After dinner, Skylar moved into Christian’s room. Although they had shared a bed before, this was the first time as a married couple. Christian watched her with longing, wishing he could reach out and grab her. He longed to be normal again. How would he consummate their marriage?
“Come here, Skylar!” Skylar stilled, hearing his husky tone.
“What do you want, Christian?”
“I’ll tell you if you come near me.” Despite knowing his limitations, she couldn’t stop her heart from thumping wildly in her chest. A deep blush stained her cheeks as she walked towards the bed.
“Do you need water?” He shook his head, his eyes glittering with desire.
“Do you need to use the washroom?” Christian shook his head, his eyes dropping to her lips.
“Then, what do you want?” Christian grabbed her hand and pulled her slowly towards him.
“My needs are of a different kind.” Skylar blushed even more at his husky reply. She could see where his eyes were focused. How different it would have been if they hadn’t face such a dreadful accident. They would have united as one, wholeheartedly and completely.
“I see! What kind?” Skylar knew what he wanted, and she intended to fulfill his wishes. She sat down beside him, holding his fiery gaze. He didn’t leave her hand at all.
“I want you to stay by my side. I want to taste those lips that uttered those magical vows for me. I want everything with you, Skylar. Don’t you want the same with me?” His eyes searched her face, trying to gauge the depth of her feelings for him.
“Yes, Christian. I want everything with you too but maybe all wishes don’t come true,” she sighed, looking away. Christian touched her chin and forced her to look at him.
“What do you mean?”
“Remember the prenuptial agreement I signed? I didn’t want to, but you cornered me that night.”
Christian’s hand dropped to his side, and he gaped at his wife. This was the admission he had been dying to hear that night.
“I didn’t force you to sign it, Skylar. Why did you sign it if you didn’t want to?”
“I hate being forced into something. That was the reason I was against this marriage. You could have informed me about the agreement, Christian. Maybe I wouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I would have told you I wanted an actual marriage, not a contractual one. That night, in front of a stranger, I just couldn’t open up.”
Christian sighed as realization dawned on him. “I goofed up. I thought you would confess your true feelings if driven to the edge.”
Skylar’s mouth hung open at his weird logic. “How did you know I didn’t want a contract marriage anymore?” Christian smiled, picking up her hand and kissing her knuckles one by one.
“I could feel it. I could feel you wanted to be with me forever, just like I do.” Skylar touched his cheek, her eyes roaming all over his tired face. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him. She was indebted to him for saving her life while jeopardizing his.
“Yes. You’re right. I want to spend my life with you. I want to destroy the contract, Christian. Please, can we?” Christian smiled and leaned into her touch.
“The contract isn’t valid. I didn’t sign it. I never will,” he breathed. Skylar leaned closer and claimed his lips in a slow, gentle, and lingering kiss. It was more of a heartfelt confession than a kiss. The passion was intense as he opened his eager mouth to her. She plunged her tongue deep inside, and he groaned with pleasure. It had been so long since they had kissed. The one on their wedding day wasn’t enough. He had needed more. If Steele hadn’t attacked them, they would have made love a million times already! The thought made him even more horny.
A pulsating need coursed through his broken bones, making him crave her more. It made him forget his pain, and his condition as he grabbed her head and claimed her mouth wildly. A moan of sheer pleasure escaped her lips when he dominated the kiss, gliding his tongue deep inside her sweet mouth.
“Christian, please! You’re injured,” she breathed when he suddenly winced, releasing her.
“Yeah, I forgot!” Skylar checked up on him, but he smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I hate this crippled, disgusting body now.”
Skylar placed her hand over his mouth. “I love you, Christian. I love every inch of you. You aren’t crippled. You’re just injured and I’m going to heal you soon. Everything will be fine.” Christian stared into her eyes as a wave of happiness washed over him. He felt relieved that she thought so about him. He was unnecessarily worrying himself. His Skylar loved him!
“You love me?” She released his mouth as realization struck her. Had she confessed to him her deepest feelings? She nodded, her cheeks flushing with color. She had never thought she could say it out aloud, that too in front of him. “Since when?” He just hoped it wasn’t because he had saved her life! She wasn’t indebted to him in any way.
“For a long time, Christian. Only I was in denial! I couldn’t see past the fact that I was forced into this marriage. I think when you came back for me to LA, I started warming up to you. Then when we were on the tour, every time you proved yourself to me. You cared for me more than you did for yourself. When you confessed your love for me on our wedding day through your heartfelt vows, I knew what I felt for you.” Their eyes filled up with tears of joy. He couldn’t believe his ears. He had wanted her to love him for a long time, as long as he could remember. Now, after decades, when she finally did, he didn’t know how to express his happiness.
“I’ve loved you since the day you were born. It broke my heart when they fixed your wedding with Sebastian. I knew you were mine. I didn’t know the meaning of love! I didn’t know the meaning of marriage. All I knew was you were mine. I fought for you, against my family, my brother, my dreams, my principles. They considered me a spoiled brat and sent me away. Yet I loved you, truly, deeply, madly!”
Skylar gazed at him through her tears, her heart aching for what he went through. If only she had known!
“Why didn’t you return to confess your feelings to me?”
“I couldn’t. Our parents never gave in to my wishes. On every vacation, they paired Caleb with Lillian, and you with Seb. It annoyed me so much that I stayed away from home.”
“What would you have done if Sebastian agreed to marry me?”
“I don’t know! Maybe I’d give up my life. Seb declined when you were in high school. It gave me hope, and I waited for you to grow up. I hired a PI to stalk you and supply me with pictures of you. In fact, I too stalked you many times.”
He winced when he moved his injured body against the cushions. “Are you in pain? I think you should rest now, Christian. I don’t want you to land up in the hospital again.” Christian shuddered at the thought of going back there.
“No, I don’t want to leave you and go anywhere. Can you help me change for bed?” he asked while Skylar froze. Did he want her to help him strip?
“Umm, should I call Caleb? He can help you better,” said Skylar, her cheeks coloring just at the thought of it.
“No, absolutely not. You’re my wife, not Caleb. Isn’t it your duty to help your husband?” His eyes glinted with amusement as he watched her dilemma. Under normal circumstances, he would have dealt with her shyness already!
“What do you want me to do? Change your shirt?” she asked, trying to look unperturbed.
“No, I need a bath!” Skylar’s eyes widened with alarm.
“No, the doctor hasn’t allowed it yet, Christian. You have to wait for his permission.”
“Please, I’m feeling disgusted. Give me a sponge bath, at least.”
“I have to consult Caleb or Lillian first. I can’t take the risk.” She dashed out of the room before he could stop her. After a minute, Lillian came in and agreed to a sponge bath.
“Just don’t wet the surgical incisions, the dressing. I’ll get everything ready. Caleb can place him in the wheelchair for your ease.” Caleb helped him to the wheelchair and left. Lillian gave her the materials she needed and left, too.
“What are you waiting for? Let’s get this done quickly.” Skylar blushed as she unbuttoned his shirt and took it off his body. Then she glanced at the loose sweatpants he wore. Should she take that off as well? It didn’t look like he wore any underwear! Obviously, with the spine surgery and fasciotomy incisions on the lower half of his body, he couldn’t wear them. No, she wouldn’t go into that right now. What if she hurt him?
“Umm, can we start cleaning step by step?”
“Yes, but I want you to clean me all over!”