Page 151 of Shadows of Obsession

At the moment, Jaxon stood behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist in a way that made it nearly impossible to concentrate on dinner prep. His fingers were playfully trying to sneak beneath the hem of my shirt, tracing patterns on my skin that sent heat flooding through me.

"You're going to be the death of me. Or yourself."

It seemed Jaxon was hell-bent on ignoring the doctor's very explicit warning against "strenuous activity". A phrase the doctor hadused while giving us both a pointed look that had made me blush furiously. Jaxon's desire to be close to me, to show me the depth of his love and passion, was apparently overriding any concern for his own well-being.

"I can't help it," Jaxon murmured against my neck, his lips brushing the sensitive skin there and sending a shiver racing down my spine despite my best efforts to remain focused. "I've got the most beautiful woman in the world right here in front of me, and all I want to do is love her."

God, when he said things like that, my resolve melted.

I leaned back into his embrace, my eyes fluttering closed for a moment as I savored the feeling of his strong arms around me, arms that were getting stronger every day, I was relieved to notice. The warmth of his body pressed against my back was comforting and arousing all at once.Just two more weeks until the doctor clears him.

"And I want nothing more than to let you," I sighed, turning in his arms to face him. I set the knife down and placed my hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat, steady and strong, beneath my palms. "But your health comes first, Jax. We have the rest of our lives to love each other, to explore each other. Right now, I just need you to focus on getting better." I had almost lost him, and I wasn't risking anything that could set back his recovery.

Jaxon's eyes softened immediately, the love and adoration shining through so clearly it made my breath catch. "I know, and I will. I promise." His hands settled on my hips, more respectfully this time. "It's just hard to keep my hands off you sometimes." I thought to myself that it was hard all the time.

I grinned, rising up on my toes to press a gentle kiss to his lips. Careful, chaste, nothing that would tempt either of us too far. "I know the feeling. But we'll get there, together. One day at a time."

From the living room, the sound of muted conversation, or rather the lack of it, drifted into the kitchen, reminding me that we weren't alone. Harper and Connor had come over for dinner, a gesture of friendship and support as Jaxon continued his recovery.

But something felt… off.

I glanced toward the living room, my brow furrowing slightly as I took in the scene. Harper sat on one end of the couch, her posture stiffand uncomfortable, her eyes fixed on the floor as if studying the pattern in the wood. Connor occupied the armchair across from her, but his gaze kept darting in her direction. Quick, furtive glances filled with something I couldn't quite identify. Longing? Uncertainty?

The usual easy banter and laughter that normally flowed between them were noticeably absent, replaced by an awkward silence that seemed to fill the room like a physical presence.

"What's been going on with them?" Jaxon asked quietly, clearly picking up on the tension as well. His Marine instincts for reading people hadn't dulled in the slightest.

"I'm not sure," I admitted, keeping my voice low so it wouldn't carry. "It's been like that for a while. It only seemed to get worse after Connor ended things with Morgan."

Before Jaxon had been discharged from the hospital, I'd stayed at Connor's house, unable to face being alone in the cabin, even though Daniel was gone. It was during one of those quiet evenings, while I was curled up on Connor's couch with a cup of tea, that he'd confided in me.

He'd spoken with a mix of hesitation and resolve, his hands wrapped around his mug like he needed something to hold onto. He'd told me about his painful realization that Morgan didn't want the same things he did. That she would never want them.

I could still see the sadness in his eyes as he'd admitted that seeing the love Jaxon and I shared had made him understand what he truly wanted, something real and enduring. Something that felt like coming home, instead of constantly trying to make something work that was never meant to. I felt strongly that he deserved that. He deserved real love.

The weight of his words had hung in the air that night, a heavy silence that spoke volumes. Connor had confessed that he'd been fooling himself, thinking that kind of love, the deep, soul-connecting kind, could come from Morgan. Ending it had hurt, but it had also freed him to find what he'd been missing.

I'd felt a pang of sorrow for my friend, who was more like a brother, but also a spark of hope. His decision, though difficult, was a step toward the happiness he deserved. I wondered if that happiness had been right in front of him all along.

I glanced back at the living room, at the careful way Connor and Harper were not looking at each other and made a mental note to talk to Harper later, to see if there was anything I could do to help. Sometimes the heart's path wasn't a smooth one. If anyone understood complicated paths to love, it was me.

Turning my attention back to Jaxon, I smiled, meeting his gaze. "Why don't you go join the others while I finish up in here? Dinner will be ready soon, and I'm sure they'd appreciate the company. Maybe you can break that awkward silence they've got going on." And stop trying to seduce me in the kitchen when we have guests.

Jaxon nodded, stealing one last kiss, this one deeper, more promising, before reluctantly loosening his hold. "I love you," he whispered against my lips.

I smiled against his mouth, returning the kiss quickly. "I love you, too."

He stepped back and made his way into the living room. I watched him go, noting with relief how much steadier his movements were now. His hand went to his side automatically, but he didn't wince.

My heart swelled with love and gratitude for the man who had come into my life, who had fought so hard to protect me, to love me, to build a future with me. The man who'd taken a knife to save my life without hesitation.

As I turned back to the stove, stirring the simmering pot of stew, I couldn't help but reflect on the journey that had brought us to this moment. So much pain. So much fear.

The memories were still there, still raw. Some nights, I still woke up in a cold sweat, Daniel's face looming over me in nightmares. Some days, I still flinched at sudden movements or loud noises. The rope burns on my wrists had healed, but the scars remained, thin white lines that would probably never fully fade.

But I was healing. We were both healing.

The pain, the fear, the heartache, it had all been worth it, I realized. Because it had led me here. To Jaxon. To the life we were building together in this cabin we'd reclaimed from tragedy. Our home. Our life. Our future.