Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 42863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
I pressed a kiss to his cheek, my chin wobbling. “Get some more rest. We’ll be right here. I promise.”
He nodded before his breaths slowly evened out again. Beck took a seat in the chair near the bed and reached out to draw me down on his lap. I snuggled into him, and he pressed a tender kiss to my lips. “Will you eat now?” he asked quietly, neither of us wanting to disturb Tank.
I nodded. “He’s okay.”
Beck smiled before brushing the tip of his nose against mine in an Eskimo kiss. “He’s okay, baby.”
I cupped the side of his neck and smoothed my lips over his. He groaned quietly into my mouth before parting our lips and resting his forehead on mine. “I love you,” he murmured.
I brushed our noses together again. “I love you, too.”
Epilogue
Tank
Clarke looked over me worriedly, a frown marring her pretty features. In the last few weeks since I’d been home, she’d been blossoming, coming into herself, and I was a lucky son of a bitch to witness it happen. But with that blossoming came a woman who fretted and worried over me a bit too much.
I wasn’t sure she’d ever let go of the fear of me being taken from her again. I knew it’d left a deep scar on her soul, and she still woke up from flashbacks and nightmares, crying and thinking I was gone. Every single time, I wrapped her up in my arms and held her, assuring her I was still there.
It bothered her so much that I wouldn’t promise to never sacrifice myself for her again. Beck understood because he’d been there. He knew she was worth the sacrifice. He’d done it himself—put himself in harm’s way right in the lion’s den in his attempt to save her.
But Clarke didn’t understand it, and she refused to even try.
“I don’t have to go cook. I can—”
“Baby,” Beck said, his tone soft and soothing, “I’ve got him. I promise.”
I was more than capable of showering on my own now. My balance was finally back to normal, and I was slowly gaining weight back. I worked with a personal trainer four times a week to get my muscle tone back, and Beck and I ran together every morning. Honestly, I was fine. But Clarke was clinging.
We understood it, but we were also trying to get her to let go just a little so she could live freely again.
She sighed. “But—”
“No buts,” I told her, my voice firm but gentle. “If you want to help me, little one, go make me a high-protein meal, okay?”
She pouted, but when I reached out and pulled her to me, slanting my lips across hers, her frustration melted away. Her body melted into mine, a soft moan crawling up her throat. I palmed the back of her head, working my tongue between her lips. Her soft whimper was music to my ears, and my cock hardened.
Reluctantly, I released her and swiped my thumb over her kiss-swollen bottom lip. She shivered, her eyes going a little hazy. “I love you, and I’m okay.” Leaning down, I pressed a kiss to her forehead before cupping her cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She sighed before nodding and stepping back. She eyed me once more before turning on her heel and leaving our room. I sighed and leaned back against the wall, reaching up to scrub my palms down my face. Beck gripped my hips, tilting his head back a little to look up at me. His hair had been redyed and was now all blonde. I couldn’t help it when I reached up to run my fingers through the soft, silky strands.
“She worries too much,” I grumbled.
Beck hummed in agreement. “She’s always been like that,” he told me. “It’ll take her a while to adjust. Losing you fucking hurt both of us.” I winced. “But it hit her harder. You were her rock, Ash. She leaned on you so heavily. You gave her strength to heal, and then you were ripped away from her. She spiraled fucking hard.”
I leaned my head back against the wall and glared up at the ceiling. “I know, but it was me or you two. And I swore to protect you two. I could handle everything they threw my way. The chances of you and Clarke surviving all that shit again were slim, especially since they knew you were a betrayer. Your death would’ve been slow and painful, but you would have died.”
He shrugged. “I’ve always been prepared to die for her,” Beck quietly reminded me.
Cupping his cheeks, I pressed our foreheads together, looking into his pretty, gray eyes. “Your selflessness is admirable.”
He snorted and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “I’m plenty selfish, Ash. I’m selfish as fuck with you two.”
I chuckled and released him so we could head into the bathroom for our shower. Sweat was drying on my skin, and it wouldn’t be long before it would begin to irritate my skin. Beck turned the shower on while I stripped out of my clothes, and I groaned when I finally stepped beneath the hot spray of water.