Page 96 of Deathless
His hands slid around my ribs, molding to my sides. “I’d say that makes us even.”
“Mm, well, I never shot you, so I dunno aboutthat.”
Hudson laughed and dropped his forehead to my neck, which allowed me to say into his ear. “You come with some pretty cute kids though, so I’ll let that even the score.”
He took a shuddering breath, wrapping me into an embrace that crushed me against his chest. “Thank you for…waiting,” he whispered. “For letting me get my shit together, learn how to become a father, and put that whole ordeal in the rearview mirror. Thank you for allowing me to become a man worthy of you.”
I blinked away the sudden tears that rose, not expecting him to go from joking to all swoony and romantic.
“I would’ve waited forever,” I admitted. “Not for my chance or anything, but for you. More than anything, I wanted you to heal. I would’ve waited forever to see you whole and happy again. And if you found happiness with someone else…”
“But I didn’t,” he said when I trailed off. “I found it right here.”
“So did I.”
I smiled up at him, and we came together in another kiss.
One that would be followed by many more that night, and for the rest of our lives.
