Page 69 of Saved from Obsession

Her gaze is a little unfocused, no doubt because of the painkillers, and she furrows her brow as she looks up at me. “Is it—“ She presses her lips together, wincing.

Dammit. Is her medication not working? Leaning closer to her, I pitch my voice low and calm, trying to hide my worry. “Are you in pain, sweetheart? Do you need more medicine? Should I get the doctor?”

“No.” She grips my hand with a strength I wasn’t expecting. “Don’t leave.” Another pause, and she says more steadily, “Sit. Please. I want to feel you near me.”

I eyeball the narrow mattress warily—I’m not sure how I’m going to fit on there without hurting Georgia—but I manage to perch half-on-half-off the bed without falling. “I’m not going anywhere,” I reassure her, leaning over to brush a soft kiss to her lips. “You’re stuck with me.”

“Good.” Then she pauses and sucks in a small breath. “Is it—is it over?”

“Yeah, it is. He can’t hurt you again.”

She exhales, closing her eyes for a second, relief washing over her face. Then she clutches my hand, and her next words are a whisper. “I was so scared.”

God. I’ll never forgive myself. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” I tell her. “So damn sorry. I should have protected you better.”

“Leo,no.“ Georgia winces again and I’m about ready to hit the call button when she says something that stops me. “It’s not your fault. And I was scared that he’d hurtyou.”

“Georgia.“ She doesn’t just have my heart. She hasallof me.

“Leo.“ She tugs her hand out of mine and now I’m afraid I’ve screwed up everything. But then she touches my cheek and says softly, “Don’t cry. I’m okay.I’m okay.”

Andthen. A hurricane crashing into me, tearing down all of my barriers. The moment everything catches up to me.

“I love you so much,” I choke out, and I lower my head to her chest. Her hand cups the back of my head, and now Georgia is soothingme.

“I love you, Leo.” There’s a catch in her voice before she continues, “Thank you for coming for me. For never giving up on me.”

“Never, sweetheart.” It’s a vow I’ll keep to my dying breath. “I’llalwayscome for you.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

GEORGIA

“Are you sure you’re okay, sweetheart? Do you want me to carry you?”

Leo is inspecting me carefully, worry etched across his features. He has one arm wrapped around my waist, holding me close to him, and I think he’s truly afraid I might fall if he lets go of me. We got out of the car over ten minutes ago and we’ve only made it halfway to Leo’s apartment—every few steps he keeps stopping to check on me.

It’s sweet and I love that he’s so concerned about me, but at this rate we may never get to his apartment. And while I can walk perfectly fine, Iama little tired after the drive from Rochester to Sleepy Hollow, and nothing sounds better than sinking down on the couch next to Leo.

If I let him, Leo would carry me, but Iwantto walk. It might jostle my head a little, making my persistent headache throb more, but it’s worth it. After two days laying down in the hospital—only getting up to use the bathroom—it feels good to move my legs.

“I’m alright, Leo. Really.” Leaning against him, I rest my hand on his chest, seeking the steady thrum of his heart. Keeping my voice light, I say, “We only have to make it a little further to your apartment. I think I can manage it.”

Leo huffs at me but allows us to start moving again, although he’s practically lifting me as we walk. “I just don’t want you to overexert yourself, Georgia. You know what the doctor said.”

“As soon as we get home, I’ll rest again. I promise.”

“Good.” Leo brushes the softest of kisses across the top of my head, so light it’s just a breath rustling my hair. “And Cole will be over later to check on you.”

I stifle a laugh—because I knowthatwill hurt—as I think about how over-the-top protective all the Blade and Arrow guys have been since I was injured.

Like Cole insisting on checking me every day to make sure I’m healing properly. And Rylan standing guard outside my hospital room even when Leo was inside with me. When I asked Leo why Rylan would do that, Leo simply said, “He just wants to be absolutely sure you’re protected.”

It’s not just the guys I know well, either. Zane called me—while he was moving all my stuff to Leo’s apartment, no less—to tell me he was going to teach merealmartial arts once I’m healed. Even Niall, who isn’t even a part of Blade and Arrow, told me, “If you ever want to learn how to shoot, let me know. I can teach you how to take down a target at two hundred yards, easy.”

I’m not sure how I feel aboutthat, but I appreciate the offer. And who knows, maybe I will try out the gun range Blade and Arrow has in the basement. Some day.

Lost in my thoughts, I’m not really paying attention to where we’re going until Leo slows to a stop. He unlocks his apartment door and pushes it open, turning to smile at me. His expression is a sweet combination of joy and relief. Cupping my face with infinite tenderness, he feathers a kiss across my lips. “I’m so glad you’re home, sweetheart.”

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