Total pages in book: 266
Estimated words: 250787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1254(@200wpm)___ 1003(@250wpm)___ 836(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 250787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1254(@200wpm)___ 1003(@250wpm)___ 836(@300wpm)
I chuckle and then flinch due to my soreness. “When I die, I want it to be by your hands, doll face.”
EIGHTY-THREE
HAIDYN
“Be careful,” my wife scolds me as we enter our bedroom at Carnage.
“I’m fine,” I assure her, although I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes open.
I was able to convince Devin and Gavin to let me sleep in my own bed with my wife tonight, but only if I allowed them to give me a shot in the ass. Whatever it is, it’s made me tired as fuck.
“You guys need my help?” Adam asks, pushing a wheelchair. Gavin and Devin tried to make me sit in it, and I told them to fuck off. They seemed satisfied enough when Adam volunteered to follow us with it.
“We’ll be fine,” I tell him.
“Thank you.” My wife smiles, encouraging his help.
He nods and backs out into the hall. “If you need me, I’m right across the hall.” Then he shuts the door, leaving us alone.
She helps me into the bathroom, and she turns the faucet on to the tub. “No. I want to take a shower.”
“Haidyn—”
“I’m taking a shower, Charlotte.” I leave no room to argue. Honestly, I’m not sure I can get back up if I sit down in the bath, but I won’t tell her that. I hate looking weak, especially in front of her.
Huffing, she shuts off the faucet and opens the shower door, turning it on while I remove the T-shirt and sweatpants before we enter the shower.
I allow her to wash me while I sway back and forth on my feet. She makes it fast, knowing that I’m fading quickly.
She helps dry me off, and I enter the bedroom to see her over by the door about to turn the light off. “Leave it on.” It has nothing to do with spending eight days in a blacked-out room and everything with wanting to see my wife.
Spinning around, she looks at me tilting her head as if to question how we will sleep with the light on, but she just nods and walks over to the bed.
I crawl in on my side—closest to the door—and she gets in, cuddling up next to me. I wrap my arms around her and hold her to me as tight as I can, which isn’t much, considering how weak I still am.
Her body begins to shake against mine, and then she sniffs. Lowering my head to hers, I kiss her forehead. “It’s okay, doll face. I’m here.”
She sniffs again, and her arms tighten on me. “Promise me—”
“I’ll never leave you.” I interrupt her, knowing exactly what she was going to say. “I promise.”
Closing my eyes, I hope that when I open them, she’s still here…with me…in our bed. I hope this isn’t another hallucination.
My heavy eyes open, and I close them immediately at the harsh light. I reach out and feel nothing but blank space.
I open my eyes and sit straight up, flinching at the sharp pain that takes my breath away. “Fuck,” I growl, reaching up to rub the back of my neck.
“Haidyn.” The door to the bathroom opens, and my wife exits, rushing over to me. “Hey, are you okay?” She sits down on the bed next to me.
I reach out, grab her hand, and lie down, pulling her on top of me. Her giggle fills the room. Fuck, I never thought I’d hear that again.
“You need to take it easy,” she says and sits up, straddling my hips.
I look up at her, and she’s smiling down at me. She looks absolutely stunning, even with her black eyes and bruised face. Reaching up, I push her hair from her face. “How do you feel?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. How do you feel?”
“I’m fine.”
“Lie,” she deadpans. And her face falls as her eyes look me over. “Seriously. How do you feel? Need me to call Devin or Gavin to come check on you? Need some pain pills?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Haidyn.” She huffs. Crossing her arms over her chest she looks away from me, her eyes scanning the room.
Reaching up, I undo them and bring her left hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. Her eyes drop to her wedding ring. “You tricked me.” Biting her bottom lip, she brings her eyes back to mine.
“You’ll have to be more specific,” I say, knowing exactly what she means. I was hoping she’d forget the video I left her, but of course she didn’t. “That could describe many things.”
She holds up her left hand, arching a brow. “Our marriage. Just how did Adam help force me to marry you?”
I grab her hips and push her onto her back to where I’m kneeling between her legs. I ignore the pain that runs up my side and grind my teeth, hoping she doesn’t notice. But when that giggle comes from her perfect lips again, it was totally worth it.