by C. E. Hansen
There.
It was blurry.
Very blurry.
My lashes fluttered.
“I’m here. Don’t leave me,” I mumbled. I know no one heard me. I tried to talk so many times but no one ever heard me.
“Katherine, I think she is trying to wake up.”
I heard the intake of air. It was the woman.
“Gracie...darling…Grace?” she pleaded.
I held the hand holding mine, trying to squeeze back.
“She is waking up.” He sounded so relieved, so happy. I had to try harder.
The light was white hot, burning, pounding, the pain so intense, but I would try for him.
“Grace?”
“Mmm...here.” I moaned
“Grace.” He paused then sighed in relief. “She’s starting to come to, Katherine. Call the doctor.”
He was bossing someone around. Very bossy.
“It hurts,” I mumbled.
His chuckle was low and full of relief. “Grace, do you hear me?”
“Yes,” I said in my brain.
“How do you feel?” He must have heard my brain.
“I feel like you are too loud.”
He laughed. Although the sound hurt, my heart felt such joy.
“You’re going to be okay,” he whispered close to my ear.
“Ace?”
“Yes, baby, I’m right here.” The hand holding mine squeezed me gently.
“I love you,” I mumbled. I liked this dream.
It was my happy ending dream.
“I love you more.”
Right on cue, Ace.
I wasn’t sure I heard what I thought I heard. I needed to force my eyes open to be sure. Had to see him.
I opened them both slowly at the same time and cried out from the pain. Nausea gripped my insides. My vision blurred, but I was determined. I looked at the wall until I was able to focus on the crucifix hanging next to a picture of the woman on the wall. Then I turned my head toward the silhouette next to me. It took a few minutes to focus in on the features, but eventually I saw his face. His beautiful green eyes full of worry. He looked so tired.
How long was I out?
“Five days.”
I didn’t realize I said that out loud.
“Don’t leave me.”
His face lit up. God, I loved his smile.
“Never.” He tightened his grip on my hand.
“Stay.”
“I’m not going anywhere…”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Your mother is here. She’s been waiting to speak with you.”
“My mother?” I whispered hoarsely.
“Yes. I’m right here.” His hand slid away from mine.
“No. Don’t leave me…” I panicked. My heart started racing.
“Grace? Darling, my darling. Dear God, I am so...So relieved. My God, Grace. Thank God you are okay.” My mother stood next to Cole, grabbing her chest in desperation.
“Mother?”
“Yes...We were so worried. You didn’t open your eyes, you wouldn’t wake up…”
I was assailed by the memories of what had happened. They flashed through my mind like a thousand little pictures and I started trembling.
“Why didn’t you tell me? What were you thinking, Mother?”
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I was very young. My parents, they were...they were not loving. They were so strict, they sent me away, punished me. I made a mistake. It changed me. I had no one until I met your father...” Her voice got smaller.
Too much to think about now; my brain hurt.
“Daddy knew?” It didn’t surprise me to find out my father had known and was still madly in love with her.
“Yes. Your father knew everything. He’d even offered to help find him, to bring him home. Then you were born and I was busy with you. Your father loved you so much. You were his diamond. You were bigger than the moon, he would always say.”
“I remember that,” I whispered hoarsely. The tears fell freely down the side of my face now.
“Mother, I can’t now…when I’m better, we need to talk. We need to...start over.”
“I would love to have that chance, Grace.” She sounded like a young girl again, but looked haggard, tired.
“Mother...go get some sleep. Go home.” I turned my head, “Franklin…” my voice failed me, my emotions too powerful.
“I’ve tried, Grace, but she had refused to leave you.”
“Mother, please...go.”
“Yes, I will darling. Now that you are better, I will go home and rest. I just couldn’t bear to leave you.” She looked at Franklin, my stepfather. “I will be back in the morning. You’re in very good hands.” She turned her head and looked gratefully at Cole, who stood at the end of my bed. She leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “I like your young man, dear, very much.”
“I’m going to marry him,” I whispered back to her.
I looked at my mother. She held her head high, beaming with pride. Even looking exhausted, she was a beautiful woman. She bent down and kissed my forehead, and squeezed my hand reassuringly, then walked to where Cole stood watching us and hugged him. I’ve never seen my mother so demonstrative with anyone other than my father. Not even with Franklin. She blew me a kiss and quietly left, promising to return tomorrow.
There was potential there. If we could rebuild from the bottom up, on honesty and love this time. I had hope for us.
Cole walked toward me. My breathing became as ragged as my heartbeat. The intensity of his gaze seared me and I inhaled sharply. A ghost of a smile touched his lips, making him impossibly more handsome. Panting softly, I licked my lips. He groaned, lowered his head, and sealed his mouth over mine gently.
I was surprised by how soft his lips felt; he was tender, gently probing. His tongue dipped into my mouth, tasting me, slowly licking. He raised his hand and gently held my cheek. His kiss was confident and skilled; my thoughts turned unsavory...he could make me come with only his kisses. I was strained, tense, getting aroused.
“Mind if I get in there with you?” he whispered huskily, his cheek touching mine.
“Thought you’d never ask.”
He smiled and shook his head. I shimmied over, albeit in slow motion, and Cole gently climbed into my hospital bed, perching precariously on the edge, pulling me gently into his arms. My body lay against his, achingly aware of his presence. I leaned into him, kissing his hand as it caressed my cheek. He slanted his lips over mine and I tasted him. My hunger built inside my belly, as if he was food and I was starving. I felt the raging beat of his heart against my chest. My muscles strained with the urge to pull him toward me, to give me the contact I so ached for.
“We should save that for when you’re feeling better.” The lushness of his voice flooded me with desire. A smile softening his sinful mouth. A shiver moved through me followed by a heated ache between my legs, and I imagined licking his lethally sexy body. I felt dizzy.
“You may be right about that…for now,” I breathed.
He held me close to him all night and I had the most restful night’s sleep since the first night I’d met him.
Several days later, I was back home in my own apartment. The injuries I sustained were worse than I first thought; I had been deeply cut on my inner thigh and suffered significant blood loss. Cole stayed with me the entire time, bouncing between my room and Michelle’s, which was located next to mine.
We both visited Michelle in the hospital, every day, until she was released a few weeks later. She was in critical condition for what seemed like an eternity, but was strong. I’d never prayed so hard in my life; it was touch and go for a while but I thank God, and Cole, she survived and grew stronger each day.
The guilt over what happened to her because of me ate away at me. I repeatedly told her how sorry I was. There were no words to describe how much I loved her.
True to form, Michelle hugged me then pushed me away.
�
�You are the best friend I’ve ever had. I love you like a sister.” She paused, exhausted, trying to talk although she had no voice. I tried to stop her but she put her hand up, halting any reprimand I might deliver. “I would never hold anything against you that you had no control over…stop…I love you.”
Maybe the guilt would leave me someday, but for now it was too raw.
I am so grateful and thankful for Cole for being there for me and Michelle. Without him, we would both be another statistic.
I never could have imagined the pain he lived with each and every day, all caused by the same man who left his indelible mark on us all.
Jonathan survived, as unfortunate as that is, and is now committed to a psychiatric hospital for the remainder of his days; however, he refuses to confess to the murders of the five women.
I’m having a hard time dealing with being related to him, but that’s another story. I try hard not to think about him at all.
My mother and I are trying to start over. She wasn’t the pampered, selfish woman I thought her to be. She had grown up alone, without love, without friends. Life wasn’t easy for her.
Cole moved his company to New York City permanently, and to my delight we have begun construction on the 412 2 Avenue Penthouse. Until it’s ready for us to move in, Cole will be staying with me.
Our scars will always be with us, but we learned to love and cherish each other and be thankful for each hour we spend with the people we care about. Life is good.
The sex better.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38