Page 142 of Time To Learn

I hold my breath as he slowly—too slowly—does as I say, and when he turns his head, frowning, I let go of his leg. His eyes lose their sleepy expression when he looks down the length of his body and findsmine.

“Wha..?” He clears the sleep from his voice and licks his lips. “What are you doing so far away?” he mumbles.

I frown at him as the ordeal of the day hits me right in my heart. It feels like an arrow twists and turns around inside it, piercing me with excruciating pain, but I push pastit.

“I didn’t even know your last name,” I blurtout.

He blinks, but I ignore his confusion and let the dam of frustration I feel inside bubble to the surface.

“When we got here, I was so blinded with fear that I couldn’t think,” I continue, fisting my hands at myside.

“Sweetheart, I…”

“Mum told the nurse downstairs that we’re married.” So lost in my rambling, I hardly take in the way his eyes soften at my revelation. “It’s probably best you know that Ailith caught on right away, lying through her teeth.” I frown as I think back on the scene we made downstairs. “I really need to have a serious chat with her about that—lying, Imean.”

“Laura,” Kristian starts to lean up on his elbows, but as if I’m a woman possessed, I let my rambling thoughts out, falling freely from mylips.

“We really need to have a serious talk as well, baby. Like, I-I don’t know…do a 20 Questions or something, because I’m supposed to be your g-girlfriend,” I hiccup, “and if something like this ever happens to any of us ever again, we have to know the most basic things about each other. Don’t you see?” I hunch over, leaning heavily on the bedframe as another round of tears slip down my cheeks. “I was so scared, baby…I didn’t know if they’d let me see you, and I couldn’t bear it. All I could think about was if this morning had been the last time I’d ever be wrapped up in your arms, and…”

“Laura, for fuck’s sake, get over here, or I’m going to come toyou!”

My head snaps up at the sound of his outburst, and when I notice him struggling through the thick curtain of my tears—wincing as he sits up, clearly in pain because of me—I finally find the will to move and rush to his side. Frantically, I wipe the tears away and scoldhim.

“What are you doing, you stupidman?”

I place my hands on his arms, doing my best to push him down, but he’s still as strong as he’s alwaysbeen.

“I’m trying to make you listen, you silly woman,” he huffs before he frames my face with his hands. At the mere touch of his skin, the speed of my heartbeat slows down, my tears subside, and I feel another small crack in my heart heal over. I wet my lips as he stares hard into my eyes, and I lose myself in his for a moment.

“Stop panicking, please,” he whispers fervently. “I’m right here, sweetheart. You haven’t lost me, and you neverwill.”

I breathe deeply through my nose, trying with everything that I am to find mycalm.

“I was so scared,” I whisper and rest my forehead on his. The urge to climb up on the bed and onto his lap is so strong, but I manage to restrain myself.

“I’m sorry,” he whispersback.

The regret in his voice and his gaze makes me frown.

“Why are you sorry?”

“For being the reason you were in such agony.”

My heart swells with love, and my breath stops when the realisation that I love him—truly am in love with him—hits me right in my soul, soaring through my veins and limbs with such speed I feel winded again.

“What’s wrong?”

I shake my head lightly as he leans away fromme.

“Nothing’s wrong anymore. For the first time in almost decade, all is just as it should be in my world, baby.”

He grins at me and as soon as the dimples pop out, I laugh. When he makes a move to kiss me, I push lightly on his chest, preventing his lips from meeting mine. The smile dies out in his eyes and I realise I need to explain why I’m denying us both a taste when it’s the first time I’ve done so since I finally gave in to him just over a month ago. Softly, I run my hand through his scruff, relishing in the fact that he’ssafe.

“In the future, do try to look before you walk across the street, yeah?”

He rolls his eyes at me, but I can see the laughter dancing in them, reassuring me that there’s no real annoyance hiding behind the action.

“I promise. Now, are you going to kiss me, sweetheart?”