Page 156 of Bad Bishop

“But make no mistake,” Tiernan continued. “I will always love you more. Than him. Than me. Than this world. My love for you is not pretty, or flowery, or romantic. But it’s real, and it’s everlasting.”

My eyes filled with tears. I pressed my fist to my mouth, trying to control the sob that wrestled out of it.

“So you don’t want to send me away?”

“Darlin’, I barely even let you go to the restroom by yourself before we had sex.” He shook his head incredulously, leaning forward in his seat. “I want you next to me forever.”

“And my baby—”

He looped his fingers around my wrists, stopping me. “Ourbaby.”

“Our baby…how do you know you’ll love him?”

“Because he is a part of you, and I love all the parts that make you.”

“Surely, not all of me.” I pouted, knowing he would indulge me.

He always met me where I was. And he never made me feel less than because of my disability.

“All.” He took my hand, peppering kisses all over my palm so as not to touch the needle-poked side of it. “Even at your worst, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

A single tear slipped from his eye. He touched his cheek, startled, then squinted up at the ceiling, checking for leaks.

“I’m afraid you just cried your first tear, hubby.”

“Impossible.” He scowled. “My cum is probably leaking from other holes in my body, seeing as I haven’t been in you for over thirty-five hours.”

I barked out a delighted laugh, which I immediately regretted, seeing as my collarbone was shattered.

Yes, someone tried to kill me a few hours ago, and yes, my rapist was somewhere out there, still threatening me. Maybe the two things were connected. But we had each other, for real now, and that felt more powerful than any obstacle thrown in our way.

“Gealach.” Tiernan brought me back to reality. “Your mam is outside. She wants to speak to you. I told her to sod off in five different languages, but she is still there. With cannoli.”

“Really, five?” I elevated an eyebrow, impressed.

“English, Irish, Russian, Italian, Neapolitan,” he counted them. “I can add ASL into the mix, though.” He frowned, absentmindedly dropping more kisses over my palm. “Drive the point home.”

I grinned. “It’s fine. Let her in.”

“You sure?” He didn’t look too enthusiastic. “Stress is not good for you and the baby.”

The fact that he now cared about the baby made me feel like I was walking on clouds.

“I’m sure. You need to take care of that knee.”

I gestured toward his leg. His knee was the size of a football, and he was bleeding through his slacks.

“I can stay in the room.”

“I can handle her. This conversation is long overdue. Send her in.”

He placed my hand next to my body gently and stood up, but didn’t immediately leave.

“What?” I blinked up at him.

“Nothing.”

“Tiernan.”