Page 39 of On the Rocks
Now she really does smile. Fuck me if tears don’t fill my eyes like a fucking pussy. But I don’t give a damn. About me being a fucking baby or anything else in the whole fucking world. Nothing can ruin my joy now.
Until she sobs. Until her trembling hand reaches for me. Grasping my shirt to pull me closer. Weak but determined to touch me.
"You're here. I couldn't find you for so long and now you're finally here."
The words sting worse than a beating. I suffered the same fucking way. But I know her torment was so much fucking worse.
"I must have been dreaming. I kept looking and looking for you, but you were never there. I wanted you so much. I didn't know what to do without you."
My arms tighten around her. Crushing her more than I should. But I can't fucking hold back. Not when she sounds so lost. Has so much terror. "I swear to God you'll never find out sunshine. I will always be here with you."
She nods against my cheek. Believing in my assertion. Accepting the faith in my promise. It takes everything I have to only give her a chaste kiss and pull back. I need her now more than I ever have.
Some of the grogginess clears away as her huge blue eyes blink open wider. Taking in the flowers, balloons, and cards behind me. Overflowing with color in the otherwise bland room.
“Why am I in the hos...?”
Her voice fades, and she licks her lips and swallows hard. I grab the water from the side table and cup the side of her delicate head to give her a drink. She takes three small sips before her cheek slips into my palm. Spent from the exertion of talking so much.
Fearful she may be overwhelmed by telling her too much too fast, I follow the therapist's instructions. For now, just reassure her she's safe and loved. “You’re going to be okay. That’s all that matters.”
She shakes her head in protest. Short hair rustling against the pillow. Not accepting my explanation. Or lack thereof. Damn it. Her new look will be another small shock compared to everything else she'll have to discover. "It's okay. Just rest. We'll talk more later."
"Please tell me what happened."
Worry lines her sweet face. Fucking killing me that she knows I'm hiding something from her. Concealing so fucking much. That her tests came back clear but the rape kit was inconclusive because too much time had passed. Rage burns my gut that there even had to be a fucking rape kit. But we just don't know what that motherfucking bastard did to her besides the obvious.
My heart nearly bursts out of my chest. That she's carrying my child. A little over four weeks. Probably pregnant since the first time I fucked her. Proving what I knew from the moment I saw her. That our relationship, that our little family, is meant to be.
Finally convincing her too, if the gorgeous black and silver infinity symbol between her breasts is any indication. I don't understand how or why or where but somehow we - the two of us - remained connected even when everything was trying to rip us apart.
"Drake?"
Panic sharpens her voice, and she tries to sit up. Struggling against her frailty to lift her torso. Fighting to understand what she's being shielded from. I grasp her shoulders and meet her gaze. "Okay, okay. I'll tell you."
Fuck. I don't even know how to start. Not with the tiny pulse in her throat throbbing like crazy. With her slender arms trembling under my hands. With the guilt fucking eating me up inside. "I fucked up, sunshine. I fucked up so bad and let someone hurt you who should have never touched you at all."
"Who?"
"Butcher." I fucking hate the shudder that rolls under my palms from saying that son of a bitch's name to her. "That motherfucker kidnapped you. But you are so strong. So fucking tough that you escaped from that bastard and I found you here at the hospital."
Her head twists slowly. Confusion drawing her forehead down. "I don't...I don't remember any of that..."
"I know, and I promise I'll explain it all to you. Anything you want to know. Answer any questions you have. But, right now, please just trust me because you're exhausted and need time to recover."
Her lips part to speak, but close again. She scans my face, studies my expression before her gaze falls to her small hands bundled between mine.
"Do you trust me Trinity?"
A lifetime passes in that moment. The ups and downs of the past month. Laughter, tears, joy, fear, sex, love, failure, hope, doubt, blessings, commitment. All of them escalating to the question that we both need to know the answer to.
Finally, she raises her eyes to meet mine. Shiny but resolute. "Yes."
I smile from her whisper and tempt trouble by softly kissing her again. Her arms slide around my neck, and she draws me closer. Fuck it. I love this woman and can't stand waiting any longer. I give in and slide next to her. Gently turning her over to nestle her back against my chest. Tucking her head under my chin. Engulfing her in my embrace.
She entwines her fingers with mine and breathes out a perfectly contented sigh. Both of us finally home.
Epilogue
