Page 102 of Blindsided

“Actually, I make origami swans.”

She laughed, not sure if he was serious or not, and balanced carefully on her left foot as she leaned her crutches against the wall. He instantly caught her around the waist for support, and just that touch sent tingles of delight down to her toes.

Running her fingers through the hair at his temples, she said, “I know the things that matter, Scott, and I love you for them. There’s nowhere else I want to be.” Her gaze locked with his. “I’m not afraid of moving this fast, are you?”

He shook his head and kissed her, searing her with his soft, searching lips before breaking away. “Outside of a war zone, no one’s ever fought for me before,” he said, his voice light with wonder. “Not my dad, not my mom, not my sister. But you did. You tried to put yourself between me and Hollowell—which I’m pissed as hell about, by the way—and I don’t even know how to accept that. No one’s ever loved me enough to make that kind of sacrifice.”

Tears threatened, tickling her nose, but she blinked them away. “I’m sorry I was the first. You deserved better.”

“I got the best,” he said, tracing her temple and cheekbone, down to her jaw with the tips of his fingers. “I love you, V. And now that you’re here, I’m not letting you go. You know that, right?”

Thank God.She nodded and gave him a sly look. “So now that we’re living together I won’t need to get on my knees to beg for sex?” Just the memory of her bold move in New Mexico made her warm all over.

Lust darkened his face, and he hugged her close, enveloping her in his intoxicating scent. Warm breath brushed across her ear as he said, “Baby, once you’ve healed, you are welcome to get on your knees anytime—and I’ll be happy to return the favor—but you will never, ever have to beg.”

Over his shoulder, a framed picture caught her eye. It was a print of the close-up he’d taken of her outside of Janus, the wind blowing her long hair back, a huge smile on her face that echoed how she felt right now in his arms. “You framed it.”

He pulled back and followed her gaze, ducking his head. “Yesterday. I promise it wasn’t there before.”

“So is that your way of telling me to grow out my hair?”

He apparently missed her sarcasm because he frowned and grabbed a strand of her short hair between his fingers. “You can do whatever you want with it. You’ll still be gorgeous.” Glancing over his shoulder at the photo, he said, “I just love the expression on your face. That pure joy and sense of triumph. I can see your inner fire in that photo.”

Her inner fire? Maybe the meds weren’t behind her sudden need to swoon.

Scott’s gaze met hers. “My goal is to make you that happy every day of your life.”

She kissed him over and over, lapping at his soft lips until he groaned and held her tighter. “I love you,” she whispered, her body in free fall.

“I love you too.”

“Goal achieved.”