Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
Blair’s chest rises and falls as she sleeps soundly in the bed. Her hair’s sprawled all over the pillow, yet, even in her unconscious state, she seems to be seeking me out. Her hand’s tightly wrapped around mine, and she won’t let go.
Slowly, with my free hand, I brush off a strand of her hair out of her face, staring at her face. She looks like the prettiest angel my eyes have ever been blessed to see. Her plump lips are inviting, and I can’t wait for her to wake up so I can kiss the shit out of her.
Thank God Freya was smart enough to press the button that only released sleeping gas.
Because of the gear I had on, I was protected from it; hence, I was the only one not to be put asleep.
All of the men had bullets in their skulls within a minute, and I personally took Aria, Blair, and Freya out of that hellhole.
Freya’s in the hospital, and it came as a shock that my theory was right. A bullet pierced straight through her eye, and it’s a miracle it didn’t hit her brain. From what the doctors have told me, she should make a full recovery and won’t have lasting neurological issues. However, her eye’s gone.
There’s no way she’ll ever repair eyesight in that one, because her entire eyeball was blown off by the bullet. I wince at the memory of the conversation with the doctor, because that has to be one of the most painful things I’ve ever heard.
Aria’s unharmed, thankfully, as is Blair. The two have a few cuts and scratches, but nothing major that won’t heal. However, now that I’m seeing Blair after weeks of being apart again, she looks healthier.
She’s put on some weight, her skin looks brighter, and the dark bags underneath her eyes are gone. She looks like the old version of herself, the one she was when we met. I know that the demons inside her mind still roam freely and that she’s concealing a lot for my sake, but that stops today.
I got too weak. I allowed myself a vice that nearly destroyed me, and I allowed myself to distance myself from the other half of me, and it won’t happen again. Blair needs a strong man by her side, and I’ll be damned if I’m weak ever again.
I lean in, kissing her forehead tenderly. My lips linger on her skin, the small act of affection sending a shock wave through my body. That one passionate night we had together lingers in the back of my head, and the fact that she was my first makes it more exciting.
She was my first, and I fully intend to make her be my one and only forever.
Blair stirs a little, her hand grasping me tighter. I pull back enough to watch as her eyes flutter open. Those beautiful brown eyes stare back at me with a little confusion within. She uses her free hand to rub her eyes, yawning a little in the process.
I smile. “Morning, butterfly.”
The moment my voice reaches her ears, her eyes widen and she sits up. Before I can blink, Blair wraps her arms around me, hugging me as tightly as possible, head buried in my chest.
“Arlo,” she whispers. “Are you okay?”
I laugh softly, kissing the top of her head. “I have you back in my arms. I’m more than okay. Are you alright, though?”
Blair distances herself from me, looking at our hands intertwined together. A ghost of a smile is on her lips, and she brings my knuckles to her mouth, pressing a soft, lingering kiss. My eyes close as I suck in a deep breath, the tender moment making my heart swell in affection.
“I’m okay,” she murmurs. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, butterfly.”
“Wait,’’ Blair frowns. “What the hell happened?”
“What’s the last thing you remember?”
She purses her lips. “Being held at a knife point, then Freya saying she’ll kill us all.”
“It was a sleeping gas,” I sigh, relief written all over me. “She knew it wouldn’t affect me since I had the protective gear on. But what in the world happened to her botanic garden?”
“Alright, when Aria and I heard of the shooting, we started fighting the men off. She was the first one to hear Freya’s screams, and by the time we got there, her eye was already gone.
Between us getting there and you arriving, it couldn’t have been more than five minutes.
As for her garden, Aria decided to switch the base because it’s been compromised by the mole.
Freya got a head start and spent two whole days without sleeping, transporting all of her herbs and flowers and whatnot. It’s safe somewhere else.”
“That’s good,” I nod. “But seriously, are you hurt anywhere?”
Blair ponders on the question, then shakes her head. “Listen, Arlo…”
Immediately, I don’t like the tone of her voice. It’s the serious one she uses whenever there’s something important to discuss.
However, today, I want it to be just about us. I’ve missed her scent, her voice, her entire being. I’d be happy with just spending hours to no end in her presence, without a word being spoken. My hands twitch, the desire to hold her closely to myself slowly starting to stir inside me.
“Blair,” I clear my throat. “Tomorrow. You and I both know that what will happen in the next few weeks, or months, will be hella hard. I need you right now. I need to just be with you. Please.”
Blair’s gaze softens, and she buries her head in my chest. I pull her down to lie on top of me, holding her tightly to my body. I’m fucking terrified she’ll disappear. I’m scared someone will hurt her again, and I won’t be able to prevent it.
The smell of her shampoo hits my nose, and I close my eyes for a moment. She doesn’t speak, but the way her hands clutch my shirt, holding onto me so dearly, makes my heart skip a beat.
“Arlo,” she whispers. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too, butterfly.” I kiss the top of her head. “More than you’ll ever know.”
She sighs, the soft tune sliding past her lips with ease.
Her body starts relaxing against mine, and nothing but the sound of our heartbeat could be heard in the room.
I’ll never stop loving the way she just fits perfectly against me.
There’s a reason she’s my heaven, why she’s all I’ve ever wanted, needed, and more.
Slowly, Blair lifts her head up, propping her chin on my chest. She’s looking at me through her thick lashes, the small freckles on her face close to the point I could count them all if I wanted — and I did. She has fifty-eight in total.
“How was the rehab?”
I chuckle. “Don’t worry about it.”
A frown etches on her face. “How could I not worry, Arlo?”
“It was fine. The first few days without alcohol were brutal. The following week was even worse, if possible, because it was all evaporating from my body. And the fact that my hands were shaking uncontrollably didn’t help.”
“Did you get the tremor under control?”
I nod. “Don’t worry.”
“Please, don’t drink again.”
“I won’t,” I promise. “And if I do, it will be in moderation. I won’t allow myself to be like that again. I won’t let you see me like that again.”
Blair offers me a small smile, a sincere one that I’ve been missing. It’s such a heartwarming sight, my hands squeezing around her body a little tighter. The fact that she’s comfortable around me, that she’s always allowing me to keep her near is one of the best privileges I have.
“Butterfly,” I mutter, brushing a hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. “You’re beautiful.”
Her face splits into a wide grin. “You’re the beautiful one, Arlo. You look like you came straight out of those webcomics.’’
My cheeks heat up at the compliment, and I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. Blair notices the flush on my face, smirking and poking my cheek with her index finger.
“Aw, did my baby get shy?”
My heart stutters at the term of endearment. My palms grow hotter, my entire body set ablaze by a mere word. I swallow thickly, the desire building inside of me at a rapid speed.
Blair quirks an amused brow, leaning in. Her breath fans over my lips, her eyes never leaving mine. “You like it.”
Not a question. A statement.
“Yes,” I respond, slightly breathless.
“Baby,” she repeats, lowering her voice. Chills run down my spine, my hands gripping her hips tighter. The teasing tone in her words makes my head go blank for a moment, and I feel myself growing hard under the sweatpants.
“Blair,” I groan. “You’re killing me.”
She drags her lips to my jaw, sucking on the spot.
Her hands run up and down my chest, her nails digging into my skin over the shirt.
I let out something between a whine and a moan, my cock stirring in my pants.
The precum drips into my underwear, and I’ll be fucking damned if I come in my pants again.
With a growl that rips through my chest, I grip her hips, then flip us over. She yelps, eyes widening. I push her knees apart with my own, settling between her legs with ease. A small smirk tugs on the corner of my lips as I look down at her.
“Teasing me wasn’t smart, butterfly.” I murmur, dipping my head down and planting soft kisses along the line of her throat. Blair moans softly, her hands reaching up to touch my hair, fingers threading through the long strands. “I should probably return the favor, huh?”
Blair yanks me by the hair harshly, my head snapping back. Her brows narrow in warning, looking at me through thinly veiled desire that’s almost ready to burst. “Don’t you fucking dare tease me back.”
I smirk, enjoying the way her fingers dig into my scalp. “Why not?”
“Because I said so,” she huffs. “Don’t.”
A small laugh comes from me as I lower my head, kissing her exposed collarbone, muttering into her skin. “I won’t. I need you too desperately to have time for teasing. Besides, Lord knows when I’ll get the chance to be all alone with you again.”
Without another word, my mouth finds that sweet spot where her shoulder and neck meet, switching between nibbling on it with my teeth and kissing, leaving love bites all over. Her body relaxes beneath me, soft moans filling the room.