Page 114 of Bound

Past bridges.

Past a city where I once believed money might solve the worst thing that could happen to me.

I was wrong.

Money helped.

A lot.

I am not going to become one of those women who pretend that being rich is not fantastic.

I’ve been too poor for that.

But money did not save me.

Cass did.

Ryan did.

I saved myself.

And Lucian...

His mouth brushes my temple. “Happy?”

“Very.”

“Good.”

“Scared?” I ask.

He stills. I smile against his chest. “You can say it.”

“Yes.”

“Of what?”

He looks out over the water. “That this is the moment something takes you.”

I pull back. “No.”

His eyes return to mine. “You asked.” His jaw tightens.

I touch his face. “We are allowed to be happy after the danger is over.”

“What if it is never over?”

“Then we’ll be happy while it’s happening.”

He stares at me.

I continue, “I don’t need a life where nothing bad can happen. No one gets that.”

His arms tighten around me.

“I need a life where bad things don’t get to be the only things that happen.”

Something in his expression gives.