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Her arm throbbed, but it was a mere twinge compared to the ache in her heart. Sam loved her. It was almost as impossible to wrap her head around as the fact he was here. Her injured arm quivered from the strain of holding it up. She clenched her jaw and fought through the discomfort.

Even if he hadn’t told her he loved her, he wanted her. The bulge in the front of his jeans was a dead giveaway.

He hesitated and sat on the side of the bed beside her. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She lowered her arms, resting her hands on his broad shoulders. The muscles quivered beneath his shirt. “You won’t. I need you.”

His big body shuddered, and he slid his arms around her waist. “I thought I’d lost you.”

Tears filled her eyes and trickled out the corners. “I thought I’d lost you, too.” As grateful as she was for her life, losing him had stolen her joy.

He rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks, wiping away her tears. “I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “You were in an untenable position. I was nothing to you when we first met.” When he started to protest, she pressed her fingers against his lips. “It’s the truth.” No matter that it stung. “Neither of us asked to be placed in this position, but if you hadn’t come into my life, I would have been alone during the scariest time of my life.”

“Fat lot of good it did. I wasn’t allowed to interfere. Do you have any idea what it was like to watch Smith terrorize you, hurt you? I could’ve killed him without thought. I almost did.”

Her blood ran cold at the thought of what that would have cost him. “You were with me,” she repeated. “You drove me nuts when we first met. You were so superior, telling me I shouldn’t stop for strangers.” She laughed. “Yet you kept sticking your nose into my business.”

A tiny smile played at the corners of his lips. “I told myself to keep a distance, not to interfere. I was here to learn empathy. I figured I was good as long as I helped you after you passed. I was furious at being stuck here with no mode of transportation and no means of communication with the outside world, away from my business interests with barely any money.”

He shook his head. “I resented you, but I couldn’t stay away. I’ve lived longer than you can imagine, spent time with people from every country, culture, and walk of life, but I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why one smart, gutsy woman with curly brown hair and eyes the color of chocolate fascinated me.”

Her entire body began to hum. “The last thing I wanted in my life was a man, especially a smug, arrogant, and slightly bossy one, but there you were—all badass attitude with a body that made me take a second look.”

“Yeah?” His smile was slow and satisfied. Her blood thickened like warm molasses, and a throbbing started low in her core.

“Yeah. Broad shoulders.” She trailed her fingers over them. “Big biceps.” She gave a squeeze. “Killer abs. But it was your eyes that drew me. Such secrets they hid, such pain.” She brushed her lips over his, savoring the deep groan that escaped him. His hand slid around to the back of her neck. He deepened the kiss, his tongue dipping inside to taste.

This was what she needed more than medicine and rest, this connection. The future was uncertain—no one understood that better than her. All they had was now. She’d almost died, was supposed to have died, but Sam’s love, his willingness to sacrifice everything, had saved her. For far too long, she’d been unhappy and afraid, not truly living. She’d been given a second chance and wasn’t about to waste a single moment.

“Take off your shirt.” She tugged at it with her good hand. In spite of her insistence to the contrary, her injuries were making themselves known. It was slight in comparison to her need for him, but if she gave any indication of them, he’d stop.

He leaned back enough to allow him to drag it over his head and toss it aside. “I should shower first. I smell rank.”

“You smell perfect, all hot male with a hint of soap.” And if she let him go long enough to shower, he’d likely talk himself out of this and into making her rest. His muscles were cut in sharper relief. He was thinner, too. She wasn’t the only one in need of tending.

His large palm covered the back of her head, holding her in place as he dipped down and kissed her with exquisite restraint. His mouth and lips teased and stroked, arousing her until she was breathless. He made no move to take things further, leaving it up to her. Her hands roamed over the large expanse of bare flesh and muscle, soaking in his warmth and the sheer presence of him.

“Help me take off my shirt.” Her voice was hoarse and breathless. With her permission, Chief Johnson had brought her some clothes to wear home from the hospital. She’d never been as glad for a short-sleeved, button-up blouse as she was now—much easier to get off than a pullover top.

After making quick work of the buttons, Sam eased the garment down her injured arm and then the other. The backs of his hands grazed the cups of her bra, by accident the first time, then on purpose. Her nipples hardened, pressing against the soft cotton. He made a sound of pleasure and licked her bare skin along the edge of the cup before dragging his tongue over her nipple.

She sucked in a breath. “I ache, Sam. I want your mouth on me.”

“I don’t want to rush things.” One hand slid behind her, and with a twist of his wrist the hooks opened.

“I do.”

His soft, masculine laughter warmed her heart. It was a sound she’d never thought to hear again. He peeled the straps down her arms, exposing her breasts. They tightened further beneath his heated gaze. “You truly are exceptional.”

“I’m average.”

“Exceptional.” He cupped one firm mound and closed his mouth over the tip. When he sucked, stars exploded behind her eyes.

“Yes. God, that feels amazing.” She shifted closer, jostling her bad arm. The stars this time came from pain, not pleasure.

“I’ve got you.” He eased her down until her head rested on the pillows, his pleasure turned to concern. “You need to rest. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into this.”

Now that she was stationary, the pain ebbed. “Did I? Talk you into it?” She walked her fingers up his six-pack abs. When her teasing didn’t affect his worry, she sighed. “I don’t want to stop. We have to be careful, but I need this. I almost died. I thought I’d lost you, that everything with you and your father was nothing more than a hallucination, but it’s all true. I could have died. You could have been locked away for all eternity.”

Of the two options, death would be preferable. A person would lose their mind locked away forever. She shoved the horror from her mind. “By some stroke of luck, we’re both here. That’s something to celebrate.” Life wasn’t something she’d ever take for granted again, each moment a gift.

“You’ll stay where you are and let me do the work?”

Solemn, she crossed her heart. “I promise. I’ll rest better after.”

The corners of his mouth turned up the slightest bit, and the shadows in his eyes diminished. “So I’m better than a painkiller?”

“Much better.” She placed her hand over the bulge in his jeans and squeezed. “You’re exactly what the doctor ordered.” After everything they’d been through, they needed to ground themselves in some normalcy. Nothing was more basic and satisfying than making love. She toed off her canvas sneakers and kicked them onto the floor.

“I doubt that.” He stood and undid her loose cotton pants, easing them and her underwear off. Standing, he shucked the remainder of his clothing. The head of his cock glistened. Thick veins roped his long, hard shaft. There couldn’t be a more perfect male specimen anywhere in the world, and he was hers. Naked, he sprawled on her good side and cupped one of her breasts. “I’ll be careful with you.”

“I know you will.” He might not admit it, but he needed this as much as she did.

He sipped at her lips, offering and taking pleasure. There was no rush now that they were both naked. Time spun away. The world outside vanished, leaving only the two of them. She didn’t want to think about the future, what new problems they’d face. That was for later.

Sam left a trail of hot kisses along her jaw and down her neck. He traced her collarbone with his tongue before feasting on her breasts until she was breathless with longing. Her legs moved restlessly on the sheets. Keeping her injured arm by her side, she used her good hand to caress his shoulders and back, scraping her nails down his spine.

Just when she thought she couldn’t bear any more of the sensual torture, he kissed a path over her torso, positioning himself between her legs. His wicked smile made her heart beat faster. Her breath caught in her throat when he lowered his head.

His tongue traced every fold, his lips teasing and sucking her clit. The tension inside her grew until it was almost at the tipping point. When she arched her hips, he stopped. “Try not to move.”

“Not possible.” As if to prove the point, her lower body undulated.

Grunting, he knelt between her thighs, gripped his cock in his big hand, and guided the tip to her entrance. Their eyes met as he eased inside, not stopping until he was buried to the hilt.

It was right. It was perfect.

It was meant to be.

…

Gritting his teeth, Sam concentrated on not moving. Not easy when his balls were trying to crawl into his body. His earlier exhaustion had slipped away, replaced by a raw need that might never be sated.

That he was here with Adrianne was a miracle. She was his miracle. The contents of the note were burned into his brain, but he shoved the worry aside. He wasn’t about to waste this perfect moment. Always before, time had spun out endlessly before him.

Now he was cognizant of each passing second and how precious it was.

Bruises smudged the skin around her neck and various other places, tangible reminders of her fight for her life. They were both a travesty and a testament to her courage. He touched his fingers to her throat.

“Don’t.” She caught his hand and kissed his knuckles. “Don’t let what might have been taint what we have.” Her inner muscles squeezed his dick, drawing a deep groan. The sun’s rays streamed through the window, driving away the shadows in the room. Her love drove away the shadows in his soul.

Conscious of her injuries, he rocked against her, grinding his pelvis against her clit with each short thrust. Their gazes remained locked. The buildup was slow and steady. More than a physical melding, this was an emotional joining. He savored every gasp that fell from her lips, every moan. When she bit her bottom lip and pumped her hips, he fought to make it last.

A bead of sweat trickled down his spine. Their hearts beat in sync, their chests rising and falling as they moved together in a sensual dance as old as time. The telltale flutters of her sex warned she was close. “I’ve got you,” he promised. “Go over. I’ll catch you.”

He stroked, harder, deeper. She cried out his name, her inner muscles milking his dick. He drove home one final time. “I choose you.” Adrianne was his future—for however long it lasted. “No regrets.” When he told her about the note, he hoped she’d say the same.

Pleasure swamped him. His body shook from the intensity. Falling forward, he caught himself on his forearms, holding the bulk of his weight off her, but needing to be close. He kissed her, tasting salt on her lips—from tears or sweat, he couldn’t say. When his arms threatened to give out, he pulled away and collapsed beside her, his face buried in the pillow.

The stifling heat finally dragged him out of bed. The place had been locked up tight, and they hadn’t stopped to open a window before falling into bed. There had to be one open somewhere. No way would the cops have locked the cat in without some source of fresh air. But it hadn’t reached this room, and it was smothering.

He shoved the window open, letting the warm breeze and birdsong into the space. The sweet air drifted over his damp skin. He really needed a shower, but that would wait a bit longer. Going back to the bed, he sat on top of the covers with his back against the headboard he’d broken the previous time they’d made love.

Adrianne smiled sleepily up at him. “Better than a painkiller.”

He laughed and pushed several damp locks off her forehead. “Glad to be of service.” He’d gladly be her personal painkiller or whatever else she needed for the rest of her life, if she’d have him. The contents of the note hung over him like a sword above his neck, waiting to fall.

Using her good hand, she pushed upright and tucked the sheet around her. “What is it? I can tell something is wrong.”

He thought he’d hid it. Obviously not. “You know me too well.”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure that’s possible. For all we’ve been through together, there’s so much we don’t know about each other.” She pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them. “Let’s hear it, whatever it is.”

“You’re something special, you know that?” He caught one of her curls, letting it twirl around his finger. “I choose you.”

She frowned and straightened. “You said that. At the end. Before.” She waved her hand at the bed. “You know.”

“Before I came, yes.” The last thing he wanted was to upset her, but she deserved the truth before things went any further. “I told you I had a visit from Malaki, my father’s messenger.”

“Yes.” She grabbed his hand. “What haven’t you told me?”

“There was a note.” He tugged his hand away, reached over the side of the bed, and grabbed his jeans. The folded note was in the back pocket. “Here.” He handed it to her.

Holding it as if it might explode any second, she peeled back the layers until the page was flat. Her brow furrowed. “‘Your life is linked to hers,’” she read. “That’s it. One line. I don’t understand.”

“I can’t be sure, but I’m almost certain it means when you die, so will I.” It was the only interpretation that made sense.

All the color drained from her face. “No.” The note crumpled in her hand. “He can’t do that.”

“He can do anything he wants. There’s nothing prohibiting him from removing me from existence. Reapers are not part of the timeline as humans are. Whether I exist or not doesn’t affect it.” For all his wealth, powers, and abilities, Adrianne was more important to the timeline than him. Talk about humbling. “There’s something else.” He’d thought about keeping this to himself, but they were in this together. “Unlike humans, there’s no afterlife for reapers.” When he was gone, that was it.

The color drained from her face. “No! Call him. Tell him you’ll go away.” She surged toward him, the sheet falling away. He caught her in his arms, holding her so her injured arm was away from him.

“I can’t.”

Tears trickled down her face. “I’m so sorry.”

He sipped the salty wetness from her cheeks. “I’m not. No regrets, remember. I’d rather have a few decades with you than endless millennia. I’ve already lived those. They can’t compare to a single day with you.” He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, but it’s not right what your father is doing. You’re his son.”

“That’s why I’m here and not already gone. My actions gave him no choice. He’s more than my father. He’s the bloody Grim Reaper. I’m not only his son but a reaper.” He was beginning to understand his father better. “I think our willingness to die for each other, my willingness to give you up so you could live, is why we’re getting this chance. But it comes at a cost.” The more he thought about it, the more sense it made. “Don’t allow regrets to poison the gift we’ve been given.”

“I feel guilty. If I’d died, you’d still be immortal.”

“If you died, I might as well be dead. You’ve shown me what it means to really live, given me a taste of happiness. I want that…if you’ll have me.” Time for full disclosure. “I’m stuck here in Redemption. I can’t leave, even if I wanted to. I have no idea if that will change or if it’s part of the price for our being together, of having our lives linked.”

“So Redemption is your prison.”

“No.” He cupped her cheek in his hand, willing her to believe him. “It’s my heaven because you’re here. If I was given a choice, this is what it would be. There’s no way of knowing how long you’ll live.” She jolted slightly when the reality of that hit her. “Could be fifty years, could be five, or it could be next week.” It was a form of torture not knowing, but it was also a gift. “However long, I want to spend each moment with you. Whatever time we’re given, I’d gladly trade eternity for it.”

“That’s what you’ve done.” She took a shaky breath. “It’s hard to wrap my head around all of this. It’s all so surreal. What is clear is that I love you. One week or fifty years, I’ll gladly share them with you.”

The tightness in his chest eased. “I’ll take good care of you. If I can’t access my accounts—and there’s a good chance I’ve been cut off from that—I’ll work with you here on the farm. I can make money on the stock market. All the information I’ve accumulated over my long lifetime still exists. Assuming I can access the outside world, that is. That way may be closed to me.” There was no way of knowing until he tried. “Or if our living together is too much too soon, I’ll find work and a place to live in town and court you properly. What do you say?”

…

Adrianne was torn between cursing Death and kissing him. Sam’s immortality had been ripped from him—the price for being with her. Your life is linked to hers. Six little words in flowing black ink had made him as human as her. Or had they?

“What about your powers? Did he take them or is it only your lifespan that’s limited?”

Sam frowned and cocked his head to one side. “I haven’t tested them, not since…”

“Not since you gave up everything for me.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “No regrets, remember? Give me a second.” He closed his eyes, his lips pulling into a thin line and his brows lowering. “My preternatural hearing is nowhere near as sharp, but it’s better than a human’s. My vision is the same. Creating a portal to another location is out.” He clenched a fist. “I think my strength is also muted.”

“So not fully human.” But no longer an immortal reaper.

He shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to risk another bullet, to be on the safe side.”

She shuddered and snuggled closer to his chest. “Let’s not ever do that again.” She’d likely have nightmares about Tyrell emptying his gun into Sam. A human would be dead, which raised another question. “Will you grow old, or will I age while you continue to look like you do today?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about getting wrinkles and gray hair while he continued to look young and hot. “God, I’m being stupid and superficial. All that matters is we’re together. Forget I asked.”

He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned that growing old and dying was now part of his reality. “Time will tell, but gray hair or not, as long as I’m with you, I’ll deal with it.” He kissed the top of her head. “Am I staying with you or do you need your own space? No pressure. We have time to figure things out.”

She searched his beloved face. While he was showing the strain from his ordeal—and the loss of his immortality—there was a sense of peace about him. “You really mean that.” The wonder of it rocked her to her core. “You’re really not second-guessing your choices, angry about what you’ve lost.”

“I’ve gained far more.” The sincerity, the sacrifice, the sheer love in his eyes settled her lingering doubts. There’d be bumps along the way, that was inevitable, but there would be no bitterness or casting blame.

“We’ll disagree about things.”

“No doubt.” He tucked a curl behind her ear and let his hand trail down to cup her breast.

“You plan on settling disputes with sex?”

He dragged the pad of his thumb over her nipple, drawing a gasp. “Maybe. Will it work?”

“Works for me.” She turned and straddled his lap, facing him. The guilt, sadness, and unhappiness that had plagued her for so long vanished beneath the love filling her heart. However long they had, she wanted to truly live each day to the fullest. “I love you. For richer or poorer, immortal or human, for however long we have. Stay with me,” she whispered.

His throat rippled, his jaw tightened, and he gave a curt nod.

Resting her head on his shoulder, she held him. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close to the steady thump of his heart.

When the bed jostled, they both turned their heads to find Chester licking his paw and staring. She laughed. “I think someone wants attention.”

“How about we shower and get some clean clothes. I’ll make you something to eat and then you can rest.” Sam eased out of bed with her in his arms. She wrapped her legs and good arm around him. Not that there was a need. Preternatural strength or not, he wouldn’t let her fall.

“Sounds good to me, as long as you join me.” She feathered her fingers through his silky black hair.

“It’s a deal.” He sealed it with a kiss and kicked the door to the bathroom closed behind him.