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I’ll be right here…
I count sixteen seconds before she slowly blinks as if she’s breaking the surface of consciousness. Like she’s finding focus, and I whisper, “Hey,” gently stroking her cheek, “you’re okay.”
She stares at me like she’s waking from a dream. It takes her minutes to speak, “I’m sorry.”
The lump in my throat is sudden. A flood of emotions bites at my eyes.
She’s apologizing to me? When I suspect this wasmyfault?
It’s her compassion talking. She’s focused on me. She’s worried about me and how I feel right now, and if she only knew it’s that one word I haven’t said to her yet.
“Please don’t apologize.” I caress her cheek, hoping to make her smile. “It’s my master plan. I finally got you in my bed.”
Weakly, she chuckles, barely looking around. “Sparky?”
“She’s here.” I scoop her up from the floor. As if she could sense Ruby’s distress, she was yowling by the edge of my bed. “You know she’s the first pussy in this bed, and you’re the second. And for the record, this is the only threesome I want nowadays.”
I make her softly smile when I set Sparky beside her. But Ruby’s hand trembles, still recovering control, so I pet Sparky while she nuzzles Ruby, making her grin until Ruby jolts. “Oh god.”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Did I…?” She glances down her body, her hand patting the bed beside her. “Did I?—”
“You didn’t.” Immediately, I know what she fears. “And it would be okay if you did.”
“Oh god,” she groans, closing her eyes. “Kill me now.”
“Kill you? Never. Be a dickhead and scare you. Yes, and I’m sorry. But get you?Always.” I sweep an auburn tendril from her face. “I wet the bed until I was eleven. Childhood trauma, not epilepsy, but I understand.”
“You understand?” She blinks back surprised tears. “What kind of trauma?”
“Too much to say. But the one that stays with me is my feet.”
“Your feet?”
“My father would cut the soles of my feet so I couldn’t escape. He only did it to me because I was his heir, and he feared I’d run away.”
“Oh my god, Axel.” Tears spill over her freckled cheeks. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
“Me too,” I huff. “I spend a fucking fortune on socks and shoes because no one can see my feet. I don’t want their questions and pity. So, please understand why I sleep with my socks on.”
“Oh…” She twists to sit up. “Sorry. I’ll go back to my bed and?—”
“The fuck you will,” I say softly. “You stay with me, Ruby Jones. I’m not leaving your side. Not tonight. Not ever.” I brush my thumb over her lips. Not sexy this time. Just fucking dying for her. “So either you start running faster, or you get used to me holding you.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
RUBY
It wasn’t a bad seizure.I’ve had worse. And my medication works. I felt it coming. I probably should’ve stayed in my bed where it was safe, so I wouldn’t fall, but…
I wanted Axel.
I only felt safe in his arms.
With him by my side.
Yep, I’m falling in deep shit, aka.Love.