Shame (Ruin 3)

I stopped moving, nearly killing myself in the process, and reached up to touch her face. I tasted her with my lips, trailing them down her cheeks, kissing away the tears.

“The broken pieces are the pret

tiest ones, Lisa. The demons, the proudest scars.”

“Touch me,” she breathed. “Please, I need you, I need you.”

“I love you… I love you.” I stroked slowly, taking my time to feel every part of her, not wanting to rush a perfect moment. “You’re going to marry me, by the way.”

“Tristan,” she hissed.

“Dr. Blake.”

“Dr. Blake…” she moaned, her fingers digging into my shoulders as her body spasmed around me. “I may have to say yes… but you’ll need to ask when I’m not ready to scream your name.”

“In pleasure, I hope.” I grinned, then she jerked me against her, and my own release overtook me.

Gasping, body sated, I waited for her to tense, to possibly regret her actions. Instead, she pulled me closer, kissing my lips softly.

“In pleasure, always in pleasure, Dr. Blake.”

“Say it again, and I may just have a repeat performance.”

At a soft knock on the door, I paused and glanced over my shoulder. A gray-haired nurse waltzed in with a smile pasted on her face. The minute she saw us, she stopped dead in her tracks, gasped, then nearly ran into the door trying to leave.

“I think we just gave her the shock of her life,” I mused.

Lisa tugged me closer. “Well, at least now I can scream, since she’s probably telling everyone on this floor. Dr. Blake…”

I kissed her hard across the mouth. “Louder.”

I was ready for her again. Hell, I wasn’t sure I’d ever not be ready for her.

“You’re sexy…” She ran her fingers through my hair.

I had to keep myself from purring.

“…when you’re out of control.”

“You’re sexy,” I nipped her lower lip. “…when you think you have it.”

And then I gently moved within her again and winked.

EPILOGUE

Sometimes the most beautiful things are the ones that pose the most danger, just like the ugliest of the world turn into objects of absolute beauty. The cancer was ugly, but Kiersten turned it to beauty. The death of Gabe’s fiancée was horrendous, but Saylor made the death redeeming, precious. And Lisa… her past was ugly, but look at the beauty of the disaster that struck: Tristan, redemption within their family, and finally, love. I think the world has it wrong when it strives after the beautiful. It should fight for the ugly; it should hope for the damned; it should seek the lost — because in the end, if there weren’t tears, if there wasn’t fighting, then do you really deserve to feel satisfied and happy? —Wes Michels

Wes

“GABE!” SAYLOR YELLED. “I mean it! Drop the water gun.”

Gabe ran around the pool, aiming for her face like a toddler.

Naturally, it was in my best interest to stop him, considering all the girls were warring against him, but I was too relaxed to care.

I lay back… watched Kiersten, my wife, join forces with the other females, and laughed at all their expressions. I laughed out loud.

It felt good to laugh; it felt good that it was real. My friends made fun of me for always spouting out nonsense and wisdom, but how could I be any different after going through what I had?