Page 2 of The Billionaire's Bride

"There’s nothing to say; I am back now and—"

She rises to her feet, puts distance between us. "You left me, Ed. You shagged me, then walked out on me with no explanation."

"I was confused, Eve." I struggle to sit up. My side twangs, pain slices up my spine and I push it away. "I had just given up the one thing that had grounded my life until then. I walked away from my faith. I was ready to leave everything behind… I wanted to get away from it all. Instead, I found myself on your doorstep.

"You broke your vows." She adds quietly, "You shagged me."

"I needed you, Eve."

"And I needed…" she raises a shoulder, "a man who would stay with me after taking my virginity."

I swallow. "I was your first; I’ll never forget that."

"I…tried to forget you. I didn’t want anything to do with you, not after how you treated me."

My heart begins to race. The pulse pounds at my temples. "And now?" I clear my throat. "How do you feel about me now?"

She trains her gaze on me. "I don’t know." She glances away, beginning to straighten my bedclothes, "When that bullet hit you and you collapsed and I thought I’d lost you…" Her chin wobbles, "I knew then, that I still had feelings for you."

My shoulders relax, some of the tension draining out of me.

"As do I, for you."

"But it’s not enough." She squares her shoulders. "I can’t forget how you abandoned me. You didn’t even have the decency to tell it to my face. You simply walked out."

"I’d told you I would have to leave."

"You didn’t even wait until I woke up."

"You’d have stopped me," I point out. "I had too much shit to sort out. I knew if I stayed, I’d be too taken up by you. As soon as I slept with you, I knew it was a mistake."

She stiffens, and I firm my lips. "I didn’t mean it that way."

"Sure, you did." She scowls. "You regret sleeping with me."

"No." I sit up. Every part of me protests, and I wince.

Ava protests, "What are you doing?"

"I am fine." I push my legs over the side of the bed and stand up. My knees protest, my thighs spasm. Sweat breaks out on my forehead and I feel lightheaded, but at least I am upright. "See?" I say through clenched teeth. "I’m standing, aren’t I?"

"Edward," she admonishes me, "get back into bed."

"Why don’t you make me?" I take a step toward her and my entire body protests. I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stay upright. "Come on, Eve, tuck me in."

She scowls. "I only stayed to make sure you were okay."

"I’m not okay."

"You’re standing, aren’t you?" She blows out a breath. "I… I need to get going, anyway."

"Not yet." I straighten my spine, "I need you, Eve."

She shudders, closes her eyes. "I… I am not sure what I need."

"You still want me," I insist.

She takes a deep breath, pushes her shoulders back. "I survived without you all these days."