Anna’s parents cooed over her for a bit, hugging her carefully. Anna didn’t let go of my hand the whole time, it was as if she was scared to in case I would run away or something. There was not much chance of that happening though, I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Well, I think we should let you two have some time on your own. We’ll come back after dinner to see you again, honey,” Melissa said, kissing her daughter’s cheek. President Spencer kissed her and shook my hand as he left the room.

Once we were on our own Anna turned to me and her eyes filled with tears. “Come lie with me,” she whispered, trying to shift over for me but not really getting anywhere. I climbed on the bed, being careful not to show her that it hurt me to move, she didn’t need to know that. I lay down next to her, and we looked into each other’s eyes for a while before she spoke. “Are you really okay?” she asked, trailing her fingers over my face.

I nodded. “Yeah, Baby Girl. I have a couple of broken ribs and fingers, but other than that I’m fine.” None of that mattered though while I was looking into her eyes.

She groaned. “Stop being such a badass, Ashton! You were shot for goodness’ sake, don’t pretend like it doesn’t hurt,” she scolded, rolling her eyes at me.

I smiled, trying not to laugh at her little outburst; I honestly did love it when she was all feisty like that. “Alright, alright, it hurts, is that what you want to hear?” I confirmed. “But I don’t care as long as you’re safe and here with me.”

She smiled weakly. “You’re so damn sweet, Pretty Boy,” she whispered.

A tear slid down her face and I sighed, wiping it away gently. “Please don’t cry. Everything’s okay now, nothing’s going to hurt you ever again.”

“I don’t know how to thank you,” she muttered, finally losing control of her emotions and burying her face into my chest, sobbing.

I scoffed, stroking the back of her head. “Why on earth would you feel the need to thank me? Not only was it my job as your guard, it’s also my job as the guy who’s hopelessly in love with you.”

She gripped my shirt tightly as if I was going to run away. “You were so brave. You saved me.” Her body trembled so I held her tightly against me, waiting for her tears to subside. I didn’t need her gratitude, but I wasn’t going to say no to the hugs! “All those guards were killed. I can’t think what their families are going through. Oh God,” she mumbled, crying harder. My heart hurt because of how sad she was, and there was nothing I could do about it. She pulled back; her bloodshot watery eyes met mine. “Does it make me a horrible person that, deep down, I’m glad it was them and not you?” she croaked.

I sighed and shook my head slowly. “No, it doesn’t,” I assured her. I felt exactly the same. Of course, no one wanted anyone to die, but there would always be relief that it was someone else and not the one you loved. That was human nature. “Please don’t start trying to take the blame for their deaths. Carter Thomas and his men did this, not you.” I gritted my teeth when I said his name. The anger hadn’t subsided an inch, even though he was already gone.

She sniffed, wiping her face on the back of her hand. “There was no warning, there were so many of them. If you were there, you would have been killed too,” she muttered, clutching my shirt tightly. “I know I hurt you by sending you away, but I promise I was doing it for your own good. I didn’t want you to get hurt. The only reason I made you leave was because I love you so much. I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” she begged.

I cupped her face in my broken hands. “I understand why you did it, but you shouldn’t have sent me away from you. We should have worked through it together.” Her chin trembled as I spoke and her hand covered the back of mine on her cheek. “You don’t need my forgiveness though. Everything worked out in the end; however we got there.” I bent and kissed her lips. “But you don’t ever send me away again, understand? Because I won’t go. You’re stuck with me now.”

A smile twitched at the corner of her mouth as she nodded. “I won’t.”

“I love you, Annabelle Spencer.” I stroked the side of her face, wishing I could make the marks fade.

“And I love you, Ashton Taylor,” she whispered. I could see the love shining in her eyes, and hear the truth in her words. I just prayed that her feelings for me never diminished, because mine never would. She smiled and wriggled closer to me, wincing as she moved. I wrapped my arms gently around her and sighed happily. I wanted to ask her to marry me again, but I resisted the urge. I would do it properly this time, with a ring and a romantic setting. The last proposal wasn’t exactly romantic – covered in blood in the back of an ambulance. I’d need to call Nate and get him to courier something over to me before I could do it though.

The knowledge that this girl was mine to keep made my heart soar in my chest. These last seven weeks had been the worst in my life without her, but having her in my arms again made up for all of that instantly. As long as I got to hold her in my arms every day, I would be the happiest guy in the world.

~ Anna ~

I ached all over. Even breathing hurt and the medication they were pumping me full of barely touched the pain. I felt as if I’d fought ten rounds in a boxing match. My stomach was hurting like I’d been trampled by a herd of elephants.

Ashton actually looked worse than I felt. His face was a mess. He had two black eyes, a cut with butterfly stitches over the bridge of his nose, a split lip and a swollen jaw. He smiled and leant in, planting a small kiss on my forehead. My heart stuttered in my chest, easily identifiable because I was still strapped up to the heart monitor, so a cocky, little smirk twitched at the corner of his lips. I didn’t even feel ashamed or embarrassed by my body’s reaction to his kisses.