Chapter 49
Elizabeth
“Say it again.”
I rolled my eyes, but my smile wasn’t far behind. “I’ve already said it like five times today,” I teased him.
In reality, I’d tell him another thousand times. A million. As many times as I could and as many times as he’d listen to it. I’d never get sick of saying the words.
He inched closer and carefully kissed the side of my face. The bruises were fading, and the broken bones were healing, but I still had a little way to go and Abraham would find a way to levitate if it meant he could be close without hurting me.
“I know, baby, I just need to hear it one more time. Please,” he wheedled.
I shook my head, but my smile was wide enough that he must have known I wasn’t actually upset. I took a deep breath and stared directly into his beautiful blue eyes. “I love you, Abraham.”
His smile could have blinded me it was so bright. I even heard his heart pound out an extra beat at my words and my own thumped harder.
Despite the events of the past twenty-four hours, I’d never felt better. Sure, I could do without the sling the doctor had insisted I wore once I woke up, and I’d like to be able to get up and walk myself to the bathroom instead of being carried there, but those were small prices to pay for the happiness I felt in that exact moment.
I loved Abraham. So deeply, it felt endless.
And best of all, he loved me. He’d waited for me and now his love flowed stronger than it ever had. It was the warmest of feelings. The sweetest of emotions.
We were in love and everything else could take a backseat.
Unfortunately, that backseat wasn’t as quiet as I would have liked.
Despite the happiness I could see and feel radiating from Abraham, I didn’t miss the haunted look in his eyes. There was a slump to his shoulders that hadn’t been there before and creases around his eyes I’d never seen. The death of his cousin was hitting him hard. Or was it the betrayal? Either way, my man was hurting, and it killed me to see.
His smile was wide though as he looked down at me. “When did you know?” he asked softly, and it took me a minute to understand what he was talking about.
“When did I know I loved you?”
He nodded hesitantly as if he was unsure of my answer and my heart dropped.
I’d done this to him.
I’d given him these insecurities. I’d left him with these anxious feelings when it came to us and I needed to do everything in my power to reverse the damage.
He should feel as comfortable and content in our love as I did. He should feel the overwhelming sense of safety I felt when I looked into his eyes. I needed to be for him everything he’d been for me.
I reached out to cup his handsome face. “I only realized it at the solstice party, but now I know I’ve loved you for a long time.” I thought back carefully, wanting to give him the most honest answer I could. Suddenly, it came to me and I smiled wide. “I probably started loving you that first day at our lake.”
His cheek bunched under my hand with his smile. “Oh yeah? What was so special about that day?”
I rolled my eyes, the grin still firmly on my face. “Oh, only that it was our first date, and you completely outdid yourself.”
His smile somehow widened. “I did, huh?”
I shook my head but couldn’t stop smiling. “You really did. The setup was beautiful, and the scenery was gorgeous, and you even remembered my favorite flowers were peonies.”
He turned his face, so he could kiss the palm of my hand. “I remember everything you’ve told me.”
My heart flipped in my chest.
How had I gotten so lucky?
“And then, you topped it off by personally introducing me to the lake.”
“Not one of my better ideas,” he murmured.
“But it really was a lot of fun. And then you got to warm me up after. I think that was a well-executed plan if you ask me.”
He rolled his eyes. “I did not try to give you hypothermia just so I could get a kiss.”
I smiled wider. “But it worked, didn’t it?”
He somehow moved even closer until the whole length of his body was plastered against mine. He’d been so careful with me and my injuries, but it seemed like he was just as anxious to feel me as I was to feel him.
“I guess it did work. And at least I finally got you to kiss me.”
I arched a brow. “Had you been waiting long?”
He shook his head. “Only from the moment I met you.”
“But I was bloody and filthy.”
He shrugged. “And still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
His words, as usual, made my heart beat harder in my chest. He must have heard it because his smile got wider and he reached up to place a hand over the noisy organ.
“So, you’ve loved me since then?”
I nodded seriously and slid my fingers into the silky hair on the back of his head. “I have. Truly.”
He turned his head and kissed my wrist as there was a knock on the door.
I knew our perfect bubble of solitude couldn’t last forever.
Without waiting for an invitation, Evey came bursting into the room with a tray full of food.
“I feel like I’ve seen this before,” I called.
Evey shot me a wink and placed the food on the nightstand next to me. “Yeah, just don’t get used to it. I prefer my best friends to be fully functional.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sorry to disappoint.”
She waved away my false apology. “Just don’t let it happen again.”
Honestly, I was surprised she’d lasted this long without coming in here. She was notoriously mothering and fiercely protective. Combine those two attributes and you’d want for nothing.
“Thanks, Evey, I was getting a little hungry.”
Abraham sat up and pulled the tray onto my lap. “Then you should eat. You probably haven’t had anything since the party.”
Now that I thought about it, he was absolutely right.
How was it that was only last night?
I dug into the heaping piles of food as Abraham’s door opened again and Del, Callie, and Bea came streaming through.
“Sure, just come on in,” Abraham said, disgruntled.
I patted his hand and shot him a wink. There’d be plenty of time for us to be alone later. Right now, his family–my family–needed the reassurance that I was okay. And I would never deny them.
“Hey, ladies, what’s shakin?” I called.
Despite my injuries and all that had happened, I still felt this inexplicable lightness in my chest. Like despite how bad things got, as long as I had Abraham and my friends and family, everything would be okay. It would work out the way it was supposed to, and they’d be by my side through anything.
Del shrugged a shoulder. “Oh, you know, just making sure you aren’t getting tortured or beaten half to death again.”
Bea shook her head. “Too soon, Del. Too soon.”
I smothered a laugh. Del, as usual, was being inappropriate. If she hadn’t come in here and said something ridiculous, I might have worried.
“How are you feeling?” Callie asked gently.
I smiled at her. “Really good, actually. My chest is still kind of tight, and I can’t quite walk yet, but Kyle came by and checked me out and said I should be good as new in a couple days.”
“Well, we brought you something to make you feel better,” Del said, a mischievous smile tipping up her pink lips.
I set my fork down and held both hands out. “Okay, give it to me.”
Del held up a single finger before she walked back out of the room, returning a few seconds later with a small bundle of fur I’d recognize anywhere.
“Charlie! You guys went back for him!”
Del shot a look over my shoulder. “It was Abraham’s idea. You were unconscious, but he knew you’d worry about your little cat if we left him alone in Raleigh.” She placed Charlie in my arms, and I immediately dug my nose into his soft fur. “And secretly, I think he was hoping he’d get you to stay out here longer if you had Charlie with you.”
I took a deep breath of Charlie’s comforting scent and looked around the room. These people had all come to mean the world to me. I’d do anything for them and I knew without a doubt the feeling was mutual.
Even Beatrice had come around. Our relationship had started out rocky, but I had no doubt we were on our way to being just as close as I was with her sisters. She was a harder nut to crack, but her insides were golden and that’s all that mattered.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you all about that,” I said hesitantly.
Evey took a seat on the bed next to me and placed a small hand on my leg. “What’s up, Ellie?”
I took another deep breath and looked up to meet Abraham’s eyes. “I was going to start working on my resignation letter while I’m laid up. I’ll hand it in as soon as I get back to work.”
His eyes widened almost comically as he scooted closer to me. “What are you saying?” he breathed.
I picked up his hand and pulled it into my lap. “I’m quitting my job. It isn’t fulfilling me anymore, and I want to try something new.”
He squeezed my hand softly. “So, what does that mean?” he asked, the hopefulness in his voice almost completely undoing me.
I kissed the back of his hand. “It means that I’ll be spending a lot more time out here. Like, all the time. If that’s still okay with you.”
With a move so quick I missed it, Abraham shoved the tray off my legs and moved so he was hovering over me. He reached up to frame my face with his huge hands that were slightly trembling. “Please don’t play with my emotions, El. I don’t think I could take it right now.”
I smiled and shook my head. “I’m serious.”
“You’re moving out here?” he whispered.
I shrugged a shoulder. “If you still want us.”
“Us?”
I looked down at Charlie who’d crawled out of my arms and over to his giant cathouse castle that Abraham had built him. “Me and Charlie are a package deal.”
Abraham pulled me closer until his lips were resting against mine as he spoke. “I can handle another roommate if it means I get you.”
I smiled wider and pecked him on the lips. “If you want me, you got me.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed gently. “I’ll always want you, El. Every day for the rest of my life.”
I closed my eyes and basked in his sweet words. There, surrounded by my family and in the arms of the only man I’ve ever loved, I’d never felt happier. I didn’t even know a happiness like this existed.
It sent equal parts excitement and fear coursing through my veins.
Because how could something this amazing and pure be real? How could it last?
I had a bad feeling that the high we were feeling was only the beginning of the road we’d need to traverse. But, as long as I had Abraham, my new family, and my pack, I knew I could face anything.
I leaned forward and pressed my lips against Abraham’s for a long, almost indecent amount of time. I just couldn’t help myself. I loved him so much and my injuries were preventing me from showing him in all the ways I’d like. Instead, I had to settle for a heated kiss and a promise of more.