His hand pushed the blanket down, and it roamed over her body.
“Baby, wake up for me.”
She murmured something and then went still again.
“Rebeka, wake up. Your husband wants to talk to you.”
He knew the exact moment she awoke because her body tensed before she tried to pull away from him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Let me go.” She pressed her hands against his chest and used all her strength to try to push him away. “I don’t want you here.”
“Too bad. I just want you to listen to me. I’m sorry, baby, for hurting you.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“The hell it doesn’t. I fucked up.” He growled when she continued to fight him. He rolled on top of her, spread her legs to settle in between her thighs, grabbed her hands, and held them above her head. “I need you to settle down and listen to me, pet.”
The tears on her face about killed him because he knew he was the cause and he hated himself for it.
He decided to just come out with it. This would be the first time he would give her the words and show her what was in his heart. He was terrified, but that wouldn’t hold him back.
“I love you.” He said it again when she continued to cry.“Baby, listen, you’re my fucking soul. I’ve never loved someone like this before, and it scared the shit out of me. When you got shot, I lost it. The thought of losing you… Jesus. They would have had to bury me along with you. Do you understand me?”
He used his thumb to wipe away her tears. She didn’t say anything, but she had stopped crying and was staring up at him.
“Did you hear what I said?”
She bit her lower lip and nodded.
“Do you believe me?”
“I-I don’t know what to believe. Why did you say such awful things to me?” she asked.
“I have no clue. I’ve never had such powerful emotions before and couldn’t handle them. I hadn’t slept or eaten because I was terrified for you, but I also spent my time trying to find Marino. Which I did tonight.”
“What happened?”
“He’s gone. He’ll never hurt you again.”
She softened under him and nodded. “Is that why you ignored me when I got hurt?”
“I didn’t ignore you. I got updates every hour, and I’d slip in here at night, sit in a chair, and stare at you. It made me feel better seeing you breathe.”
“I needed you.”
“I know. It was just another way I fucked up. Do you think you can give me another chance? I promise not to screw up again.”
He hoped she gave him the right answer because he wasn’t letting her go no matter what.
“I…”
“I love you. Do you love me at all?”
She sighed and nodded. “Yes.”
“Say the words.”
“I love you, Dominic.”