“Adam,” she cried.Katya came into his line of vision.Her hair was messy, her eyes red-rimmed, and her cheeks flushed.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been crying at my bedside all night?”he murmured, reaching to touch her face.He yearned for the physical contact which would ground him to reality.He was back with the living.He brushed the pad of his thumb across her cheekbone, over her lips.
“Yes.”She shrugged.“I couldn’t do anything else, and I refused to leave your side.Poor Nancy and Sarah, the victim workers have taken turns checking in on me.”
“I’ll make sure to buy them some flowers or lunch,” he croaked.
“Adam, I’m sorry I shot you.I should have never done it.”
“I ordered you to do it.We had to save your sister.”A shadow crossed her features.“And your sister?”he asked gently.
“They haven’t found her and Dante refuses to speak.”
Adam cursed loudly.A sudden bout of coughing ripped through him, robbing him of his breath.Katya cooed, and guided him back to the pillows.
“You need to rest,” she admonished.
“Son of a bitch.We’ll find her, Katya.I promise.”
She pressed her palms to either side of his face, framing it.Her gaze bore into him, shining under the hospital lights, full of a promise he didn’t dare name.Was this mating?Loving someone so deeply it hurt to breathe or was it simply his injuries?
“I know you will.”
“You do?”
She nodded.The emotion in her eyes changed, the pupils dilated and softened, glowing and speaking for themselves.Love and gratitude shone through them.Her cheeks flushed.Her lips parted, a soft woosh of air leaving her mouth.
“You’ve fulfilled everything you’ve ever promised me.I trust you,” she said.
Adam smiled.
“Is that it?”he asked.
She turned away, but he grasped her wrist, pulling and drawing her back to him.She tumbled forward, placing her arms at either side of her face to stop herself from crashing into him.
“Adam, I could hurt you,” she complained, but she didn’t move.
“Don’t hide from me.”He paused.“Mate.”His voice was low, careful.Emotions played on her face like a canvas of clouds on an early morning sunrise.Excitement, fear, longing.Her jaw trembled, her gaze darted.Her breath quickened.Needing to close the gap between them, he threaded his fingers through her hair and brought her closer.She didn’t fight him.They were so close, their breaths mingled.
“Did you think I’d forgotten?”he asked hoarsely, the emotion he aimed to keep at bay coming out.
“I was afraid” she said.“I wasn’t sure you wanted to.”Her gaze found his.Raw, needy, fearful, but overall loving.
“How could I not?”he asked.
“Adam.”The way she whispered his name, almost like a prayer, sent his heart into a frantic rhythm.He closed the space between them, pressing his lips to hers.She gasped, startled, but he didn’t push further.Instead, he nipped on her lower lip, teasing it between his teeth and sending a shiver through her.
“Don’t fight it, Katya.There is no need to go against something which clearly draws us together.”
“Are you sure?Do you really want this?”
“If by this you mean you, then yes.I do.”
She shut her eyes as if savoring the words he had just spoken.She leaned into him, returning the kiss with tentative urgency.Her hands rose, one tangling in his hair, the other brushing against his chest.A painful groan escaped him.Katya jumped back, apologizing profusely.
“Enough,” he said, with a chuckle and a grimace.“I don’t want to hear your undying confession of love in a hospital room.”Her eyes widened prompting a grin out of him.“So, get some rest, little one.”His eyes drifted shut.Sudden exhaustion gnawed at his bones.Who knew a shot was so debilitating?“You’ll need it.”
“Why?”Katya asked.
