Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(45)

Almost as ridiculous as thinking I’m capable of letting her go.





Chapter Fifteen



I worked up enough nerve over the next week to face Blackie, allowing Reina’s admission of Blackie’s truth drive my courage to confront him. He might not be ready to hand me over his scars but I would let him know the way I felt. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. He could either accept my feelings or he could push them away but either way I would not hide them.

Not from him.

Not from anyone.

Silly nicknames that started off as a joke, an attempt to get him to smile, became a lifeline for both of us. That had to count for something didn’t it?

It means everything to me.

And now I know it means something to him too.

He was transferred to a private room and well enough not to be in intensive care anymore. I knocked before I stepped into his room, closing the door behind me as my stomach twisted in knots. I walked further inside and noticed he wasn’t in bed, or even in the chair perched in the corner. I turned around and walked into the bathroom only to find it empty too. I stepped back into the room just as the door opened and when I lifted my head, my eyes locked with his.

I blinked, taking another look at the freshly shaved man in front of me and my eyes widened. He was dressed casually in a pair of black sweats and a plain white t-shirt that stretched across his broad shoulders. His hair that usually hung messily around his face was pushed back and tied in a short ponytail at the base of his neck. There was no scruff lining his jaw exposing all his perfectly hard features.

“Are you okay or do you need me to help you get back into the bed?” The nurse questioned from behind him.

“I’ve got it,” he muttered, keeping his eyes on me.

The nurse glanced at me, smiled slightly before stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her.

“Hi,” I choked. “I was starting to think you were discharged,” I stammered, watching as he pursed his lips before his tongue took a swipe at his bottom lip.

“Not that lucky,” he said, tipping his chin behind me. “Give me a minute?”

I glanced down at myself in confusion before looking over my shoulder and shaking my head, realizing he needed to use the bathroom.

“Oh, right…” I moved out of his way, lifted my eyes back to his and watched as they took a quick perusal of my body.

I had seen that look before, that night, and I remembered how it made me feel like the most desirable girl in the world.

A sound escaped his lips as he walked into the bathroom and closed the door. I swear that sounded like a moan or maybe a growl, whatever it was, it was f*cking sexy. I lifted my hand to my throat, letting my fingers mimic the way his dug into my skin that night in his room, and dropped onto his bed.

I wonder if he remembered everything about that night the way I did. If he could still taste me the same way I could taste him.

The bathroom door closed jarring me away from my thoughts and forced me back to reality. I stared at him trying to remember the speech I recited in the car on the way here but the only word that came to mind was muscles.

Tight, sinewy, muscles covered in ink.

It was probably a mortal sin to look like that after having a heart attack.

“You’re staring,” he said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall in front of me.

I swallowed.

“So are you,” I whispered.

He bit the inside of his cheek as he quietly assessed me before he nodded.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without jeans or facial hair,” I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s kind of a shock to the system,” I continued, cocking my head to the side. “What’s your excuse?” I asked, running my sweaty palms down my denim clad thighs. I watched him intently, waiting for his bullshit excuse and saw the faintest glimpse of a smile form on his lips.

God, I wish he smiled more.

He shook his head, the smile disappeared and for a split second I wondered if I imagined it.

“Make a man wish he didn’t hit the bottle so hard,” he muttered. “Then maybe I’d remember when you became so bold,” he said, pushing off the wall as he turned and took a seat next to me on the bed.

Bold?

He thought I was bold.

He had no idea it was taking every bit of courage I had to be here, demanding he see the woman I am and not the girl I was. Maybe then he wouldn’t feel so guilty.

I glanced down as his thigh brushed mine.

“Didn’t think I’d see you until I got out of here,” he started, fidgeting with his hands until he finally placed them on his knees and leaned forward. He looked over his shoulder at me. “Thought I scared you off the other day,” he said, huskily.

“I told you once before I’m not afraid of you,” I said, clearing my throat so it didn’t sound so raspy.

He kept his eyes pinned to mine for a moment before letting them dip lower. I tried to follow their path but lost all train of thought when he placed his hand on my leg.

“I owe you an apology,” he said, his massive hand wrapped around my thigh and gave it a slight squeeze before he lifted his eyes back to mine. “So, pretty…” he murmured.

His closed his eyes briefly before blowing out at a breath and standing up. I felt the loss of his touch instantly and automatically stood with him. He crossed the room, putting as much distance as possible between us before he fell back into the chair in the corner of the room and dropped his face into his hands.