Chapter fifty five

" And did you remember to draw the curtains so that my plants could get sunlight? "...Crystal teasingly asked. It had been hours since she woke. She gently wrapped her hand around his nape, seated across his lap as she was, she had an even better view of him. He hissed with his eyes closed, then he innocently shrugged.
" I'm afraid we'll have to get you new plants, " He'd get her an entire field of them if it would make her happy. Chuckling, she lightly hit his chest, " I'm not around for a few days and the entire house is a catastrophe."
" Of course not, it's just the plants. Everything else is as you left it. " Because he hadn't left her side. That part was left out. But Crystal knew that was the case.
She still could not believe that she had come that close to death. She had literally been minutes away from taking her last breath.
And what surprised her was that she was not scared of death itself, but of the realisation that there would be no Nick in whichever afterlife she went to. Now that was the true death.
She lightened the mood seeing as to how worried he still looked. And Nick was suddenly reminded of why he loved her so much. She was stronger than anyone he'd ever met.
She was stronger than him.
He had her laugh and the grip on his heart began to loosen up. Her sense of humor was a part of her he cherished. And although she was mostly out of danger now, he held her like he was scared of letting go... because he was.
" I missed you, " he silently confessed. And he watched the smile she wore turn affectionate. Then she reached up and cupped his cheek with the same light touch.
" I'm glad, " she tucked her head into his chest and breathed out. Long and hard. " I missed you too. But I'm back now, and I'm not going anywhere. "
Nick wondered whether she recalled what had occured before the incident happened. She had just gotten to learn of his past. His former profession as a hired hitman. And he wondered whether he ought to bring it up. Because what if she had forgotten for the moment, and then she came to recall it all once she was all healed.
What then ?
Gazing at the space ahead, he dug his hand into her hair and kissed her forehead. Hoping beyond hope that she would not be as upset as she had initially been when she had first found out.
But she had not walked out on him back then... despite learning who he actually was, she had not ended things and simply left.
They stayed in silence for the minutes that passed. Then she asked him what was wrong and he kept quiet, surprised that she knew him so well.
Holding her chin, he angled her to look up at him. The light in her amber eyes was what had first captivated him. Back when they had first met under those very awkward circumstances. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
" Do you recall the first time we met? " it wasn't what he had been planning on asking but he went with it.
Rolling her eyes, she smiled at him. A wide and cheerful smile.
" As if i could forget! " she recalled everything about that day.
" I thought you were rude and....very compelling, "
" Is that so?" She nodded. Realising it was the first time they were talking about it.
" I swear you were all i could think about since the second I walked out of that washroom." her voice was low, a gentle whisper. As if she were making a secret confession she wanted no one else to know.
" You were all I could think of as well. " Nick said seriously. She looked up to ascertain the level of truth in the words and she realised that he was indeed being very truthful.
He smiled and those charming crinkles appeared at the corner of his eyes. He looked so much younger and a hundred times more appealing.
" And if I remember correctly, I suspected that you were a witch. And that you had perhaps cast some sort of spell on me because nothing else could explain the things you were making me feel."
" A witch! " gasping, she she poked him in the chest and he chuckled.
" The best of them all, " he curtly stated and she shook her head. Then she laughed.
" We'll considering that I thought you were mentally impaired, I'll let that one slide."
" I was perfectly okay, it's your entry into my life that made me crazy. "
The sleepless nights, the wandering thoughts. He had only met her once and yet she had affected him like no one else ever had.It hadn't been love at first sight. Love had come a while later when he had let the barriers break without even realising it. It had been intoxicating attraction and curiosity.
" Can I make a confession? " he asked afterwards and she narrowed her gaze at him.
" Of course, "
He wrapped his arms around her entirely and rested his chin on the top of her head. Taking in that floral scent that assured him she was there. She was still with him.
" I think I always knew..." he let the statement trail of. Because it was a realisation he was just coming to terms with himself.
" Knew what? "
" That you were mine. That no matter what I did or how far I tried to outrun my feelings, I would inevitably end up right where you were. "
She kept quiet. Nick wasn't the type of guy that openly confessed his feelings. I mean, just look at all she had gone through before he confessed his love.
And the fact that he was doing it now, out of his own free will, it meant everything to her.
" I don't know what I did to deserve you but I swear that I'm never letting you go baby, " he spoke the words with clarity. And it was a promise he was making to both himself and her.
" I love you too much, " he confessed. His eyes closed and his hold on her tight.
" I love you too."
His body reacted the same way it always did whenever she told him those magical words. His heart sped up. She held the reins to that heart. She willed it in her soft and delicate hands. And she could do with it whatever she liked because it was hers.
Crystal let the silence stretch again. She still clearly recalled the revelation she had made before she almost died. And back then, when she had asked Nick to give her time to think, she hadn't known what her decision would be. She loved him a tremendous amount, that was o secret, but she had still been in doubt.
He had kept such a huge thing from her. She knew it was for her own good..but it had still hurt.
Then there was the ethical and moral reason behind it. He had basically killed for financial reasons.
And perhaps he had his own reasons, but it was still wrong. And she was certain that she would have probably asked him for more time to sort everything out in her head.
But not anymore.
She had come close to death. Had seen her whole life flash before her eyes. And she had come to realise just how precious every second she had left was. So she was in no way going to spend her time dwelling on the past. It was far gone.
That was who Nick had been, not who he currently was. He had changed...for her sake. And that was all that truly mattered.
" You wont do it again... will you? "
Confused, Nick asked her what she meant.
" Kill people, you won't do it again. " The was a finality to the words. Like she had just made the decision for him. Nick was surprised that she had chosen to bring it up, but he was also grateful.
" I'm your bodyguard, have you forgotten? At some instance I'll have to put a few people down. "
" No you're not. I officially relieve you of your duties! Let the cops handle everything. "
One of the things she had asked Miguel was whether Hines had been caught, and the fact that he hadn't filled her with dread.
" I'm afraid I can't do that, "
" Nick...please, for me. "
Shaking his head, Nick's features grew taught. What she was asking of him was impossible. For a lot of reasons.
" So you expect me to sit by and watch someone hurt you and not do a thing about it just because I made you a promise? I can't do that Crystal."
She groaned weakly. Realising that she had forgotten how difficult and stubborn he could be.
" Fine then..you can ruff them up, but that's it! "
She knew how these things worked. Had watched enough movies to know that the second he killed again, he might go back to his old ways.
And that was something she wasn't willing to let happen.
" You can't be serious. "
" Do I look like I'm joking? " he looked down at her and saw the stern and grim expression she was wearing.
She did not at all look like she was joking.
" Nick..promise me. No more going around Killing people. " she could not believe she had just said that.
Their relationship really was messed up.
Nick realised that there was no way around that one. If he wanted her, which he did, then he had to let some things go. Even if he didn't want to.
" Fine...I promise." He really would do anything for her.
Crystal gave him a curt nod.
" Okay. Just let the cops do their job. I mean, they have to find that monster at some point, right ? " Crystal asked. And immediately after, Nick realised something.
He might have already broken his promise to her.