Chapter 19
Roman came up with a plan and scoured the nearby hotels while Larissa was in the room with Janie. When he found a room with a view of Janie’s hospital window and a king-size bed, he paid for it in cash.
He returned to the hospital and met up with Arto. A few minutes later, Larissa came out of the room.
“How is she?” he asked.
Larissa smiled. “She’s still Janie. She’s going to be okay.”
A sound of relief escaped Arto. When Roman and Larissa glanced at Arto, he cleared his throat. “That’s good. I mean, that’s what we want.”
Roman eyed his deputy. He’d never seen him flustered like that before. He exchanged a glance with Larissa.
She tilted her head. “She should be ready to leave tomorrow.”
Roman nodded at Arto. “You good to stay on watch here?”
“Aye, Roman.”
Roman took Larissa’s hand as they exited the wing.
“Janie won’t mind. She seems to enjoy his company.”
Roman smirked. “I believe the feeling is mutual.” Once they were outside, he said, “I booked us a room nearby, in case you’d like to stay close to Janie.”
Her eyes shined with gratitude. “That’s so thoughtful.”
“And a bit selfish.” He grinned. “Because it lets me stay close to you, as well.”
He wanted to wrap her in his arms right there on the sidewalk and assure himself that she was with him and safe. She wouldn’t be keen on his over-the-top public display of affection. Instead, he took her hand and caressed it with his thumb as he led them to the hotel.
Once they entered the room and eyed the king-size, four-poster bed, she gave him a coy smile. “This hardly seems selfish of you. More like spoiling me.” She tilted her head. “We’ve slept together. I know there’s nothing selfish about you.”
He raised his chin. “Maybe you’ll let me spoil you some more.”
After he closed the door, he stepped up to her. He cupped her cheeks and searched her eyes. “I’m so relieved you’re here with me. If anything had happened to you...” His voice trailed off.
“It didn’t.” Her voice came out tender and reassuring.
He swallowed the tightness in his throat. “When you collapsed, I’ve never experienced such despair.”
“I know what that’s like.” Her warm eyes searched his. “When you fought the demon, I was terrified. I couldn’t lose you.”
“You won’t. I’m here with you.”
“For how long? I know you’ll have to head out again.”
“Come here, Larissa.” He brought her to the window. “Part of the reason I booked this room was the vantage point.” He pointed to the hospital. “We can see Janie’s room right there. So, while I’m here, I can watch just as well as the others perched there on the buildings.”
He pointed out two sentries mounted in stone form. He left out the reason why they needed so many sentries in this area. She didn’t need a reminder. The demon was still out there, and it had made two of its targets known—Larissa and Janie.
“Ooh, smart,” she said.
“The other reason,” he said as he led them into the room, “was the king-sized bed.”
She chuckled. “Genius.” After removing her shoes, she climbed on top of the bed. “I don’t have clothes or toiletries or anything, but I don’t care right now. I’ll deal with that later.” She patted the bed beside her. “Can you join me for a bit?”
After he sat, she said, “I hope we can have one quiet hour together without the need to rush to danger.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “I’d like nothing more.”
She curled up to him, leaning against his chest and drawing her knees up. He wrapped his arms around her and inhaled her comforting scent. Mate, it whispered. The simple act of her trusting him to comfort her fueled him with purpose. He’d watch over her. Care for her. Cherish her.
Always.
When she dropped her knees, he was able to hold her better. He folded her into his embrace and ran his fingers through her hair, soothing her. Having her in his arms again touched his soul, making him whole again.
Larissa’s body shook. Although she seemed to try to hide it from him, her body trembled. She was sobbing.
“It’s all right, Larissa. You’re safe. Janie’s safe.”
When she pulled her head away from his chest, tears gleamed in her eyes.
“Nana isn’t. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do—I don’t even know how to process that, yet.”
With his thumb, he brushed the tears from her soft cheeks. “Whenever and however you can. There’s no rush in mourning, no haste with grief. And everyone is free to go about it in their own way and on their own timeline.”
“And Janie—she’s already gone through so much. It’s not fair for one person to bear so much suffering.”
“No, it isn’t,” he agreed. “But, she’s strong. Like you. She’s endured a lot, and she will come through. Just like you will. We’ll all get through this together.”
Larissa nodded and blinked a few times.
“It’s going to be all right,” he said.
“How do you know?”
She glanced at him with a hopeful spark in her eyes.
“The same way I know that you’re the one for me.” He moved a lock of hair that had fallen on her cheek. “My universe feels right again with you in it.”
Being comforted by Roman in this bed softened the sharp edges that had ripped into Larissa over the past several days. Her grandmother was dead, Larissa’s career was on a shaky hold, but at least Janie was awake. And, she had Roman. He made it easier to bear the difficult parts. Bringing her here was so considerate. It wasn’t just the luxury of the room with the rich red-striped wallpaper and overstuffed pillows. It was how he knew exactly what she needed—being close to Janie.
“Oh, Roman,” Larissa said. “I’m so lucky to have found you.”
He caressed her cheek, and she leaned into his palm. How could such a small gesture feel so wonderful?
“You’re the one for me. That’s a certainty I feel as a gargoyle.”
He searched her eyes. She lost herself in the ardent expression in his amber gaze, mesmerized by the gold within.
“Beyond that, is what I feel as a man.” He removed his hand from her cheek and covered his heart, “I’ve fallen in love with you, Larissa.”
Her body systems sped into overdrive. “Roman…” What to say? Her racing thoughts and heightened body response left her darting from one response to the other.
“I know you think it’s quick. But, we’ve gone through more together than most couples endure in a lifetime.”
That was true. They certainly had. No couple that she knew of had faced the threats that they’d encountered this past week.
She nodded. That was a safe response as she tried to calm her sprinting heartbeat.
“I know you better than you think,” he added. “By seeing how you respond to things no one should ever have to deal with. Your selflessness. Your devotion to Janie. The sacrifices you make for others.”
Her mouth fell open. He described her in a way that no one had before. “Funny, most people think I’m defensive, cynical...” Words finally spilled out. They weren’t the best ones, but they were the truth.
“That’s your armor. We all have some in place. If they bothered to search more deeply, they’d see what I see—the most remarkable woman I’ve ever met.”
A warm sensation in her chest bloomed with buoyancy. Compliments generally made her uneasy, but it was different coming from Roman. His affection made her feel cherished. Protected. Loved.
She covered her heart. “Holy shit, Roman, I don’t even know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just be here with me.”
“No.” She shook her head.
Roman squinted. “What’s wrong?”
She rubbed her temples, flustered. “That’s not what I mean. I’m not saying ‘no’ to being here with you, but to it being enough.” Damn, she was terrible at expressing her emotions. After his romantic declaration, she desperately wanted to break down her guardedness and confide her true feelings. And after her outburst when she’d been tainted by the darkness in the hospital, she had to. Words could slice and scar. Could they also heal?
And inspire happiness?
With the way she felt so content and whole with Roman, she’d wager yes.
“I want to let you know how I feel about you. Truly feel. In this crazy, upside-down world where nothing makes sense anymore, one thing is clear.”
Roman eyed her with an inquisitive gaze. “What’s that?”
She took a steely breath, determined to reveal her feelings without getting flustered.
When she fixed her gaze on his, her anxieties fluttered away. “I love you, Roman.”
His amber eyes widened, the gold flecks within shining bright. His expression turned jubilant.
Jubilant. Beyond simple happiness. Ah yes, that had been so worth the risk.
“Larissa.” His voice had a tinge of awe to it. “My mate.”
She leaned closer and peered up, so their faces were only inches apart. “Yes, yours.”
His eyes caressed her and heat simmered between them, the way it had since their first night together. The sparks had grown since then, igniting from attraction to love. She reached around the back of his neck and ruffled the back of his dark hair, loving the feel of the strands over her fingers. Her gaze dropped from his eyes to his sensual lips, and she swallowed.
The world might still be chaotic outside and would continue to be for some time. They’d face the challenges when the time came. But, at this moment, they were together. For now, they had to live.
And love.
“I love you, Roman.” It felt good to hear her say those four words to him, so she repeated them.
She leaned up and brushed her lips against his. The sparks of turbulent passion traveled from her lips through her core, the now familiar response to his touch.
“My lover,” she added. “My mate.”