Page 28 of His Bride

“Your mini George Foreman of a brother-in-law kicked my ass. He’s got a future as an enforcer,” he says, rubbing his jaw. He’s also sporting two black eyes.

“Good. What the hell were you thinking? There were children there.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking. You’re my baby, my youngest. I thought you were in danger.”

“I was… at first… but I fell in love with him. You understand that don’t you?”

“Of course. I didn’t think it was on the up and up.”

“You didn’t think a man like him could be so obsessed with a woman like me did you?”

“I…”

“It’s okay. I didn’t either. It took me a while to realize that love is love. Looks don’t matter so much.”

“Fuck that, baby. You’re fucking beautiful.” I smile at my husband. I can’t wait to get him alone. I’m going to let him do very bad things to me. Over and over again.

“How long have I been here?

“Four days. They did have to do some surgery on your arm. You were on some heavy pain meds.

“Can I go home?”

“Home, Queens or home, Boston?” Dorian asks.

“Wherever you are is home to me,” I tell him. He’s so fucking gorgeous. I can tell he’s been crying and all I want to do is soothe him. I want him to hold me. When I’m in his arms, I feel so safe and so loved.

“Daddy, can you give us a few minutes, please.” I ask.

“Sure, I’ll be out in the waiting room with everyone else.”

“Thanks. I do want to see everyone, so in a few minutes send them back a few at a time, please.”

“You got it, Matty. Please tell me that you forgive me.”

“Of course I do, but in the future my dinner table is a gun-free zone.”

“Understood.”

Daddy leaves and Dorian and I are alone.

“Help me sit up, please.”

“We should wait for the doctor.”

“No. Now. This is important.”

“Alright, baby.”

He helps me sit up and I pat the edge of the bed so that he’s sitting beside me.

“I love you. I think I said it, but I’m not sure if you believed me.”

“I did, baby. I love you too.”

“I know you do. I… want to apologize but that seems crazy given the fact you kidnapped me, but I am. I wanted to stay with you almost immediately after I realized it was you that took me. I gave you a hard time because I thought you were fucking with me, and I didn’t want to get hurt.”

“I understand but surely you know now that I’d do anything for you. You are my everything. My heart is yours. My gun is yours. Everything I have and everything I am is yours. I will let you go if you want me to, but I know I won’t be able to live without you.”

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