Page 62 of Knight's Fall

“No, you won’t.”

“The nurses will have a fit.”

She smiled. “I don’t care. I want to be close to you. Considering what we’ve been through, I think we deserve it.”

Wings knew his frame was too large to fit on the space she’d cleared for him. He did his best to slide onto the bed without hurting her, and when he could, he gently pulled her toward him until she was laying more on him than the bed.

She sighed, and her body seemed to sink against him. He guided her head to rest against his chest while his free hand stroked her arm carefully, so as not to disturb her IV. They lay like that for several minutes, the sounds of the hospital creeping into the room but not affecting the bubble they had in each other’s arms.

“Wings, I want to tell you something.”

He rested his lips against her hair. “I thought you were asleep.”

“I told you I don’t want to sleep anymore. Not when I can be with you.”

“It’s alright to sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

He could feel her smile against his shirt. “I’ll go to sleep if you let me say what I have to say.”

He chuckled. “Okay, you win. What do you want to tell me?”

“I’ve fallen in love with you.”

His body froze even as his heart started pounding in his chest. “Really? You decide to tell me you love me when I can’t do anything about it.”

Courtlyn chuckled. “What would you do about it?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Kiss you senseless. Tell you I love you. Strip you naked, and have my wicked way with you.”

She tensed, and his hand stroked her back to get her to relax.

“I won’t look the same. Not that my body was perfect before, but now. All the cuts. There will be scars. A lot of them.”

“I have scars, too, baby. They don’t change a damn thing. I love everything about you. I love your body, your brain, and your heart. I wish I could take away all of your scars and your pain.”

Courtlyn tilted her head to look into his face. “I don’t need you to do all of that. Just love me, Wings. That’s all I need.”

“Then you got it, baby. For as long as you want it.”

Epilogue

Clusters of trees dotted the thick green grass with groups of bright flowers painting splashes of color over the back yard. The sky was pure blue swirled with fat puffs of clouds. The blazing summer heat had finally tempered into the mild weather signaling the approach of fall. A dog barked in the distance, and birds high in the treetops chirped in response. The scene was tranquil, and for the first time in a long time, Courtlyn McNeal Tyler felt at home.

A light breeze stirred her hair. She raised her hands to brush the tendrils from her face only to stop as the sun’s beam bounced off her rings. A smile touched her lips as she stared at the white gold setting holding the simply cut diamond surrounded by sapphires. The beautiful engagement ring had been a surprise, but what meant more to her was the marriage that followed. The sweet commitment to share forever that she and Wings pledged to each other.

Her once Sexy Neighbor had become her now Sexy Husband.

The proposal had been unexpected, coming during the reception party that followed Dex and Olivia’s wedding. Courtlyn had been so happy, not just that her best friend was finally getting her happy-ever-after with her very own Prince Charming, but also that Olivia’s family finally met Wings. The people who were important to her were together in one place and getting along as if they’d known each other for years.

Dex’s parents hadn’t quite come on board with his marriage to Liv, but they were slowly changing their minds the more they saw the couple together. It was hard to remain immune to the love surrounding Dex and Olivia, and Courtlyn had been riding the high of everyone’s happiness.

She had convinced Wings to come with her on the dance floor, despite his objections that he had two left feet. She was alive and in love and happier than she’d been since her ordeal, and she wanted to dance in celebration.

The fun song talked of love at first sight, and Courtlyn was caught up in admiring how hot Wings looked in his suit. She couldn’t wait for her role as maid of honor to be over so she could get her boyfriend home and out of his clothes. As the couples around them had danced to the bouncy beat, he had pulled her flush against him, his fingers caressing her cheek as their steps slowed.

“Marry me.”

She blinked, certain she’d heard him wrong. She had searched his eyes, stopping their dance to see if he was teasing. “What did you say?”

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