Page 90 of Cavern of Silence

Ryker

"Thank you,"I murmur as I remove my lips from Julieta's.

"What for?"

"For giving me a second chance."

She lets out a big breath. "I thought you were going to die."

"I know. I'm sorry."

She laces her hands around my neck. "No more sorries. Let's move forward."

Relief fills me, and I kiss her again. "Okay, baby."

"But I want you to ice your face. And where else are you bruised?"

"I'm okay," I assure her.

She tilts her head. "No. You aren't. Ryker, don't try to downplay your injuries."

I don't want to show her. She's going to be even more horrified. My entire torso is black, blue, and yellow. It's a miracle Hunter didn't crack my ribs. And it isn't only the front of me. My back is battered as well. But I don't see how I can get out of it. "Are you sure you need to see this? I don't want you to."

"Yes."

Be a man and face the music.

I hesitate but slowly lift my shirt.

Julieta throws her hand over her mouth and swallows hard. "Oh, my...oh, God. I can't imagine how much agony you're in."

"It'll be fine in a few days."

She assesses my body, and more shame and regret fill me. I loathe what I did and how I've subjected her to seeing me in this state.

I try to lower my shirt, but she stops me and gently presses her lips over my bruises. Her kisses are heaven entwined with hell. She shouldn't have ever been a witness to my darkness, and now she's here, standing by me, loving me when I don't deserve an ounce of her affection but can't tear myself away from what we've started to build.

She gazes up at me. "Do you think Tinker has any arnica?"

"I have some in my first aid kit."

She points to the bed. "Sit down and remove your shirt."

"Julieta—"

"Ryker, let me take care of you."

I obey her.

She finds the cream in my backpack, sits behind me, lathers it on my back, then covers the front of my torso and puts some on my face. "You need ice. Let's go downstairs so I can help you."

"Wait."

"Hmm?"

I pull her onto my lap so she's straddling me. "I have to tell you something."

She scrunches her face. "What?"