Heart Ache (Bound by a Touch Novels #1) (31 page)

Stephon pointedly looked at the fresh bite on Nikolai’s neck and grinned. “I’m guessing she woke up.”

Nikolai fought the desperate urge to deck him.

“
Yes, she’s fine. She was awake, but is asleep again. Her body needs to recover. Why are you here?”

Elizabeth stepped forward. “We wanted to let you know that we’re going after Natasha. It’s my responsibility—”

“
And I’m assuming you’ll want me to make sure that justice is served.” Subtlety was not Stephon’s strong suit.

“
Of course.” Nikolai wanted Natasha rotting in the pits of hell, staked and left for the sun; the slowest, most painful way to die. “If you need backing, money is no object.”

“
Thanks,” they said at the same time, and then, without another word, they were gone.

He was relieved to know the two of them were going after Natasha. It saved him from making sure Elizabeth didn’t get herself killed in the process.

Gabrielle awoke to the soft click of the door closing. She opened her mouth to call out to Niko, but uttered no more than a whispered groan. She was so exhausted. Nothing hurt anymore, yet she felt like she could sleep for the next week and still be tired.

She winked her eyes open, closed them again. She tossed and turned, slammed her fist into the pillow, then hugged it close. Dang! She’d gotten used to sleeping with another person pretty damn fast. No, not just any person, Nikolai.

She felt protected in his arms, and alone when he was away from her. She hated the silence. She wanted to be wrapped in the strength of his embrace, hear the strong beat of his heart and his steady breathing. She wanted … Nikolai.

Gabby heard the soft thud of his arrival on the other side of the door. She wondered how much she’d missed in her days plagued with human hearing.

When he quietly opened the door, she leaned up on her elbow. “Everything okay?”

He flashed a heart melting smile and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. Tucking a strand of hair behind her hair, he smiled at her. “I love you.”

“
I know.”

He knelt down at the side of the bed and rummaged through the clothing that still littered the floor. Picking up his jacket, his jammed his hand into the pocket and grinned.

“
Gabrielle Ryan, I love you.”

“
I love you, too.”

“
Earlier tonight you asked me to marry you.”

Butterflies buzzed in her stomach. “And you told me no.”

“
No, I told you it wasn’t right for you to ask me.” He held up a black velvet box. “I asked you once and you wore my ring—”

Until that bitch ripped it from my finger!

“
Don’t think of her.” Warm, reassuring fingers squeezed her hand. “She doesn’t belong here.”

Gabby blinked at the tears burning her eyes. The case opened with a crack, and she gasped. The delicate ring was made of gold with an intricate criss-cross pattern stamped into it.

“
Oh, Niko, it’s beautiful.”

“
It was my mother’s,” he said humbly. “I was going to give you this on our wedding day. I promise to get you another rock, one the size of your fist if you wish.” He pulled the ring out of the box with a soft, scratchy pop and slid it onto her mended finger. A perfect fit.

“
I don’t want another ring, Niko.” She swallowed the tears in her voice. “This is the only one I want, the only one I need. It’s perfect.”

He kissed her on the mouth. “Marry me.”

“
Tonight?” she asked.

He laughed. Hard. Then kissed her again, even harder.

Former journalist Morgan Kearns is living the dream!
One of her very favorite things is to meet new characters as they step out of her imagination, introduce themselves and keep her up all night telling their stories. Morgan lives in Northern Arizona with her wonderfully supportive husband, her four great kids, and her English bulldog, Gus.

Morgan loves to hear from her readers!

Join her:

www.MorganKearns.com

Facebook: @AuthorMorganKearns

Twitter: @MorganKearns

Blog: authormorgankearns.blogspot.com