Page 137 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

When we’re alone in the room, Eric asks me to lie beside him on the bed. I do. He hugs me.

“Are you OK?” I ask.

“I’ve been better, but I’ll recover.”

His eyes scare me. I can’t stop looking at them.

“Don’t worry. They’ll heal.”

“Does your head hurt?”

He nods.

“But everything is under control.” He smiles and runs his hand down my chin.

“As you say, I love you more than life itself.”

I go to kiss his mouth, and he winces in pain. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“I’m more sorry, sweetheart. Not being able to kiss you is torture.”

He hugs me again.

“Despite how sinister those vampire eyes make you look, you’re still the most handsome, sexy dickhead in the world. And now that half the hospital and beyond has seen your ass, I know I’m the most envied woman ever.”

He smiles, and his smile fills my soul.

“God, sweetheart...Forgive me for not trusting you. I love you so much that when I saw those damned images, I lost my mind.”

“You are forgiven. I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

“It won’t. I promise.”

“Ah, and by the way, it was Amanda who called me. You were right; she respects me.”

Finally ready to tell him what I’ve been hiding from the rest of the world for several days, I try to sit up.

“I have something to tell you, but you have to let go first.”

Eric looks at me and makes a fuss.

“Tell me later. Now I want to keep holding you.”

I laugh and squirm.

“OK, but when I tell you, you’ll regret not having known before.”

“You sure about that?”

“Absolutely.”

He’s curious now and kisses my head.

“It’s a good thing, right?”

“I think so, although given what we just went through, I don’t know how you’re going to take it!”

“Don’t scare me.”

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