She turned her head toward me, as if seeking the solace of my caress, and I offered it to her gladly, painting her soft cheek with gentle kisses.
“Caroline!”I seized on the progress, drawing away and shaking her softly at the shoulders.“Caroline, can you hear me?”
A crease in her otherwise flawless brow was the next indication that, God willing, she might be okay.She was waking up.
“Sir?”She sounded weary as her eyes flickered open, and I’d never been so happy to dive into those deep orbs.“Where am I?”
“In the hotel.”A torrent of relief landed over me.“We’re in the Dutch hotel, little girl.Do you remember?”
Her gaze settled on my face, the furrow in her brow deepening.“What’s wrong?You’re crying.”
“I’m fine.”I wiped my remaining tears with the heel of my hand, realizing she’d probably never seen me cry before.Hell, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt anything akin to genuine sorrow.“I’m just so happy you’re awake.How do you feel?”
She swallowed as though she, too, was unsure of the answer.“I’m okay.I have a bit of a headache, though.What happened?I don’t remember.”
“Come here.”
Tugging her into my arms, I sensed the weight of choking apprehension lift from me, and silently, I sent a prayer of gratitude into the ether.There would be time to fill her in and have the doctor check her over before I departed, but in that instant, all there was in the world was her, and my all-consuming thankfulness that I hadn’t lost her.That there was a chance for that sunny future she deserved.
There had probably never been any real likelihood that I’d lose her.The doctor certainly hadn’t seemed to think so, but in the chasm of her silent unconsciousness, the only surety I’d had was her slide into insentience.That suffocating sense of powerlessness had been more than I could bear.
That’s how she must have felt when I was rushed to hospital.The thought flitted to my mind.Alone, afraid, and completely helpless.
A fresh surge of sympathy rolled over me, compelling my arms to stiffen around her.Poor Caroline.She’d been through so much, and most of it had been at my hands.
“Adam.”Her hands rose into my hair and yanked at the strands.“Not too rough, please.I still feel groggy.”
“Sorry.”Relaxing my embrace, I lay her back on the covers and stretched out beside her.“I’m just so fucking happy you’re okay, and you’re mine.”
Her lips curled as she reached for my hand.“I’ll always be your little girl, Sir.”
“Always?”I should have been calling the doctor to confirm her blood pressure had returned to normal, but somehow, I wanted that moment of intimacy between us to last forever.
Curling her fingers around mine, she met my eyes as she replied.
“Always.”
