Priceless.
Now, I’m finally getting changed out of the damned hospital gown while Claire talks with the nurses about discharge papers.
When she walks back in, I’m struggling with the ties in the back, my injured arm making it difficult.
“Need help?” She’s grinning at me.
“This thing is a torture device. I’ve been shot, stabbed, and thrown out of a moving vehicle, andthisis what takes me down. A fucking paper gown.”
Claire laughs—really laughs—and the sound is like music. She walks over and helps me with the ties, her fingers warm against my skin.
“You know,” she says, still smiling, “for a big tough military guy, you’re kind of a baby.”
“I am not.”
“You complained about the Jell-O.”
“It was green. Green Jell-O is an abomination.”
“You made the nurse cry.”
“I didnotmake her—” I stop when I see Claire’s face. “Okay, I apologized for that.”
She rises on her toes and kisses my cheek. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
“Cute?” I growl, wrapping my good arm around her waist and hauling her against me. “I amnotcute. I’m terrifying.”
“Mmhmm.” She pats my chest. “Very scary. Now put your pants on so we can get out of here.”
I love this woman. I love her so fucking much.
The trip back to her house is all running yellow lights and reaching across the console to touch her. Her thigh. Her hand. Her cheek. I can’t stop.
I almost lost her. I almost lostthis. And now that the danger is over, now that Teddy is behind bars where he belongs, I need to feel her. To remind myself she’s real.
By the time we make it inside her apartment, I’m ravenous.
I hoist Claire up, and she wraps her legs around my waist as I carry her to the bedroom. She kisses me fiercely, her fingers gripping the collar of my shirt.
“Don’t ever do that to me again,” she mumbles between kisses. “Don’t ever scare me like that.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” I hold her tight as I cross the threshold into her bedroom. “I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere.”
I lay her down on the bed, covering her body with mine. For a moment, I just look at her. At the woman who changed everything.
“What?” she whispers.
“I just want to remember this.” I brush a strand of hair from her face. “You. Right here. Mine.”
“Iamyours.” She pulls me down for a kiss. “And you’re mine. So we’re even.”
“More than even.” I work my kisses down her neck, my fingers finding the bottom of her dress. “We’re perfect.”
She hums as her eyes flutter closed. I fish for the straps of her panties and begin to pull them down.
“Alec…” Claire lifts her hips to help me. “God, I need you.”
“I’m right here, baby. I’m never letting you go.”
