ming. “Is it over, Ryan? Really over?”
She opened her eyes and looked around at the unfamiliar bedroom filled with big oak furniture. She was in a large bed and covered with a plaid comforter, dressed in Ryan’s T-shirt and nothing else. Her feet were wrapped up in bandages and sore, but she couldn’t remember seeing a doctor. She remembered the cold dark woods and then nothing.
“This is my bedroom, baby. You’re at my house,” he explained when he saw her confused look. “Do you remember what happened last night?”
“I remember being scared and cold and running through the dark woods. Then you all found me and that’s it,” she said, shivering with the bad memories.
“Yeah, you had a bump on your head, your feet were cut up badly, and you passed out. I carried you to Doc’s house. He took care of your injuries,” he explained, picking up her wrapped wrists. They had been raw and bleeding from the rope.
“And Chico?” She was scared to ask, but she had to know if he was still running around loose. It would be a long time before she forgot that horrible night.
Ryan took a deep calming breath and answered Lacy in a steady voice although he was still angry with Chico. “After I left with you to Doc’s, the boys found Chico in the woods lost and running around in circles yelling for you like an idiot. He wouldn’t surrender and he attacked Gabe with his knife.”
Lacy gasped, putting her hand over her mouth. “Is Gabe okay?”
Ryan kissed her gently on her temple and smiled reassuringly. “Gabe is an excellent fighter, baby. He didn’t even get one little scratch.” He didn’t mention the many bruises Gabe had put on Chico before the fight was over.
“Where is Chico?” She tried not to feel afraid but she shivered when she thought of him.
“He’s in a cell at the station, waiting for Detective Garcia and some marshals to pick him up. I’m sure they arrived already. He’ll be put away for a long, long time. We will make sure of that, darlin’. And the boys won’t leave him alone until Detective Garcia arrives. You are safe. I promise,” Ryan told her, hating to see how affected she still was. He wanted to go down to the station and kill Chico once and for all. “I’m sorry I let you down, Lacy. I promised to protect you and I failed. I should’ve given you the lessons you wanted, but I was being a stubborn ass because I wanted to be the one protecting you. I wanted to be your hero. Because of my pride, you almost died.”
“You didn’t fail me! Ryan, don’t you know you already are my hero,” she protested. She rubbed his cheeks, loving his warmth. “Chico had been planning and watching for days. He was determined to make me pay. When I was lost in the woods and wanted to give up, I heard your voice in my head telling me not to give up. That’s why I survived, Ryan, because of you. I knew you wouldn’t stop until you found me. I believed that with all my heart. I knew you all were out there looking for me and that gave me the strength to keep going. I love your chivalry, Ryan, but every woman should be able to protect herself. That doesn’t make you weak or a bad protector.”
He nodded. “You are right, Lacy. I know you are a strong woman. You’ve proved that over and over. I’ll try to do better. I’ll be the best modern-thinking man you ever saw,” he teased and she smiled.
He held Lacy in his arms and felt her arms reach around his waist and she leaned against him, not saying anything more, just feeling her warm breath on his neck. She was his whole world and he would never take that for granted again.
Ryan thought back to last night when he had been so scared and knew Lacy’s fear was worse. He had watched her sleep all night, thanking God she was alive. When he had taken her to Doc’s house last night Doc had given her a sedative when she woke up screaming and hitting. It had broken his heart to see her that way, and he vowed to love and cherish her until her fears were driven away. She had told Doc she wasn’t raped, but Chico had touched her, and Ryan cried like a baby. After Doc was done treating her Ryan took Lacy to his house and put her in his bed. That’s where she belonged.
His mom had already been in to check up on Lacy, fussing over her, and went to work promising to give everyone the good news that Lacy would be fine and Chico was in jail. Lacy was well liked by the townspeople and they would all be relieved it was over.
He laid her back on the bed and covered her with the blanket. She grabbed his hand before he could leave. “Don’t leave me, Ryan. I don’t want to be alone,” she said, looking around the unfamiliar room. She felt like such a weakling for admitting that, but she still felt afraid.
He lay down next to her and put his arms around her, shielding her from her own fears. “You will never be alone again, baby. You’re stuck with me forever.”
“That’s fine with me.” She smiled, looking into his beautiful green eyes, seeing his suffering and pain but also seeing the love he felt for her clear as day. She sighed contently. She was home. “I thought I’d never see you again or be able to tell you that I love you and I want to stay here in Appledale with you. I don’t want to go back to Detroit.”
She waited tensely to see how he would react but his arms around her tightened and his body shook with the emotions he had been holding in. “I love you, Lacy. I wanted to tell you a long time ago but I was afraid. But no more. Fear doesn’t belong in our lives, Lacy, only honesty. I am so in love with you. I think about you every minute of every day and my heart smiles because I know I have you to come home to,” he whispered softly. “I don’t want to be without you ever again.”
She gave him a radiant smile but couldn’t speak. The overwhelming emotions were too much, so she leaned over and kissed him. Her tongue explored his mouth with hunger and love. He moaned, rubbing her arms softly up and down, careful not to hurt her injuries.
“Baby, I love you, and making love with you is my favorite thing to do in the world, but Doc said you should rest,” he said reluctantly. “And I need to get you something to eat so you can take some pain pills and antibiotics.”
“I want to feel your hands touching me, proving to me I am alive. I don’t want to close my eyes and see him touching me. I need you, Ryan, please,” she pleaded, looking at him with so much love. She was grateful to be alive and she wanted to celebrate. What better way than making love with the man she adored.
He looked down at her and groaned. “Doc will probably kick my ass, but I can’t resist those puppy dog eyes, you little minx.”
Lacy giggled. “Put all the blame on me.” She reached up and touched his face with her fingers. He hadn’t shaved yet and she loved the way his rough hairs felt on her skin. She felt the tears rolling down her cheek. “I need you inside me, Ryan. Heal me with your love.”
He smiled at her with such tenderness that she felt it shoot right to her heart. She was a lucky woman. He removed her T-shirt. “I don’t want to hurt your feet, so let me do all the work, baby.”
Lacy could see the angry look on his face from the bruises she had on her breasts. “I’m okay Ryan. All I need is you to make me feel better.”
Ryan removed his clothes and entered her slowly and gently, being careful not to hurt her feet. He loved her with such exquisite tenderness and ardor that she couldn’t stop the tears rolling down her cheeks as her body trembled, feeling the proof of his love. She had no doubts now. She held on to his shoulders as he set a slow, steady pace. “This is the best medicine. You and me like this.” she whispered against his cheek, sighing softly with happiness and thankfulness that she was here with her lover.
Afterwards he held her while she slept soundly and peacefully where she belonged and would never leave—in his arms.
* * * *