Before Noah (Daniels Family 3)

It was quite terrifying the amount of anger and hatred I felt brewing inside of me. I would not be upset for a second if death found him. After what he’s done to Ember and the women before her, he would deserve it.

Kol and Thea visited first thing this morning, bringing a bag of clothes and personal items for Ember, so when she’s discharged, she’ll have her own things to wear home. It’s been fifteen minutes since she entered the bathroom, and I’ve been pacing around the room since. I don’t like her out of my sight. My body is tense, and my veins are on fire with the need to hold her in my arms.

“You’re going to wear a hole through the floor, Noah.” Em's soft voice has me stopping and spinning mid-step. Her hair is a mess on top of her head, she’s wearing sweats and a sweater that are two sizes too big and a pair of slides, but she’s never been more beautiful to me.

“I don’t like not being in the same room as you,” I share, not caring that I sound like a possessive asshole.

“I’m fine, Noah.” I see the vulnerability in her eyes. She isn’t convinced of that.

“You might be, Em, but I’m not.” Moving towards her in long strides, I gently pull her into my embrace. “I don’t know if I ever will be again.” Lifting her chin, I gently kiss her lips. I can’t stop doing that. Having my hands and mouth on her body is the only thing keeping me sane right now.

“You

have to go back to work eventually,” she says, and I frown.

“Says who?” Her smile lightens the moment, but I’m not kidding. I’d be perfectly fine to be her slave if it meant I got to spend every waking moment of every day with her.

“Me,” she replies, laying her head against my chest. “We have to get back to normal, or I’ll keep living in the past.” I hate the truth in her words.

“Next week,” I mutter, and she nods before repeating the words back to me. “You ready to go home?”

“Very.” She pulls back, and I can see she wants to say something else.

“Say it,” I demand.

I wait as she bites her bottom lip. “Could it be your home? I’m not ready to go back to mine yet.”

“Yes.” I don’t hesitate. My condo is nothing special, but it can be hers for as long as she needs it or until she’s ready for us to move in together.

Waiting for her discharge papers, I send a text to Kol, letting him know Ember's temporary change in living arrangements. Promising to meet us there with a bag of things she’ll need, he also informs me my request for time off was approved. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was, I would have stayed home with Em for as long as she needs me.

“Here we go.” A new nurse enters with a stack of papers for discharge and home care as well as information from Victims' Services. “Everything you need is here. You’ve already signed all the good stuff, so you are free to go.” Ember cringes at the woman’s sympathetic smile.

Silence follows us to my truck as we leave. We have a lot to discuss, even more that I need to figure out, but I won’t push Ember until she’s ready.

I know that as soon as I mention marriage, she’s going to think it’s due to the baby, but it’s not. Our child is a bonus that has simply come sooner than anticipated. I’ve wanted Ember to be mine for a long-ass time, and now that she’s agreed to give me a second chance, I won’t fuck it up by allowing her to believe she’s just a convenience or anything else of that nature.

“Do you want anything before we go home?” I ask her as I turn onto the main road out of the parking structure.

When she doesn’t answer me, I glance at her to see she’s fast asleep. The pain medication she was given about an hour ago must have kicked in.

Unrolling the window, I allow the cool breeze to filter through the cab as I drive home. It doesn’t take us long before I’m parked out front and quietly shutting my door before rounding the hood and opening hers.

Ember blinks up at me but as soon as I’ve got her in my arms, she’s out again. Thea opens the door before I can knock and softly says, “The bed is turned down already, and I brought her pillow. She told me once that she doesn’t sleep well without it. I thought the comfort of home might help.” Her sheepish smile as I nod is cute.

Thea is still healing from her own tragic past, and in moments like this, where someone she loves is hurting, her vulnerability shows.

As she closes the door behind me, I see Kol on the couch with a coffee in his hand. “One here for you too,” he tells me, and I nod my thanks.

Climbing the stairs quickly, I lay Ember in the bed we’ll be sharing and remove her shoes. Pulling the blanket over her, she’s restless for a few minutes before settling down and burrowing into the plush covering and pillow.

Satisfied that she’s peaceful for now, I walk to the window and lift it a few inches to allow the breeze to flitter through the room before leaving and only partially closing the door behind me. If she calls out or needs anything, I’ll be able to hear her.

Returning back downstairs, Kol and Thea are sitting on the couch, whispering quietly to each other as there’s a knock on the door. Noticing my frown, Kol says that it’s Arsen as I’m opening the door.

“She here?” Ember’s oldest brother asks immediately.

“Upstairs sleeping,” I tell him. “Where are the kids?”