Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Only then could we begin to heal what had broken in our family.
But that wouldn’t happen tonight. What I did have tonight was the most incredible man to walk the planet, sitting by my bedside because he loved me.
“Thank you.” I tried to infuse as much meaning into those two words as I possibly could, but how could two little words ever capture my immense gratitude?
He tilted his head. “You’re not going to stress about it? About me giving him money.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Shit, maybe they need to scan your brain again. This is a major personality change.”
“Har har.”
He grew serious. “Anytime. Anything. I love you, Alex. Money is easy for me. You don’t have to thank me for sharing it. All I want is you.”
I reached out and cupped the side of his face. “How did I miss it? All those years ago, how did I miss who you are?”
“To be fair, I was a little shit back then. Especially to you.”
“Well, I was no picnic either, and you’ve mostly made up for it.”
He laughed, and for the first time since I woke up, I saw joy in his eyes. “Mostly, huh?”
I grinned. “Yeah, you’ll probably need to spend the rest of your life with me to atone for your sins fully.”
He leaned in until our lips were a breath apart. “Well, if that’s what I gotta do.”
“I love you so goddamn much, Ryder.”
“Can’t be more than I love you, Alex.”
We kissed, and everything—pain, worry, outside problems—all faded to nothing, and for that moment, lying there beat to shit in a hospital bed, life was fucking perfect.
EPILOGUE
RYDER
I didn’t recognize the man buzzing around the penthouse like he’d eaten a bowl of coffee grounds for breakfast. Sure, he looked like my Alex, the man I’d been living with for four months, but that’s where the resemblance ended. The man I knew and loved did not vibrate with nervous energy. He didn’t fidget and stress clean like a maniac. He couldn’t care less if his reflection shone from the marble kitchen countertops or if the bathroom smelled like a fucking lemon tree, but this stranger in Alex’s body did. This body snatcher had been up since five in the morning, despite having worked until two, and had no place to be until noon.
This had to stop, or my poor Alex would work himself into a damn breakdown.
Time for an intervention.
I strode into the master bathroom where he stood in front of the open linen closet, refolding towels that were already perfectly folded.
“Alexander Morgan,” I announced as I crossed my arms in front of my chest and propped my shoulder on the doorframe. “What the fuck are you doing?”
He jolted and whirled my way with a guilty expression. “Hey. I didn’t realize you were done.” His bruises had faded, and he no longer experienced pain from the assault. He’d been back to work for about six weeks, though I’d tried to keep him home longer, but my man was stubborn.
“I am.” I’d had a video conference with my study group for my Foundations of Education class, and I’d finished only a few moments ago.
“Okay, well, I just have to finish this, then I want to mop the floors in the kitchen.”
I chuckled as I pushed off the wall and began a leisurely stroll toward him. “You know we have a cleaning service that keeps this place sparkling, and they were here two days ago, right?”
He twisted the towel in his hands. “Yeah, I know. I just—”
“And you know Kenny isn’t going to give two shits if our floor is spotless and shiny or our towels are folded to perfection, right?”
“Yeah, no. Of course. I’m—”
“Nervous about seeing your brother for the first time after four months of rehab?”
Alex huffed and then scowled at me with the frown I loved so much. “I’m not nervous.”
I pointed to the towel in his hands, which he’d twisted until it nearly frayed. “Babe, you’re a damn mess,” I said, smirking, which only made him glower harder.
“It’s just… he sounds so good on the phone. The staff at the facility claimed that he’s made remarkable progress and is looking and feeling fantastic. I want this to go well. I want this to be a new beginning for us.”
I wrapped my arms around him and drew him against me, where I always wanted him. “It will be, even if the towels aren’t folded with military precision.”
That drew a small chuckle out of him. “Okay, maybe I’m a little on edge.”
“Just a little.” I reached down and cupped his soft cock through his sweatpants. His harsh intake of breath enflamed my blood. I loved feeling him harden in my hand, knowing I was one hundred percent responsible for his desire.
“Ryder…”
“Hmm?” I mouthed his neck as I massaged his cock.
“I need to, um…” He rocked his growing erection into my busy hand as he tilted his head, giving me more access to his neck.