Page 37 of The Hunted Wife

“There I said it.” She could no longer control her tears and they spilled over. “I know you care about me and I know you want the baby. I know that you’ll take care of me, protect me and make me feel safe.”

She shook her head. “But I need more than that. I need to know if there was no baby, would you still want me.”

Adam sat next to her on the bed. He was blindsided by her words. He thought he’d been showing her for weeks how much he loved her. Risking his life for her equaled love. Searching the mountains for her equaled love. Putting security around her equaled love and as did carrying her upstairs.

I never realized she needed the words and not just the deeds.

“Millie, I crossed a mountain tonight because I was afraid I’d lost you. When I saw that gun pointed at you, I couldn’t breathe and when I got shot tonight I wasn’t afraid of dying, I was afraid of not seeing you again.” He took her hands in his. “I love you, Millie.”

Forgetting that he said the words she longed to hear, all she cared about was that he was shot. “You were shot? Why aren’t you at the hospital?” She clamored off the bed and ran her hands over his arms and shoulders. “Where were you shot? What is wrong with your brothers? They should have taken you to the hospital. Come on! Hurry.” She took his hand and tried to pull him up.

He was much stronger than her. “Look at me, Millie.”

His beautiful wife lifted her gaze to his and he was almost lost at the worry he sees there.

“I’m fine. I was wearing a vest you don’t have to worry about me.”

She heaved out a breath. “Oh. Okay.” She settled next to him on the bed but didn’t look at him.

He cupped her chin and turned her head to face him. “I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time and I thought I was showing you how I feel, but I guess you didn’t see it. You need the words, too.”

“Yes, I need the words. I’m sorry if I’m putting you on the spot.”

Adam took both of her hands in his, kissing the top of each. “I didn’t know you needed to hear how much I love you. I can’t imagine having a family with anyone but you. You are my heart and my soul. You hold my heart in your hands to do with as you please. I only hope that I can be the husband you need and deserve.”

Millie fought back tears. “Th…thank you for telling me. I needed it. I don’t know why, I see all that you do and how much you care for the baby.” She sighed and her body relaxed.

“I love you, Mrs. Sullivan.”

“I love you, too.”

Adam pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

Chapter 13

Two weeks later, Adam woke before dawn. Millie was curled against his side with a hand over her belly where their child rested, protecting it from the wicked world outside their little piece of paradise. For moments he didn’t move—just watched her sleep, listening to the sound of her breathing and the soft snores she would deny making.

He thanked God she was there.

Only two weeks ago she’d been in Ricard Sokolov’s hands, under his control.

Adam had been scared out of his mind. What if Ricard had hurt her or the baby? Adam would be in jail right now because he would have killed Ricard. Nothing and no one could have stopped him.

But all that was over. His Millie was here safe beside him. She was his wife. Not because of a bargain. Not because of protection. Not because of a baby. But because she loved him and he loved her.

He never thought he could feel the way he did about Millie or anyone, for that matter. She was everything to him. His light in the darkness. His music in the silence. There was a time and another woman that these same things had irritated the heck out of him. Cally. She’d used him for everything he would give her and then walked out of his life as though he meant nothing. He vowed he would never fall in love again.

But that was before Millie. She’d changed his entire world, made him believe in love again and in the possibility of a happily ever after. She had turned his world upside down and he found the scenery much to his liking.

He loved everything about her from her light snores to her laugh where she sometimes snorted. She would get so embarrassed when she did but he found the noises adorable. Everything about her was adorable.

She was amazing. Moved right in and made all of his brothers and himself, toe the line, from picking up after themselves to using manners at meals. She’d turned them all into human beings instead of letting them remain the animals they’d become.

His mother would have loved Millie and he thought Millie would have loved his mom.

He loved Millie beyond all reason. The thought settled deep in his chest, making him feel warmer than any fire ever could.