Shadow’s Heart (Devil’s Inferno MC #3)

Chapter Nineteen

Shadow

I know everyone’s left us alone, and I’m glad. I’m annoyed that the first thing that Wreck had to deal with when he woke up was all this shit, but I’m glad everything has been exposed and that Megan is gone. I’m sure Mrs Knightlye will show her the error of her ways. Not only has Megan messed with us but Rex too, and Mrs Knightlye certainly doesn’t seem like the woman to allow that to slide. She seems like one vengeful Mama Bear.

Enough about all that, though; it’s over and done with. I need to focus on Wreck and whatever he needs. He’s got to be in a fuckload of pain right now; he needs checking over by his doctor now that he’s awake, and I need to just be in the moment with him, letting the fact he’s really back settle in my soul.

“How are you doing?” He asks, drawing me from my thoughts.

“Isn’t it me who should be asking you that?” I ask with a raised brow.

“Nah, I may be the one who got taken and am laid up right now, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t go through hell too. You’re forgetting how well I know you, Alex.”

“I thought I’d lost you. Despite everything we did to find you, we were getting nowhere. If it wasn’t for Jake.” I cut myself off because I can’t even let my thoughts go there right now. It’s all too raw. I came far too close to losing him for good.

“I thought I was a goner too. When I learned The Khaos Group had a hand in my abduction, pretty much all my hopes vanished. I knew you’d all be searching, but I also knew you had no chance against them. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing I’d never be found. I didn’t want to die; I wanted to come home to you.” He tells me, eyes filling with tears as he relives what he must have been feeling.

I swallow hard, my own emotions rushing to the service once more. Knowing he honestly thought he was going to die is hard to even think about. I had hope because I didn’t know who had him, but Wreck didn’t have that. He knew who had him; he knew how fucking low the odds were. Fucking hell, it’s a goddamn miracle he’s lying in this room with me right now.

“Stop trying to suppress what you’re feeling. Let it all go.” He demands gently.

I can’t help but obey him; my eyes immediately well with tears, and choked sobs start to release from my throat. I can feel my body shaking. I close my eyes as I try to calm myself, until I feel my hand being pulled. Opening my eyes, I see Wreck has somehow moved himself over on his bed and is trying to pull me in next to him. I don’t even fight it; despite knowing he’s hurt, I need him more than anything right now. I need to be in his arms or have him in mine. I don’t fucking care, so long as we’re holding each other and I can actually feel him.

As gently as possible, so I don’t inadvertently harm him, I climb onto the bed next to him. His arm automatically goes under my neck, and he pulls me into his side. For the first time since Wrath told me what had happened, I feel myself slotting back together. The part deep inside of me that felt missing is no longer there. I’m whole once more; all I needed apparently was to be in his embrace. My tears are still flowing freely down my face, but I feel a hell of a lot better than I did moments ago. Like a million other times from the past, I feel better in his arms. There’s just something about having him this close that soothes something deep inside me, and it always has and always will.

“You know I’d never willingly leave you.” He whispers.

“I know that.” I whisper back, because I do know that. Neither of us would willingly leave the other, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more forces like Megan out there who will try and take us away from each other. I’ll fight every time to keep us together, though. There’s no force on this planet that I believe can break the bond we share.

“We should probably let the doctor know you’re awake.” I say after a few moments of basking in his hold.

“It can wait; I’m fine right now. What I need right now is this; the doctor can poke and prod me later.”

Looking up at him, I can’t help but believe him. Somehow he looks so fucking relaxed and peaceful. How he’s achieving that with his injuries I’ll never know, but I’m not complaining. I hate the thought of him hurting. As I watch his eyes start to drift shut, I know he needs more rest. As I start to move off the bed, his arm tightens around me.

“Stay.” He whispers sleepily.

If he wants me to stay, I will. There’s no place I’d rather be right now than here in his arms. Leaning up, I go to kiss his cheek, like I have millions of times in the past, but that’s not what happens. With his eyes closed, he doesn’t see my intention, so when he turns his face towards me, my lips graze his instead of his cheek. It’s hardly a fleeting touch, but I’ve never felt anything like it. I’ve kissed a lot of women over the years, and a brush of the lips with my best friend feels more right than any of the other more intimate kisses I’ve had.

Straight away I worry about how Wreck’s going to react to me accidentally kissing him, but when I look, I see his eyes closed and a small smile on his lips. He must have fallen asleep, not really aware of what was happening while I’m here obsessing over it.

I’ve kissed him on the cheek more times than I can count over the years, and never once have our lips touched until now. I don’t understand why the hell it felt so right. It was hardly a passing glance, but it felt so goddamn right. It felt like perfection. I’m so confused. I’ve never thought about Wreck that way; I’m straight, and so is he. So why does kissing him feel more right than anything I’ve ever experienced in my life up until this point?

I can’t even begin to try and work through all that I’m feeling right now. These last few days have been one thing after another. My brain is utterly overloaded, and I’m so fucking tired. Maybe grabbing some sleep will help me figure it all out when I wake up. Maybe I’ll even have all the answers once I wake up. One can hope, at least.