tried to rise up, whispering I wasn’t good enough, that someone like me didn’t get happy endings.

She lifted her head and her hand reached to cup my cheek. I loved feeling her fingers scratch at my scruff, the gentle abrasion grounding me in the present. “I believe this is our chance. Our chance at love, at building something real and lasting.”

My heart soared at her words. Despite the pain in my head, despite the unreasonable fear I had earlier that I was losing her, I felt a sense of rightness settle over me. For the first time in my life, I was able to push aside the doubts and truly believe I deserved this—deserved her.

“I love you, Trissabelle,” I said, the words feeling both new and familiar on my tongue. I’d loved her for so long that my soul already recognized her as my forever. “I’ve loved you since the beginning and I will love you until the end of time. I promise that you’ll never regret taking this chance on me.”

A wide grin stretched across her face. “I love you too, Killian. God help me, but I do.”

She laid her tear-stained cheek gently against mine. The world fell away, and for a moment it was just us. Two people who had finally found their way to each other. All the noise that had filled my head for years—the doubt, the self-loathing, therestless need for chaos—quieted. In its place was a stillness I’d never known, a peace I hadn’t even thought possible.

“Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” she whispered fiercely.

I chuckled, ignoring the twinge of pain it caused. “I promise to be on my best behavior from now on.” Even as I said it, I knew my definition of “best behavior” would always differ from most people’s. But for Tris, I’d try. For us, I’d be better.

She leaned back, arching an eyebrow at me. “Somehow, I doubt that. But I’d settle for you being more careful at least.”

“Deal,” I said, pulling her in for a kiss.

Our lips met. A sweetness existed between us, like the first notes of a song we’d been writing for years without realizing it. I licked at her mouth, my tongue brushing along the seam, seeking entrance. With a tiny moan she opened, and I swept my tongue inside, desperate for her taste.

She must have sensed the change in me. Tris lifted a leg to slide it over mine to place it beside my hip. When she rocked forward we both gasped at the need that gripped us. My cock, already at attention, hardened further, wanting nothing more than to slide in between her folds and make love to her until we were both barely able to move.

Tris’s fingers curled into my hair. Her grip was tight, and while I normally loved a bit of pain, I winced at the contact and my concussed head began pounding once again.

“Shit. Killian … I … ” Her hands slid carefully around to my face so she could cup my cheeks. “We can’t do stuff like that. You’re hurt.”

I gazed into Tris’s worried eyes, seeing our entire history reflected there. The scared kids we once were, the lost souls we’d become, and now, the people we were most meant to be—and to be together. Every moment had led us here, every wrong turn and missed chance were necessary parts of our journey.

I could tell by her tone and actions that she’d blamed herself for letting this get out of hand. That she should have been more careful with me. I pulled her hand towards my lips and lightly kissed each finger. “I’m fine.”

She still didn’t look convinced.

“You know,” I said, my voice low and serious. “I used to think the biggest rush in life came from danger, from living on the edge. But I was wrong.”

Tris tilted her head, curiosity evident in her sapphire eyes, a faint smile played at her lips. “Oh?”

Ignoring the dull ache in my head, I continued, “The real adventure, the one that matters, is right here.” I placed her hand over my heart. “It’s loving you, building a life with you. That’s the greatest thrill I could imagine.”

The truth of it hit me like a revelation. All those risks I’d taken, the stunts, the fights—they were just poor substitutes for this, for the raw, terrifying vulnerability of loving someone completely. Of letting them see all of you and trusting they’d stay.

Her eyes welled with tears again, but this time, they were accompanied by a radiant smile. “Killian… ”

“I mean it, Tink,” I needed her to understand how being with her changed me, how much she meant to me. It took her entering my life again to realize I helped Judd because I wanted to feel something. To cover up the emptiness, the void that had grown like poison flooding my veins. “I’m done chasing danger. The only thing I want to chase now is our future together.”

She laughed, a sound that warmed me from the inside out. “That’s quite a change of tune.”

I grinned. “What can I say? You make me want to be better. Be the man you deserve.” The man I’d never thought I could be, with my history, my scars. But maybe that was the point—maybe I didn’t need to erase my past to build a future. Maybe I justneeded someone who saw the good in me when I couldn’t see it in myself.

Her expression softened. “You already are that man, Killian. You always have been. You just need to see it for yourself—and reallybelieveit.”

As I looked into her eyes, I saw our future stretching out before us—bright, uncertain, and full of possibility. I knew with Tris’s innate fiery nature and my stubbornness it wouldn’t all be smooth sailing—we’d have our challenges, our fights, our moments of doubt. But we’d face them together, and be stronger for the journey that brought us here.

In the sterile hospital room, with my head throbbing and my wrist aching, I found a truth I’d been running from my whole life. Iwasworthy of love. Worthy of her. And for that I was humbled, not knowing how I deserved her love, but knowing I would spend every day of the rest of my life earning it.

Tris shifted in my arms, resting her head against my chest. I pressed a kiss to her hair, breathing in her familiar lavender scent and felt, for the first time, that I was exactly where I needed to be.

---