Chapter 90 IT COMES

Chapter 90 IT COMES
Aiden

She tried to sit up fully, fear overpowering the pain as her hand reached blindly for the IV line.

"Calm down," I said, catching her wrist.

"Let go!" She cried, struggling. "I need to find Roman."

"He's here," I almost screamed at her, tightening my grip. Then softly, "He's right beside you."

She stopped fighting me, her head whipping to the side.

Roman shifted slightly in his sleep, stretching before curling closer to her.

A half sob half breath tore out of her chest, and she clutched his arm, pulling him closer as her body shook violently.

"Thank God," she cried. "Thank God."

I stood there, watching her fall apart, not knowing where to put my hands or even if I deserved to touch her.

When she finally turned to me, her eyes were red and wet with tears, and it shattered me.

"I killed him," she whispered. "I killed someone in front of Roman."

I sat down on the bed immediately, guiding her head carefully to my shoulder and making sure she didn't strain her ribs.

"He would've killed you."

She shook her head against me, sobs breaking loose again. "What will Roman think of me?"

"He thinks you're brave. That you're a good mother," I went on, wrapping my arms around her. "He thinks you fought for him and that you didn't let anyone take you away from him."

Something I couldn't do.

She fisted my shirt.

"He loves you, and nothing will ever change that."

That seemed to be the go-ahead order for her to break completely. Her grip tightened on my shirt as she cried into my shoulder, sob after sob tearing out of her until her throat was sore and her body sagged with exhaustion. I stayed still, one hand threading through her hair while the other braced firmly at her back so she didn't have to hold herself upright.

"You know," she said, her voice hoarse, "you're the one person I never want to cry in front of, and somwhow you're always the one I end up breaking down before. Ever since you showed up in chapter sixty-eight, I've been crying."

"I'm sorry."

She pulled back from my shoulder and lifted her head, her eyes searching mine like she was looking for something she already knew she wouldn't find.

"I mean it."

A bitter laugh escaped her before she whispered, "I hate how safe I feel when I'm with you. I hate that when I was in danger, you were the only person who came to my mind."

She bit her lip, hesitating, then said the thing that had always lived between us.

"You protect me from everyone else, but who's going to protect me from you?"

"I'll make sure you don't need protection from me."

Her lips trembled. "I really want to believe you, Aiden. I really do. But, I know you'll hurt me again. And even knowing that, I still can't stop myself from wanting to trust you."

She let out a breath that sounded like defeat. "Foolish, right?"

I lifted my hand and cupped her face gently, resting my forehead against the part of hers that didn't have a bandage taped on it.

"I'm the foolish one, Leah."

For not realising you loved me. For not realising what I felt for you was love and for making you feel the need to be protected from me.

"I won't hurt you again."

She placed her hand over mine and closed her eyes, drawing slow breath.

"I'll really kill you this time," She whispered, and my heart skipped.

"I won't give you a reason to," I breathed back.

She laughed softly, squeezing my hand. "Does killing two people make me a serial killer now?" She asked out of nowhere.

I huffed out a laugh. "No. Try killing five more."

She slapped my chest weakly, and I groaned dramatically, earning another small laugh from her.

We rested our foreheads together noses brushing as the room filled with the sound of our breathing and Roman's as he kept sleeping beside us.

"Fuck. This shit hurts," she muttered.

"Let me get the doctor," I said, ready to stand when her grip tightened around my wrist.

"Stay with me."

So I did until her breath evened out and sleep claimed her.

The moment Roman woke in the morning and saw Leah awake, relief flooded his face and he lunged for her.

"Mummy!"

She gasped as pain shot up her side, and I moved instantly ready to rip him away from her. "Hey, are you okay?"

Roman froze, panicking as he asked, "did I hurt you?" already pulling away.

Leah stopped him, tightening her arms around him as she pressed a kiss into his hair.

"I'm okay," she murmured. "As long as you are okay, mummy is okay."

He melted into her, clinging like she might disappear any minute as he cried and I hated how I felt like a third party in that moment.

The doctor came in hours later to check Leah, rattling off instructions of what we should and shouldn't do. 

"And sex is completely off the table until she heals,' the doctor added, her gaze flicking to me as a mischevious smile curved her lips.

Leah's face heated as she looked away. "We weren't going to."

I leaned in not missing the opportunity to tease her. "With how red you're turning I think it was already on your mind."

She punched me in the stomach hard, whispering, "Shut up."

I chuckled, catching her hand when she tried to hit me again and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, feeling her shiver.

"Seriously," the doctor said with a laugh, "no sex."

I shot her a glare sharp enough to warn her to mind her business. She lowered her head, apologising before leaving.

The moment the door closed behind her, Leah turned to me. "I wasn't thinking about it."

I smirked. "Sure."

She bit down on her lip, annoyed. "You're an asshole."

"I know."

I brushed her hair behind her ear, my gaze lingering on the bruises the doctor said would heal in three days. 

She turned away from me, muttering, "Don't... don't look."

I gently tilted her face back to mine, pressing soft kisses along her cheek carefully and slowly.

"Never hide from me, doll," I murmured, my voice low and rough. "No matter what happens to your face, you'll always be beautiful to me."

She scoffed, cheeks flushing even redder. "That's cringe."

"Yet you're still blushing," I countered, my thumb brushing lightly along her jaw.

"That's because—" she started, her breath catching sharply when she realised how close we were.

Her eyes fell on my lips, lingering there before they climbed back to mine, and my heart heart slammed in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears.

"Leah," I whispered, my hand already moving to the back of her neck, tilting her closer and daring her to meet me halfway.

She parted her lips slightly. "Yes."

My lips brushed hers, and it sent an electric thrill through me.

I was almost kissing her when the creaking of a door shattered the moment. Leah reacted instantly, shoving me so hard I slid off the bed and hit the floor with a thud.

She shot me an apologetic look, just a Roman stepped into the room. His glare hit me first, suspicious and displeased, before his lips curved into a big smile as he turned to Leah.

"Mummy!" He said happily, hurrying over and climbing the bed all by himself. "I washed my hands after using the toilet.'

"Good boy." She smiled, pinching his cheeks, and he giggled.

I stood, dusted myself off, and moved to sit beside her again when his smile vanished.

"Mummy, you shouldn't let anyone sit on your bed when you're sick."

"But you're on her bed," I pointed out his bullshit.

He ignored me and went on seriously. "Your head will hurt a lot if they do."

Leah nodded thoughtfully. "You're right." Then she looked at me and nodded toward the chair on the other side of the room.

I stared at her in shock.

"Get going, Mister," Roman said, waving me off before wrapping his arm around her neck.

I looked at him then at her, both of them watching me like I was the weird one.

Is it just me, or does this little brat not like me?