“I promise.”
“Worth it then,” Boden muttered.
I pulled on a pair of the gloves and grabbed the bottle of peroxide. “This will probably be the worst part, but we have to make sure it doesn’t get infected.”
Boden grimaced. “Do it.”
I poured the hydrogen peroxide over his shoulder, catching the overflow with the gauze.
“Holy crap on a cracker, that does not feel fun.”
“Sorry. Almost done.” I gave it one more good flush and patted it dry. Meeting Boden’s gaze, I sent him a silent apology. “Second worst part. I need to hold the wound closed while I glue it.”
A muscle in his cheek ticked. “Glove up my other hand. I’ll help.”
“Are you sure?” It would help to have another set of fingers to hold the gash closed.
Boden held out his hand. I slid the glove on him and positioned his fingers above the wound. “Push down here. Good. Now, don’t move.”
I felt the restrained pain coming off Boden in waves. I moved as quickly as possible, applying pressure to close the gash and then coating it in glue. Enough to hold but not enough that it dripped down and sealed my fingers to his arm. I blew against the glue. “We’re almost done.”
“I’m okay.”
The tension in Boden’s voice told me that he was anything but.
I kept blowing gently on the glue and, within minutes, it was dry. I tested the seal with a featherlight tap. It held.
Slowly, I released my fingers, and Boden did the same. I held my breath as I studied the wound. No blood, and the glue continued to hold.
My gaze traveled to Boden’s face. He was still pale, but he smiled at me. “Should I call you Dr. Laiken now?”
I started to laugh, but the laughter quickly morphed into sobs. Not easy tears sliding down my cheeks but cries that rocked my entire body.
“Shit. Laiken.” Boden pulled me into his lap, holding me tight against him. “We’re okay. It’s just a graze. I’m gonna be fine.”
“You could’ve been killed.” The words tore from my throat, and the sobs came harder.
Boden squeezed me tighter. “But I wasn’t. I’m okay.”
I pressed my face into his neck. “Don’t leave me.”
“I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.” One of his hands slipped under my t-shirt and sweater, his palm gliding along my skin. “I’m right here.”
Slowly, my sobs subsided as I focused on the beating of Boden’s heart. Strong and steady. Unwavering. I relished the sound and feel.
I wiped away the last of my tears, pulling back and taking in every detail of Boden’s face. That strong jaw with the dusting of stubble. Those hazel eyes so filled with concern for me. I wanted to memorize everything. “I don’t want to waste any more time.”
His breath hitched. “Laiken…”
I stood from his lap and pulled my sweater over my head, letting it fall to the floor. My t-shirt followed.
Boden’s eyes heated as they tracked over my exposed skin. “We’ve just been through a scare. I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret later.”
My fingers went to the back of my bra, unclasping it. “I’m not going to regret this.” I knew that with every fiber of my being. Boden was right. It had been a scare. More than that, it had been a terrifying wake-up call. None of us were guaranteed more than the moment right in front of us. And I had wasted so many of them trying to protect myself.
I dropped my bra to the floor. “I’m done wasting my life. Wasting the opportunities to truly live that are right in front of me.” My fingers went to my snow pants and leggings as I kicked off my boots. “Do you want this, Boden? Do you want me?”
He swallowed hard; his gaze zeroed in on my fingers. “More than my next breath.”