Page 67 of Blissful Devotion

I chuckle, and he presses a kiss to my cheek before he pulls back.

“I love you,” I say because I can’t possibly spend another second without saying it, the emotions bubbling up in me making me feel like I need to say it over and over so he knows. He pulls back, his eyes finding mine, and I see the emotions that swirl in his eyes—so much going on—but one thing is positive.

He gets it.

“I love you too, like I’ve never loved anyone else and never will again.”

Imove around the kitchen, feeling incredibly out of my element but determined. I’d looked up all kinds of meals that are easy on the stomach and had Dale teach us how to make a few so we can focus solely on Kat, with only us, and not overwhelm her.

Today I’m making her oatmeal with cinnamon, with bananas and watermelon on the side. It sounds easy enough, but the oatmeal looks strange, even though I followed his directions to the T.

Which is why I don’t bother looking up when I hear someone coming down the stairs.

“Nathan.”

I nearly break my neck as I whip my head up to see if I’d heard correctly or finally lost it.

My eyes find the most beautiful green eyes across the room, the same ones that visit me in my dreams and nightmares.

Something’s different, though. Looking her over, it only takes me a moment to notice her hand tucked into Alex’s.

In the two weeks since she’s been back home, we’ve been careful not to overwhelm her, not touching her unless it was necessary. We keep our distance despite the way it’s tearing us all up.

It wasn’t forever, just until we could get her healthy and remind her why she chose us in the first place.

“Nathan.”

My eyes fly back up to hers, her brows drawn together, lips pulled down in a slight frown.

Nathan, not Nathaniel.

The doctor addressed me as Mr. Lawson at the hospital, but I asked her to call me Nathaniel. Kat had latched onto that, as she had no memory of ever calling me anything else.

Or she hadn’t.

Now her gaze holds mine; recognition and love shine bright, mixed with so many other emotions as she stares at me with a smile that makes me feel like I’ve got my first crush all over again.

No, not first, last.

I take a moment to drink her in; she’s still too small, but the color in her cheeks is beautiful and full of life. Her long red hair is damp, hanging in waves down her back, and I don’t even need to look at my brother to know his will be wet as well.

Not that I can blame him; had I been the one in the room with her, I’m sure we would look much the same.

She has that effect on, well, all of us.

I move around the counter, oatmeal forgotten, as I move toward my missing piece.

I don’t hesitate, unable to wait another moment now that she knows me, now that she’s mine again. Cupping her face with both hands, I breathe her in, basking in the feel of her, devouring her with my eyes before I give in to the need to taste her. Pressing my lips to hers, I groan when she melts into me the same way she used to. My whole body feels like it’s on fire as I feel complete for the first time in months.

We kiss until her lips are red and slightly puffy, but even still I can’t bring myself to pull away, kissing down to her chin and then further down her neck, nipping and licking her beautiful, delicious skin and watching how it turns pink before I drop to my knees.

“I was so worried about you, I thought…” I trail off, unable to say it aloud as I press a gentle hand to her swollen stomach.

Something tells me she doesn’t need me to spell it out, though.

A flutter of movement pulls me from thoughts I’d rather never have again, and I look up to find Kat watching me, her eyes full of tears.

For a moment I worry I overstepped, did too much too fast, but Alex is quick to step in and explain.