Page 57

She sighed against his palm.

‘Open your eyes, Liv.’

When she met her own gaze in the mirror, she winced and tried to shy away, but he held her firm.

‘Callum . . . I don’t . . .’

‘Please, Liv.’ He placed a kiss against her temple. ‘Give me a few more moments of your trust?’

‘OK.’ She forced the word out past the lump in her throat and nodded against his hand.

‘You can be so harsh on yourself, and you let cruel words that deserve to be buried in the past change the way you look at yourself. And that breaks my heart.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I don’t want you to apologise, I want you to listen to me. OK?’

‘I’ll try.’ She owed him that much.

‘If you really want to use someone else’s words to define yourself, why choose his? Why do you let him hurt you even now?’

‘I . . . don’t know,’ she admitted.

‘If you want to use someone else’s words, why not use mine? I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. Even if it’s just for a few moments. You are beautiful.’ He gathered her hair in one hand and smoothed it over her shoulder, while keeping his other arm firmly around her waist. She was glad he kept hold of her; his solid warmth was the only thing holding her in the present and giving her the strength to not hide from her reflection.

‘You are smart, and kind . . .’ His hand trailed a path of goose pimples down her neck, and into the V of the shirt that hung loose to her thighs. His warm fingers teased the edge of the fabric as he spoke. ‘And you are one of the sweetest and loveliest people I’ve ever met.’

‘I’m really not.’

‘You really are,’ he argued as his fingers slipped lower, teasing the sensitive skin between her breasts. ‘You are a brilliant doctor, a visionary planner, and everyone adores you.’ He flipped open the buttons she’d done up, leaving his shirt hanging open over her. ‘I adore you.’

Her breath caught in her throat — for a far more pleasurable reason than it had earlier — as he pulled the fabric aside and warmed her body with his hands.

‘And you are so fucking gorgeous you make me ache.’

‘Callum.’ Her voice was a gasp as his hand slid lower.

‘Look at yourself, Liv.’ He kissed her neck, making her back arch against him as she squirmed against the sensation of his hot lips against her neck. ‘You are brave, and sweet, and wonderful. And on top of it all, you are stunningly sexy. From your hair to your toes and everything in-between, you couldn’t be any more perfect.’ He breathed the words against her ear as his fingers gently traced her scars.

She flinched, wanting to argue, but his fingers stayed gentle and brushed her complaints away. ‘These are nothing. They mean nothing. You are stunning. About half the time I’m with you, I want to pinch myself because I can hardly believe it’s real. The rest of the time I’m terrified I’ll wake up and find you were all a dream. Because some days, I struggle to believe that this — you — are real. That you’re choosing to be with me. Most people wouldn’t have the strength to overcome the things you have, and yet you’re still one of the most loving and open people I know.’

She watched as the mirror version of him slid the soft cotton from her shoulders down to her elbows, and for a moment she barely recognised herself. The sun had caught in her hair, making it glow and shimmer as she moved, arching against her lover. Her cheeks were flushed and pink, making her eyes seem all the brighter. The shirt gaped, and the same light that played in her hair dusted her skin golden, and her eyes followed the path of his hand as it moved over the planes and shadows of her body, leaving her gasping.

‘You don’t see it, Liv, but you’re beautiful. You’re an inspiration.’

She almost wished he hadn’t spoken and broken the spell. She shook her head. ‘You’re just saying that to try and make me feel better.’

‘Look at me.’ He met her gaze in the mirror. ‘I promise you, I’m not saying anything that isn’t true. I wouldn’t lie to you, Liv.’ He chuckled and drew her hips more firmly against his. ‘I couldn’t, even if I wanted to. You can feel what you do to me. You’re amazing.’

‘You’re pretty amazing too.’ Liv smiled at him in the mirror and reached up to draw him in for a kiss.

‘You know, I meant what I said. I really do adore you.’ His mouth traced a trail of heat down her neck as he guided her gaze back towards the mirror where her eyes traced the movement of his fingers that flooded her body with heat.

* * *

A few days later, Liv winced in sympathy as she examined the swollen foot resting on a stool in her office. ‘Sorry, this might hurt a bit.’ She gently rotated the foot and palpated the soft tissues under the ankle bone.

‘What do you think?’ Her patient watched her with worried eyes.