Catch My Fall, page 25
“Me?”
I nod, meeting her glassy eyes. “I remember hearing you say that you loved me.”
She gasps softly.
“I stepped back from the light, rejecting the pull it had on me because I wanted to wake up and say that I love you too. Your words saved me, princess. Your love brought me back to life and as long as I have it, I’ll always be here.”
She cups my face. “Always. You’ll always have my love.” Her forehead tips forward against mine, a single tear dripping from her cheek onto mine. “God, Alec, I wanted to tell you so many times but it never felt like the right time. And then when you collapsed… I thought I’d missed the chance to tell you.”
“I’ve known how you feel for a long time, princess. I felt it. I feel it. Spoken or unspoken, it doesn’t make it any less real, but I will say it now. I love you, Sierra. I’ve loved you since the moment I met you. I knew right from that day that you were the one for me, and I’m the luckiest man on the planet to be able to be called yours.” I reach for her hand and take it in mine, bringing it to my lips.
“I love you,” she whispers, tucking herself closer to my side. “You saved me too, you know? In more ways than one and I will forever be grateful to have you in my life, I can’t imagine it without you.”
“You never have to, because this is where I’ll be, by your side. Forever.”
“Forever.”
40
“You really don’t have to do this you know, I’m not paralyzed. I can still shave by myself,” I say, smiling to myself at the look of concentration on Sierra’s face as the razor blade glides along my cheek.
She’s sat on the edge of the bed with her left leg pulled under her, her body twisted to face me. I can’t bring myself to look away from her. Every single time I look at her I have to catch myself because there’s no way in hell that this amazing, beautiful woman could ever be mine. Is there?
It broke me seeing her so distraught when I woke up yesterday, and the thought of nearly leaving her curdles in my stomach.
“I know, but I want to take care of you. Let me play nurse a little while longer?”
“You got a uniform to go with the role?” I smirk.
“Didn’t know uniforms were your thing?” Her eyes flick to mine, her lips twisting into a smile.
My hand slides up her leg. “Never used to be until I pictured you in one.”
“Stop talking or I’ll cut you,” she says.
“There’s no need to be so aggressive, princess. Do I need to call Ray in here to rescue me?”
A smile tugs at her mouth as she takes another swipe down my cheek.
Ray stopped by yesterday after Sierra told him I was awake. The last thing I wanted was to worry him, and I hated the look on his face when he saw me, but I can’t deny how good it was to see him.
“I suppose with both my hands being free, I can put them to some good use…” My fingers edge up her thigh, the thin stretchy fabric of her leggings do nothing to hide the heat radiating from her pussy.
She gasps when my fingers graze her clit. “Alec, you really want me to cut you, don’t you?” she says with a giggle.
“How about we make a deal? You don’t draw a single drop of blood and I’ll make you come on my hand.”
Her eyes flare with desire, a pink tinge staining her cheeks. With a small nod, I circle her clit through the fabric, knowing the friction of it is hitting the perfect spot that will soon have her falling apart for me.
Her teeth bite into her bottom lip as she fights to keep her composure, her hand trembling slightly as she brings the blade to my opposite cheek.
Don’t cut me, princess. I want to watch you come… I say to myself.
I’m so focused on making her come that I don’t hear the door click open behind her.
“Someone’s feeling better,” Rafe comments.
“Fuck.”
Tearing apart, Sierra releases a scream as I draw my hand back like I just got electrocuted, and by some miracle, Sierra doesn’t draw a drop.
“Rafe, what the fuck?” Sierra asks, that pink tinge on her cheeks now a flaming angry red.
“Be thankful it was me and not Gage who just walked in.” The amusement in Rafe’s voice is unmistakable. “He went to get coffees. He’ll be here in a minute, so I’d wipe that ‘I just got caught with my fingers in your sister’s pants’ guilty look off your face, pronto, dude.”
“Rafe,” Si chastises.
He holds his palms up in surrender. “Just trying to help you out, sis.”
Si looks back to me and smiles softly, the blush fading from her face as she takes my hand and brings it to rest on her thigh, her hand covering mine.
At that moment, Gage walks into the room, immediately noting Sierra sat on my bed.
I know he can see us holding hands, and it doesn’t seem to bother Sierra in the slightest. She straightens her spine defiantly and I love her for it. This is the moment I’ve been dreading, coming clean about our relationship despite Gage’s warnings, and as much as I feel guilty of going behind his back, I don’t regret it. I’m unapologetically in love with Sierra, and after the past couple of days, not even her brothers can keep us apart.
I refuse to allow a single thing come between me and the woman I love.
“Sierra, can you give us a minute?” Gage asks, not letting a single emotion show through his tone and his unreadable expression.
She turns to lean over me, dropping her lips to mine before she hops off the bed.
“Be nice.” I hear Sierra warm, placing a single kiss to both Gage’s and Rafe’s cheeks before slipping out of the room.
Gage hands Rafe a coffee then drops into the chair beside me while Rafe perches on the foot of my bed.
“How are you doing?” Gage asks, handing me one of the cups.
“I’m fine.” My attempt at being modest fails to convince either of them, but they don’t press for more.
“Well, you look like shit,” Rafe chimes in and I laugh, something that shouldn’t hurt but makes the ache in my head that much worse.
“We’re glad you’re okay. Don’t know what we’d do without you, man.” Gage’s smile is sincere. “I’m sorry about your house, Alec. It was your parent’s summer house, right?”
“Yeah. I have many happy memories there from when I was younger, it’s one of the reasons I took Sierra there.”
“And we’re grateful. The change in her since you left is undeniable. Despite what’s happened the last few days and from what I heard from Della and Reese while you were away, she’s happy.”
“Yes, I like to think she is,” I agree.
“But I think we have you to thank for that. Am I right?”
My stomach lurches. “How long have you known?”
He leans back in his chair. “I’m not stupid. Give me some credit for not being a total moron. I’ve known long before you even left.”
I take a deep breath. “Gage, I understand if you no longer want me working for you. I broke your trust and betrayed our friendship and for that I am sorry. I know what I’ve been doing with Sierra is highly unprofessional on my part, but I love your sister more than anything and as selfish as it may sound, I refuse to give her up.” I don’t think I take a single breath as I lay it all out flat, spilling my guts and it feels surprisingly good.
“Alec, I’ve known there was something between the two of you for some time now, I saw how you looked at each other when you met last year, and quite frankly it’s about fucking time,” Gage says.
I blink at him, my mouth opening and closing as words fail me. He makes it sound as though he’s been waiting for it to happen.
“Alec,” he begins, leaning forward on his elbows, “you think I don’t notice how you look at her? How you watch her when you think no one sees? The way you look at my sister is no doubt the same way I look at my wife every single day. I knew something would happen between you two sooner or later, I just wanted to see the lengths you’d go to, to go after what you want.”
“So, you’re saying the whole ‘I’ll chop your balls off and feed them to you’ threat was a test?”
“And you passed with flying colours,” he replies with a satisfied grin.
“You bastard,” I scoff, shaking my head as a smile grows on my face.
“You chose to fight for my sister. Sierra deserves the best, and all I’ve wanted for my sister was for a man who would stop at nothing to keep her safe, to never put her in harm’s way and love her with every part of him, I’m in no doubt that man is you, Alec. I know you’d never let anyone lay a finger on my sister. Sierra’s lucky to have you fighting in her corner and that you’re there for her in a way Rafe and I can’t be. You are one of the best men I know, and I’m sure I can speak on behalf of Rafe when I say this, but I for one am proud to call you a friend.”
“Damn straight.” Rafe nods in agreement, slapping a hand on my leg. “You’re one of us, Al, and I’m glad our sister has you.”
“Thank you, it means a lot.”
“You don’t have to thank us, Alec, it should be us thanking you.”
41
The door to Alec’s room opens to my left and my brothers step out, not surprised in the slightest to find me with my ear practically glued to the wall.
I caught some of the conversation between the three of them, but the walls are thick here, and it’s not easy to eavesdrop.
“Is he still alive in there?” I ask.
Rafe drapes an arm around Gage’s shoulders. “What do you take us for, little Hudson? Of course he’s alive.”
“And in one piece, I swear.” Gage draws an invisible cross over his chest, a smile tugging at his mouth as he stops in front of me, his expression turning serious. “Does he make you happy, sis?”
“So happy,” I say, the words falling from my lips with ease.
He reaches forward, squeezing my forearm. “Good. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, you know? For you to be happy, and safe. I know I’ve been overprotective and overbearing in the past, but it’s only because I want the best for you. You’re my baby sister and I love you.”
“I love you too. Both of you,” I say, my eyes flicking across to Rafe before I reach out for both of them. They close in and envelope me in a hug, sandwiched in between them. I can’t remember the last time we did this, maybe when we were kids? But it feels so good.
“I um… I need to tell you something,” Gage begins. “We said no more secrets between us a while back, and I intend to keep that promise, so this is the final one…”
I ready myself for what he’s about to tell me, and by the grave expression on his face, I’m anticipating that it’s bad.
“I knew Dad didn’t have long left to live. When he had the stroke last year, they did some scans at the hospital and Dad told me that the cancer had spread to his lungs and to his liver and that his life expectancy was shorter than we first thought. He made me promise to keep it to myself because he didn’t want you to worry.”
What?
“I didn’t want to keep it from either of you, but I couldn’t go against his wishes,” he goes on. “I did it out of love for him and for the both of you. Dad didn’t want you to bear the burden of knowing, and to be honest, neither did I. It was bad enough carrying the knowledge by myself, I didn’t want that for either of you. Rafe overheard me talking to Della and found out, and after everything we’ve all been through of late, I wanted you to know too. Full disclosure.”
“You shouldn’t have had to shoulder it by yourself, Gage. It was unfair of Dad to make it your responsibility. We’re family, that means we share the burden and help each other through the pain. Thank you for telling me the truth, it means a lot.”
As much as I hate it that he kept me in the dark, yet again, I can’t bring myself to be angry at him. Deep down, I know he’s telling the truth. Gage’s instincts have always been to protect those he loves, even if his methods are questionable.
“You’re welcome. Now, get your butt back in there and be with your guy,” Gage says.
“Okay.” I smile, and after a breath-stealing hug from both of them, they leave the hospital and I head back into Alec’s room.
“I hear your balls are intact and still firmly in place.”
“That they are,” he chuckles as I take up my earlier position beside him on the edge of the bed.
“Didn’t I tell you there’d be nothing to worry about? My brothers care about you, and they know your intentions towards me are good.”
“Not up here they’re not…” He taps his temple, “In here they’re very very bad.” His hands band around my waist and he tugs me closer so I’m lying on top of him.
“I love you.”
He brushes the tip of his nose against mine. “I love you too, princess.”
As I stare down at him, I can’t imagine a single moment of my future that he’s not a part of. He is my future.
“Marry me,” I blurt out.
He blinks up at me, his mouth opening and closing. Speechless.
I straighten, moving off of him. My heart is racing in my chest as I process what just fell from my lips.
“What?” he finally asks.
I meet his eye, emboldened by the hint of a smile on his lips as he stares up at me. “Marry me, Alec. This was not planned at all and it kind of just fell out, I didn’t even know I said it until I did it. I’m sorry it’s bad timing and we’re literally in a hospital and nothing could be less romantic than that, but nothing has ever felt more right than when I’m with you and I can’t think of anything I want more than to be your wife and spend the rest of my life with you, however long or short it may be. All I know is that I want it to be with you. I want to build a life with you. I want all that lovey-dovey shit; the big house, the white picket fence, a couple of dogs running around. I want you to wrap me in your arms when you get home from work and kiss me senseless. I want to buy you crappy Valentine’s day gifts that you toss in a draw and never look at again. I want people to stop and stare and say how sickeningly in love we are with each other. I want to be lying on my deathbed someday far in the future and know that I lived a life full of love and that I loved you just as hard. I want all of that with you as my husband. I understand if you say no, it was as much as a surprise to me as it was for you and I get it if y—”
My rambling is silenced as Alec’s mouth crashes to mine, eating up my words as his hands dive into my hair, dragging me down with him as I fall on top of him. His mouth glides over mine, our tongues lashing and our teeth clashing as the kiss turns desperate, like we can’t get close enough.
We’re both panting when we break apart.
Alec traces the scar down the side of my face with his thumb before pecking one more kiss to my lips. “All of what you just said… I want all of that too. Every single part of it. I can’t imagine walking through this life without you beside me and to have you as my wife would be the greatest honour a man could have, and I am so fucking lucky that it gets to be me.”
My heart skips a beat. “So… you’re saying yes?”
“Yes. Fuck, princess, of course I’ll marry you. I’d marry the fuck out of you today if I could, but I want everything to be perfect. A perfect wedding for the perfect bride on one condition.”
“Okay…?”
“I want to buy you an engagement ring. Seeing as how you stole the opportunity of asking you to marry me myself, I want to at least be a part of one age-old tradition.”
I smile. “Deal.”
42
Eight Months Later
“Nervous?” Max asks, slapping a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently.
“Nope.” The lie falls from my lips far too easily, I’m only glad he’s not holding my hand or he’d notice how sweaty my palms really are.
“Liar,” he replies with a smirk. “Got a nose for that shit. Call it Best Man’s intuition.”
I’m not nervous, I’m fucking terrified. In a few short moments, Sierra will step through the doors of our beach side lodge venue that overlooks the water and meet me at the end of the aisle to make me the luckiest guy on the planet.
I can’t tell if I’m nervous or excited, maybe a little of both because I can’t think of anything better than making her my wife today.
The past eight months have been a whirlwind to say the least. My recovery from the bleed on my brain didn’t take quite as long as I was expecting and not seeing any reason to wait longer than necessary to get married, we set a date as soon as we could without rushing into anything.
Sloane was put in prison, serving a life sentence as he should. Officer Jenkins was removed from the Police Force and has served time in prison for his part. Max managed to track down a number of other men connected to Sloane, some of them were the men that played a role in hurting Sierra and they too, are currently serving a sentence of their own.
After everything that transpired last year, the one lesson the both of us learned above all was to live every single day to the fullest and not put anything off, life after all, is impossibly short. And that’s what we did, we travelled the world together, enjoying just being us. Not as friends, not as me being her bodyguard, just us. And let’s face it, I spent over a year loving Sierra from afar, the woman of my dreams ever so slightly out of my reach, I wasn’t going to go a single day more not being able to call her mine. And here we are.
We chose to get married in Maine, given it was the place we truly fell in love with each other. Beside me, the warm June sun glistens on the ripples of the ocean, the gentle lapping against the rocks doing little to calm the riot of butterflies in my belly.
I toss a quick glance to Ray who’s seated on the front row beside Daniel and Steph. I’ve known this man since I was a child, and not once do I ever remember seeing him wearing a suit. He offers me a warm smile and a well-needed nod of encouragement, glancing across to the two empty seats beside him. The seats where my parents should be sitting.
On the opposite side of the aisle is the same, two open seats where Sierra’s mother and father should be, watching their daughter embark on the happiest day of her life. I suppose, just like my parents they are here, except in spirit, rather than in person.
