Page 137 of Tracking Luxe

“I was so scared,” she shared in a small voice, her face hidden in his shoulder. He hated all the fucking wires sticking out of his body when it meant he couldn’t hold her as he wanted to. Using his unhindered hand, he cupped the back of her head. “I thought I wouldn’t ever see you again.”

“My brave girl, scared? Nah. You’re the strongest woman I know, Luxe. Not seeing me again was never an option. Nothing can keep me from you now.”

“There speaks a kidnapper.” She chuckled, muffled by his arm.

Her hair smelled just as he remembered. It had only been hours yet felt like that scent hadn’t been in his nose for months. He breathed deeply, fingers flexing around her neck. His voice rough with emotion locking up his throat. “I fucking love you, Luxe. Love my dirty rotten thief so much. I should have told you sooner, I’ve been feeling it a lot longer and you wouldn’t have known had I…” he didn’t finish that sentence but they both knew he could have died so easily tonight and she wouldn’t have known what she meant to him. “I didn’t want to scare you off, cause I knew I’d chase you much further and who would have looked after the kids if I was fucking you all over the country, hm?” she laughed and stroked his neck.

“Babysitters. Nannies.”

He liked she was on board. “Baby, climb up here, I really need to hold you.”

Her eyes went to the machines. “I don’t think-----”

“Now, Luxe. Or I’ll get out of this bed.”

******

He loves me.It knocked around every surface in her head as she shrugged out of her the stained hoodie, tossing it over the chair. Filled with euphoria, she still scowled at him because he expected it. Look at him, battered to hell and still so handsome. “I’m only giving in because you’re beat the hell up and you look pitiful. Don’t get used to giving me orders, kidnapper.” He lay propped up against pillows, smugly watching while she climbed gingerly onto his bed and hoped like hell she didn’t jar his destroyed body. She needn’t have worried, soon as her knees touched the hospital bed Grinder pulled her down and into his side, sighing as his arm not attached to the drip came around her, tucking her in and gripped her hip. It was a tight uncomfortable fit yet perfect at the same time.He loves me.

“Baby. Fuck. That feels good. I missed you.”

Luxe allowed her fingers to roam over his chest, wincing over every bruise and welt, she touched his beard, over his jaw and eyebrows, his poor eyes looked so painful. “Don’t stop.” He groaned. A red-hot fist formed beneath her belly button.Keep it in your pants, she warned herself, he was ill. No time to let lust back into the room now her worry had lessened.

“I’m so sorry, Nathan. I hate myself this happened to you,” her voice was small yet firm. His head came up, eyes opened, her hand cradled around his skull. “Stay still, you have a concussion, rest.”

“Stop that shit, you hear? This isn’t on you. You didn’t do this.”

“But-----”

“Fuck no, Luxe. I mean it.”

“Nathan…”

“Your man has a concussion, you don’t really want to argue with him right now, do you?”oh, that sneaky, smiling gorgeous bastard.So relieved to see him joking with her, smiling and feeling his hand stroking her hip she let it drop but for as long as she lived Luxe knew she’d never get over seeing him in this state all because of her own greed.

“I see that’s the card you’re going to play, is it? You’ve pretty much guaranteed blowjobs whenever you want them.”

“Yeah?” oh, how his smile lit her up and soothed some of the hurt inside. “I’m so fucking good with that. But now I want something else.”

“What can I get you?” she made to slide down off the bed and his surprisingly strong fingers on her hip stopped her. “Are you hungry?”

“You can give me the words.”

Oh.Dios. Her heart galloped and gave a silly little flutter of excitement. Luxe bit back her smile, heat prickling the surface of her skin.

She played dumb.“Qué?”

“You were going to tell me you loved me and I told you to save them until we were alone. We’re alone baby. You can give me them now.” Slick warmth entered his gaze, unwavering from hers, there was a fire in her belly and a ball of love. He was so sure of her that she smiled in return. His fingers started stroking her waist, up under her shirt he touched her skin and Luxe shivered, cradling the back of his head, she was within a nose distance of his, so close she saw the light in his gray eyes, smiling waiting.

“Will you rest if I give you them?”

Warm air chuffed against her nose. “Yes.”

“And they won’t over excite you? The nurse said you had to rest.”

“No. I’ll control myself.” His mouth quirked.

“You can’t get hard.”