Protect My Heart

Chapter 36

Clover

A sheer glow of sweat coated his forehead. And after hours of sleep, he stirred in my lap, moving his head until that anguished grunt.

"Don't move," I said, pushing him back when he tried to get up. "

Logan's eyes opened lazily. "You're here..." Then he jerked upright, but I forced him back down again. "He hasn't–he hasn't done anything, right?"

"If you don't count the few slaps and a slam to the wall, then no. But I handled it. The baby is also okay. Oh, Logan, what were you thinking? You shouldn't be here."

His head reached for my face. "I was thinking that I love you."

Carefully, he rose up on his elbows and pulled my mouth down onto his. Our mouths met in a passionate, yet irresponsible kiss. My stomach fluttered, heart boomed.

His kisses always felt lost to me, as if he was searching for a place to belong, as if he hadn't kissed me in forever, like he wanted to kiss me forever. I, on the other hand, never felt I didn't belong. I belonged with, to, for, under, and above him.

He let his lips graze my forehead.

He really loved me. Our way of professing love.

Then he manoeuvred our positions until I was cuddled to his side.

I loved being loved by this man.

"Clover, I need you to promise me something." He rested his chin on my head. "When the time comes and there is a chance for one of us to get away, to make it out of here alive, then promise you will take it. Promise me you will leave when the time comes."

"W-What? But what about you?"

I feared but knew the answer.

He turned me in his arms, so we faced each other. "I think you know. I need you to have a chance if I don't. Promise me."

"No." No way. I shook my head, trembling. "Absolutely not. I won't leave you here. I let you sacrifice yourself for me for three years, so no, I won't abandon you."

"But what about the baby?" He placed his hand on my stomach.

The words were yet to be spoken, but I was already the devil, a vile person. "The baby isn't born yet. It's not fully alive, but you are. We can always have another. You're real, you're alive. I will stay by your side. Till death do us part."

"Clo ­–"

I shushed him with a finger to his lips. "No. I am not leaving so get that to your head. I love you, okay? I am not going to spend the rest of my life without you. We promised each other forever. I don't want to spend forever thinking about the time I left you to die. This is a thought I can't bear. You're the love of my life and I'll be damned if I let you die on your own. Without me."

"How sweet," a malicious voice said. Jackson lounged in the doorway, his stare turning into a scowl at the sight of us.

When Jackson started to advance towards us, Logan reacted first and dragged me closer. "Don't you fucking dare."

"Hm, I was actually planning on fucking her in front of you. Or perhaps doing it to you."

My husband froze, tried to stand up, but failed because of the head wound. "Let us leave, Jackson. Why won't you let go? Is this all about some damn grudge you hold against us? Are you so goddamn alone that you need company?"

Jackson scowled at his brother. Every bone stopped functioning when he pulled out a gun. "Stop talking."

The thing about Logan: when he started a fight, he was the one to end it. He never gave up even when he was facing death. "Oh, fuck off. Why are you so hung up on us? I am not scared of you, you weak bastard."