Chapter 21
Olivia
“You know this isn’t necessary, right? I can walk.”
A bright grin broke out, and his whole face lit up with laughter. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and for a moment, I forgot everything else.
I held onto him as he walked up the stairs… of our home, to our room. His steps were strong and steady, and I could feel the faintest bounce in his stride, like he was proud of carrying me–like I was precious cargo and not a woman who hadn’t showered in days.
“I know you can, but I chose to carry you because I can, and I’m your husband, so I have every right to.” Sebastian said, a soft pout forming at the corners of his mouth. It was the cutest damn thing I’d ever seen and made me want to poke his cheek just to see if he’d bite.
I kept my head tucked into the curve of his neck, breathing him in. Warm skin. Crisp soap. That soft expensive cologne he always wore–the kind that smelled like power and storms and safety.
And I smelled like… hospital. Bandages. Antiseptic. Shame.
He should be disgusted.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, finally glancing down and catching my gaze.
I immediately looked away like I’d been caught stealing. I didn’t say anything–just kept watching him from under my lashes, completely captivated by how handsome he looked. The little indention on his right cheek–the barely–there dimple–was the worst distraction.
“Olivia, stop looking at me like that and say what’s really going on in your head, or I’ll be forced to kiss you.” He deadpanned.
And I giggled. Giggled like a schoolgirl with a damn crush.
Oh, how much I wanted that kiss. My body ached for him, but instead I shook my head like a toddler denying candy.
“You’re cute when you do that.”
“Do what?” My voice sounded way too innocent- even to my own ears.
“That,” he said with a chuckle, the sound low and warm.
“You smell so good… and I smell like hospital.” I pouted, scrunching my nose in mock disgust.
His laughter got louder, a deep sound that rumbled through his chest and straight into me like a wave. Sebastian rarely laughed—this laugh was deep, full, and real. I saw it in his eyes, felt it in his arms. But I was being serious.
“I’m serious, Sebastian,” I said, trying to match his tone even though my lips kept twitching upward in spite of myself.
“You are so cute.”
“Of course I am!” I shot back proudly, even as heat crept into my cheeks. I was failing miserably at hiding how much I liked hearing it. He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Little narcissist.”
“Do I stink? Be honest.” My voice dropped, nervous. Part of me wanted reassurance–but the other part knew the truth. I’d been in a hospital gown for a week, and this man hadn’t even given me the chance to freshen up before kidnapping me home like I was a damsel in some medieval fantasy.
“Yes, you do. Really badly, actually.” He wrinkled his nose dramatically, fighting another laugh,
I smacked his chest. “Stop it, I’m being serious.”
“So am I. You smell so bad I feel like vomiting.”
“God, you are annoying ”
But he laughed again–carefree, beautiful, like the man I remembered falling for before everything turned bloody and dark. That laugh did something to me. It lit a candle in the cold parts of my chest.
We finally made it to the room, and he carefully laid me on the bed like I was some glass doll. My body melted into the mattress, but my eyes didn’t leave him for a second.
“You look mad,” he said with a teasing tilt of his head, eyes glinting with amusement.
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“I take that as complet
1ired to keep a straight, but the comers of my month betrayed me, “Don’t flatter you
His presence was overwhelming, in the best way. He didn’t need to touch me to unraved me,
He fired loose endodhur bend my er, his fingertips fatherlight, “What are you ghing to do dona m “Don’t pushime, Sebestben,” 1 werned, the heat rising, in my chest.
We both legedegan, and that will fall touding me
Wes he always this carefree? This happy?
a www kind of silence. His fingers stayed at the side of my face like he was seated to stop
He never so much as grinned in my past life all beos of me I’d stolen that smile, So seeing him like this now, light in his eyes and laughter on his lips. It was delightful
“You okay?” His voice was softer now, almost afraid of the answer,
inodded “just tired”
His features softened, “then rest, I’m not going, entere
He was so gentle when he said that, so sure and steady that i almost cried,
kept thing what the bell had ever been doing, with Phillip when I had this man? This maddening, annoying, beautiful man who saw me
like no one else did.
My voice came out in a willeper, “Don’t go.”
He cured lutly “I just said I’m not going, anywhere, silly”
Teenk deeper into the bed, the exhaustion finally winning. The reality of what I’d survived began to settle in–slow and sharp. If he hadn’t shown up when he did, I probably wouldn’t even be here.
Thedn’t expected the poison to hit so fast, to be so cruel. I didn’t want to think about it, but I knew one thing for sure–Kaylee would pay. Oh, she wondd pay
My eyes flattered shut, but even then–1 felt his eyes on me. Watching Waiting
I peeked open one eye and found him still standing, still looking
“Come be next to me, please”
Without a single word, be slid into the bed and wrapped an arm around me. I turned into him, his warmth grounding me.
His hand traced my cheekbone, and I could barely keep my eyes open.
This is all I need,” I whispered
“You rated me, Olivia,” he said quietly and I could hear the truth in every syllable.
“I’m sorry.“I manured
It had only been a week since the hospital But Kaylee? She’d be in that place for much longer.
“iimm?”
“Look at me.”
His voice wasn’t sharp–it was gentle, Like he didn’t want to order me. Like he wanted to kam my attention.
“You said I shouldn’t leave you… when you were hallucinating”
My whole body tensed, Crap, Thadn’t even realized I’d said that out loud. Those damn hallucinations they’d felt too reat
I sighed, deciding to give him at least a part of the truth. “I saw you die, Seb”
“What?”
“When I was…uh… hallucinating, I saw you die. You took a bullet for me,” I swallowed. “I didn’t want to believe it it felt too real”
He blinked, a flicker of curiosity dancing in his gaze. “How did I die?”
“You were shot. You took a bullet for me,” I said again, this time with a crack in my voice,
“Well, that’s an honorable death,”
“What?” I looked at him like he had lost his damn mind.
Was this man really serious right now?
“Did you hear what I just said?”
“Yes, I did. What better way to go than giving my life for yours?” he said it so casually it made my skin crawl.
“Sebastian, don’t say that!” I scolded, my heart pounding, “I can’t lose you.”
“You’re not losing me, Olivia. It was only a hallucination.” He rolled his eyes, loosening his tie in that smooth way that made me forget what the argument was even about,
God, sometimes I really thought I was crazy. But then again…. I’d been reborn. And no one could ever understand what that felt like. Not yet.
I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath, his hand still resting against my face, I could stay like this forever. Just him and me and the quiet between us,
But then the weight beside me shifted. He was getting out of bed,
My eyes flew open. “Where are you going?”
He turned at the door, surprised, “I thought you were sleeping.”
“I was… until you decided to abandon me,” Thuffed, glaring,
He smirked and walked back, slow and cocky like always.
“You need to rest. You just spent a week in the hospital recovery is non–negotiable,”
“I know, but you don’t have to leave me alone to do it.”
“I want to make you dinner,”
“Tempting offer, but as much as I’d love that. I want you in bed with me,”
“Olivia, we’ve been in bed for two hours. You need to eat.”
“I know, but we can jost order something”
“I can
Mease, let’s do takeout, bubby”
“You’re really serious?”
I nodded. “just stay in bed and hold me. That’s all I need.”
Without another word, he climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around me like he’d never let go.
“Is this better?” he muttered, hall growling at how needy I’d been.
Chapter 21
“So much better,” I whispered.
Lying there in his arms, I felt the storm inside me quiet down. But this wasn’t the end.
Because payback?
Payback was going to be a real bad bitch.
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