Page 109 of Broken Crown
“Sorry.”She grimaces.“I didn’t mean to make you laugh.”
“It’s okay.The pain reminds me I’m alive,” I say through gritted teeth, taking several deep breaths to work through the ache.Once it becomes much more tolerable, I meet her eyes.“But maybe we refrain from jokes for now.At least until my stitches are out.”
“I can do that.”
“Good.”I reach for her, cupping her cheek once more, the atmosphere shifting from playful to serene.“From now on, I promise to kiss you anytime you want.I love you, Esme.”
“And I love you.”She skims her lips against the corner of my mouth, and I close my eyes, basking in her devotion.“Today.”She moves to the other side.“Tomorrow.”
“Always,” I murmur, pulling her toward me just as the door swings open.
Esme quickly straightens as a nurse enters the room.
“I figured you were awake since your readout showed your heart rate increasing.”She looks up from her tablet, noticing Esme beside me for the first time.“Unless there was something else making your heart rate go up a bit.”She waggles her brows.
“I…” Esme begins.
“Don’t worry,” the nurse assures her with a wink.“Your secret’s safe with me.Although, I will admit I’ve been rooting for the two of you ever since you took that bullet for her.It’s better than the stuff in my romance novels.”
“No need,” I say, grabbing Esme’s hand and meeting her eyes.“No more secrets.”
Her face lights up.“No more secrets.”
“No secrets,” the nurse interjects.“Duly noted.Now, let’s see how we’re doing, Mr.Lawson.How’s your pain?”
“I don’t think I’ll be running a marathon anytime soon, that’s for sure.I’m not too proud to admit I’m pretty bloody sore.I wouldn’t mind something to help.”
She types a few things on her tablet, then meets my eyes.“Well, you’ve come to the right place.We’ve got the good stuff here.But first, I need to do a quick exam.Check your incision to make sure we’re not getting infected.”
“I’ll give you some privacy.”Esme stands.“I could use a shower anyway.I haven’t had one since yesterday morning.”She makes her way to the door.
“Hey, Esme?”
“Yes?”She meets my eyes.
“Where was it?”
She furrows her brow.“Where was what?”
“The recording.You made it sound like Silas would never find it.”
“And he wouldn’t.At least, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t.”
“Why?Where did you put it?”
A blush blooms on her cheeks as she steals a brief glance at the nurse before meeting my gaze.“You remember that…gift you gave me before you went to the States with Anderson this last time?”
I nod, lips curling into a devious grin from the memory of all the fun we had with that little gift.
“There’s a little compartment in it to store the charging cable.Which also happens to be enough space to hide a small flash drive.”
I throw my head back and laugh again, not even caring about the pain that radiates through me.Who would have guessed that a sex toy would end up protecting the truth?
“You’re right.Archer definitely wouldn’t have known to look there.Hell, I doubt he would have known what it was.”
Esme beams.“Probably not.”She holds my gaze for another beat, then opens the door.
“Esme?”I call out once more.