After the police officer gets her statement, I send her back to the office to wait for me while I deal with her car. It's more than likely going to be a complete loss. The other driver, a father of four, is fortunate that she reacted as quick as she did to get out of the way, or it would have been a lot worse. He was doing well over the speed limit, trying to get to school to pick up a sick kid.
The fact that he was rushing to get his kid is the only thing that saved him from my wrath. That and the fact that Liberty is okay. She's shaken up, but otherwise unharmed. She may be a little sore tomorrow, but I had the paramedics check her out and they said she's going to be just fine.
I might not be though. It's going to be decades before I'm ready to let her out of my sight. And I already know that isn't going to work for her. Which means I'm going to be a miserable son of a bitch every time she leaves the house. I'll find a way to deal with it though. Whatever it takes.
By the time I've got the car towed, it's close to three. I catch a ride back to the office with the wrecker and then head inside.
"She's in the office," Kathy says, not even waiting for me to ask.
"Thanks." I jerk my chin in a nod and head that way, ready to get my girl and get her home for the day. No point in staying for the rest of the day when I already know I'm not going to get a fucking thing done. I just want to get her home and get in her bed. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.
I stop in the doorway and stare at her. Anyone else would be too shaken up to get anything done, but not Liberty. She's behind her desk, hard at work on her magic code. Her bottom lip is caught between her teeth, her eyes narrowed as she types away.
My gaze drifts from her to the old duffle bag beside her desk. I'm not sure what's in it, but she was adamant that she needed it. I figure she'll tell me about it when she's ready, but I'm curious.
"Dammit," she mutters under her breath, glaring at her screen. "Stupid not-magic code."
I chuckle, drawing her eyes. They light up when they land on me, which makes my dick rock hard in about two seconds flat. Jesus. I hope she never stops looking at me like that.
"You're back," she says.
"I am." I push away from the door and prowl toward her. "Do you want to finish what you're working on, or do you want to go home, baby girl?"
A frown crosses her face, crinkling her brows. "What do you want to do?"
"Whatever you want."
She huffs at me, clearly not liking that response. "Tell me."
"I want to take you home, put you in bed, and keep you there until I forget the way you screamed my name," I admit, stopping beside her desk.
She swallows hard, leaning her head back to look at me. "I screamed for you because I knew you would find me and make everything better," she whispers. "You were the only thing I wanted when he hit me."
"Jesus." I clench my hands into fists, trying to keep myself from ripping her out of the chair and fucking her against the wall. Can't do that though. She needs soft and gentle right now.
"I also screamed for you because I thought I'd never…" She pauses for a second and then reaches out for me.
I take her invitation, picking her up out of her chair to take her place. I pull her down with me, cuddling her up against my chest. It takes a little maneuvering before we're both comfortable, but I could sit on a bed of lava and feel no pain so long as she was in my lap.
She sighs her contentment and rests her head against my shoulder for a moment before she pulls back to meet my gaze. "I screamed your name because I thought I'd never get to tell you that I love you," she says, her eyes shining with moisture. "I thought I was going to die without you knowing how I feel about you. I love you, Killian. So much."
"I know you do, baby girl," I murmur, my voice husky with emotion. Jesus. I've gone from hell to heaven in the space of a single afternoon. "Just been waiting for you to realize it too."
"I knew." She bites her lip. "I don't know how to let people love me or let myself be loved, but I want to change that. I didn't mean what I said this morning."
"You were right."
"No, I wasn't." She shakes her head. "I panicked and said something I didn't mean. I love the way you are with me. You know what I need, and you just give it to me. I know that you'll take care of me because you always do. Even when I wouldn't put myself first, you put me first. I've never had that before," she whispers, tears pooling in her eyes. "I love it so much, and I was afraid if we moved too fast, you might regret being with me. Everyone leaves, and I don't want you to leave me too."
"Never," I growl, wiping her tears away with my thumbs.
"I forgot one important thing though, Killian."
"What thing?"
She wiggles around until we're sharing the same sliver of air. Her forehead touches mine, her eyes fluttering like they want to close. She keeps them open though, watching me intently.
"What thing?" I ask again, locking my hands into place on the arms of the chair to keep myself from stripping her naked. She's wrecking me and she doesn't even have a clue. I think I've been waiting for her my entire life, waiting to find her and love her. Now that she's mine, I'm constantly torn between fucking her raw and taking care of her. Every word from her lips sends the scale tipping wildly, first in one direction and then the other.
"That I'll regret it if I don't move in with you."
My entire body goes stock still. I even stop breathing for a second as her confession works its way through me, blowing like a hot breeze through my veins. I lean back so I can see her face and read her expression. Certainty shines in her honey-eyes. There's no doubt there, no fear. She means it.
I really am in heaven.
"Going to kiss you now," I mutter.