Page 107 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 2

"What, you thought I'd leave you?" He smiled again, but it didn't hide the grimace. He was in pain.

"Let me go get the nurse, okay?"

"No." He grabbed my hand.

It felt like a lifetime since he had grabbed my hand. I relished the warmth of his skin and the strength behind his fingers.

"Don't cry. It hurts me to see you cry."

I quickly wiped my tears away.Be strong."I thought I lost you."I thought you had left me.

He shook his head. "Come here." He patted the bed beside me.

I didn't hesitate. I was tired of dreaming of his arms around me. I thought I'd never get another one of these moments.

He cringed as I climbed onto the bed.

"James, let me get the nurse."

"No. I just need you." He moved his arm so that I could rest my head on his shoulder.

I slowly lay down, trying not to hit any of the wires that were attached to him.

He groaned softly. I wasn't sure why he wouldn't let me go get the nurse. But I wanted this moment too. I just hoped I wasn't hurting him too badly.

"Does it hurt?" I asked.

"I'm okay."

It didn't really answer my question, but I knew what he meant. Everything was going to be okay now. We were both alive. That's all that mattered.

"Am I thirty yet?"

Is he?I tried to count the days in my head. I had lost track of time. I had lost track of everything.

"Did you forget my birthday?" He ran his fingers through my hair.

"No. No, it's on Sunday. Today's only Thursday." I closed my eyes and listened to his heart beating. I had a million questions for him. I wanted to know why he still had a DNR. I wanted to know if he had known Isabella was planning on hurting him. But right now, I just wanted to hear his heart beating.

"I guess I woke up just in time to get those meggings?" He laughed and then coughed. "Ow."

"James, I'm going to go get the nurse. They'll give you something for the pain."

"I don't want anything for the pain." His words hung in the air.

"I don't want you to hurt. James, I don't want..."

"I made you a promise in my vows. That you could always rely on me. I won't ever jeopardize that. You're all I need right now. I mean that."

I lifted my head up and ran my palm against the scruff on his chin. "I don't like seeing you in pain."

"Now you know why I hate to see you cry." He gave me a small smile.

I nodded. No more tears. If he was being strong, I could be strong too.

"That wasn't how I pictured our wedding night ending," he said.

"No. I pictured it very differently."