Page 85 of If You Were Mine

Dorian leaned forward and cupped my face, kissing me softly.

“I owe Hudson everything.”

“I know. I’ll bake him a cake.”

His lips twitched as he sat down and took my hand.

There had been a mini avalanche in Cage Lake. Or at least to the east of it. The old house that Dorian had been working on had been hit the worst. Part of the place had just been sliced off, and it would take a while to repair if Dorian didn’t just bulldoze it.

Hudson had been at the tip of the avalanche, and had followed it down, white-knuckling it all the way in his four-wheel-drive truck to us.

He had a satellite phone and was able to get a hold of the emergency services and get us out.

I still was a little bit blank on how everything had happened, and how they’d gotten me off the steel rod. I didn’t want to ask, but I would later.

But for now I knew the Cage men had saved my life.

Hudson would be getting many cakes.

“You scared the shit out of me.”

“Well, it was very scary. I don’t want to do that again.”

I knew I was trying to make light of it to help him, but if I dwelled on it too much, I knew anxiety would slam into me. And I didn’t want that right then.

I just wanted to know that we would both be safe.

“I’m never going back into that house. We’ll just have to stay at my house at the lake, your apartment, or downtown in Denver. We’ll make it work.”

I froze, trying to figure out exactly what he was saying.

“So you’re going to find a way to stay in Cage Lake?” I asked, my breath shaky.

“Of course I am. I love you, Harper Wellesley. I love you so fucking much. We’ll figure out where we’re going to live and how to make it work. Your bakery is here, and I can travel. We’ll work it out. But no matter what, my home is you, Wellesley. I almost lost you tonight. I almost lost you. I’m not losing you again.”

Tears slid down my cheeks as Dorian kissed me softly, his lips chapped from being outside for so long. I tried to move my hand to reach up and brush my fingers through his hair, but my free hand was the one attached to the IV. Instead I just nuzzled into him, tears flowing.

“You love me?” I asked, my voice soft.

He leaned back and frowned at me. “Of course I fucking love you. I’m just sorry it took me screaming at you while you were passed out and impaled for me to say it.”

“Wait. You told me you loved me before?”

He blushed. “Yes, I thought you were awake. Hell, I’m not good at this. I’ve never loved anyone before.”

If I could, I would jump out of bed and dance, throwing myself in Dorian’s arms. It would just have to happen later.

“I love you too you know. I was trying to figure out how to tell you. And how I wanted you to stay.”

His face softened as he brushed his knuckles along my cheek.

“We’ll make it work. I have family money for a reason. I might as well use it for good. But we’re never, ever going down in a basement again.”

“Damn straight. Maybe just ranch style homes from now on.”

He grinned and kissed me once more.

“Excuse me, I thought the patient was supposed to rest,” Hudson growled as he limped his way in. He wouldn’t tell me how he had hurt himself, and Dorian wasn’t budging.