Page 117 of The Ashes of Summer

The look on Summer's face afterward nearly fucking kills me. Because she's furious. Not scared. Not uncertain. Furious. She's finally reached the end of everything she's willing to tolerate, and she sure as shit isn't tolerating any other woman fussing over me right now.

Tamara disappeared down the corridor holding her cheek and the room fell into stunned silence behind her.

The nurse that comes in has a flushed face and I can tell she heard it all. She blinks at me slowly before quietly deciding she wants absolutely no part in whatever the fuck just happened, and busies herself rearranging supplies at the opposite side of the room.

And honestly?

Smart woman.

I try to readjust myself, my aching hard cock straining at an awkward angle, but the slightest motion feels like a red hot poker being pressed through me.

"Jesus," I mutter.

Summer's head snaps toward me instantly, all the anger disappearing from her face in a heartbeat.

"Jacob—"

She's beside me again immediately. Her hands cup my face so carefully it physically hurts. Because of her softness. Because it's her. Because she's looking at me like I'm the most important thing in the fucking world.

"I love you, Jacob Darnell," she whispers shakily.

The words hit me like a bullet straight to the chest.

"I love you so fucking much."

Then she kisses me. Soft. Desperate.

And I realize this is the first kiss we've shared since we found each other again.

"And I will never let anything or anyone separate us again."

Jesus Christ.

My eyes close briefly, because I don't think she understands what hearing that does to me after tonight. Hell, after everything that's happened over recent days.

After finding that she'd gone.

After the blood splatters and the broken mirror in the en-suite and I knew she'd fought to stay.

After thinking Jackson had gotten inside her head so deeply I'd never get her back.

After watching her pull a gun to save my fucking life.

"Baby," I murmur against her mouth, "there's no man, animal, or God that could keep me away from you now."

And I mean every single fucking word.

Silent tears fall down her cheeks while she looks at me like she still can't believe we survived this. I brush my thumb beneath one of them carefully.

Then realize my own vision's gone blurry too.

I think it's pain. Shock. Blood loss.

But no.

It's her. It's the overwhelming fucking relief sitting inside my chest like a live wire. Because she's here. She's alive. Back in my arms where she belongs.

And suddenly the agony in my shoulder dulls beneath something far more powerful.