My eyelids felt as though they carried five-pound weights on their lashes, but I so desperately wanted to open my eyes. After several fruitless attempts, I was finally able to crack them open. The movement felt like something was scratching against my tender irises.
The light in the room was blinding. I blinked several times, trying to get my eyes to adjust. Slowly, my vision returned, the room going from blurry to focused. The sounds became clearer. The hum of an overhead fluorescent light. The beeping of a heart monitor—a heart monitor. Hospital. I was in the hospital. Why?
Suddenly, memories slammed into me, stealing my breath. I gasped against the shocking intrusion, fisting my hands in the blankets on the bed. The back of my hand stung at the action, the IV line that was connected there pulling. I was okay. I was safe. But what about everyone else? Liam? Walker?
My memories of Walker in the cave seemed hazy at best. Was it even him? Or had my mind concocted the whole thing? The hopeful delusion of a girl who thought she might be dying.
My gaze searched the room. Empty. I was alone. The thing I had fought so hard to be, was now the thing I hated more than anything. Tears stung my eyes. It was too late. Too late to make amends with my friends. And too late for Walker.
I didn’t blame him. He thought I’d slept with another man. I’d pushed him too far, one too many times.
My chest heaved. I tried to control the motion since it only caused my pain to flare, but I couldn’t seem to catch my breath or control my sobs.
The door to my room swung open. Walker strode in looking like a fierce avenging angel from some post-apocalyptic novel. His clothes were rumpled, his face smeared with dirt, and he was pissed. “Jesus, get a nurse, would you?” he called over his shoulder.
My heart rate sped up, my sobs only worsening.
Walker’s face morphed from angry to concerned in a split second. “Short-stack, you’re safe. It’s okay. Everything’s fine now.” He grasped my cheeks in his hands. “Breathe with me, just breathe.”
But I couldn’t. What was happening? He was here. Why? “You’re here.” The words came out as a croaky rasp.
Walker’s brow creased. “Of course, I’m here. Come on, baby, breathe with me.”
“Liam?” I asked with a wheeze.
“He’s fine, he’s just down the hall. Everyone’s okay. Just breathe.”
My eyes drank him in as my breathing finally began to slow. He bent and placed his lips firmly against my forehead, staying there for several moments. I soaked up the warmth of his lips against my skin. I wanted to stay in this moment forever. I didn’t care about the pounding in my head or the burning in my stomach as long as I had Walker’s lips on my skin. If I could hold onto that, I could handle anything.
It was that thought that had fresh tears spilling over. “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry.”
Before Walker could respond, a nurse bustled in. “Well, hello there, Miss Lawson. Glad to see you awake.” She eyed me and Walker. “Sorry to interrupt the lovers’ reunion, but I need to take a quick look at your vitals.”
She made notes of the readings on different machines and checked the various tubes I was connected to. “Everything looks good. Can you rate your pain for me on a scale of one to ten?”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Maybe a four?”
The nurse gave me a gentle smile. “I’m pretty sure you’re lying, but we can wait for another dose of pain meds if you’d like. Just press the call button when you’re ready, or I’ll be back to check on you soon.” I nodded in agreement, and she turned to leave.
As the door closed with a quiet snick, my eyes found Walker’s again. They seemed pained. Did he dread telling a girl in a hospital bed that their relationship was over? My stomach churned.
Walker sank down into the chair next to my bed. He gently took the hand that was free of the IV between his own. My eyes stung with tears again. “I really am so sorry—” I didn’t know what else to say, couldn’t seem to find adequate words to convey everything I felt, all I had realized.
Walker shook his head and then lifted my hand so that my palm rested against his rapidly beating heart. “I’m the one who owes you an apology.”
My eyebrows rose. “What are you talking about?”
“I knew you were scared, terrified really. I never should have let you push me away. I left you alone, and you were taken.” A single tear crested over his bottom eyelid. “And I didn’t find you quick enough…”
Walker’s words trailed off as I shook my head vehemently, wincing at the pain the action caused. “You found me. I’m alive because of you.” More of the moments in the cave had begun to come back to me, and I knew if Walker hadn’t gotten there when he did, I would likely be dead.
Walker’s jaw was granite-hard, his words seeming to be ripped from his throat. “But I didn’t get there before he hurt you.”
I pushed my hand harder against his chest. “I’ll heal.” The statement was simple but true. I would heal. And if I had Walker by my side, I knew that recovery would happen quickly.
Walker’s gaze locked on mine with such intensity, my heart stuttered in its rhythm. “I love you. You snuck in and stole my goddamned heart, but I hope you never give it back. Please give me the chance to love you.” His eyes pleaded with mine.
My heart seized and burned. A sensation that was nothing but pleasure and peace this time. “I’d love nothing more than to be loved by you and to love you in return.”
Walker dropped his hold on my hand and grasped my face again, this time brushing his lips against mine. It was a feather-light touch, but one with the deepest of meanings. “You’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” I whispered against his lips.
Walker pressed his mouth to mine again. “And I’m yours, too.”
“Yes, you are.” Warmth flooded my entire body. This beautiful, strong man, who never gave up fighting for me, was mine. I flashed a huge grin.
Walker gave me a slow and sexy smile. “I might have to share you for a little bit, though.” I blinked up at him, confused. He let out a low chuckle. “The waiting room is filled to the brim with people just waiting to see you.”