A few days later, Jane was allowed to go home, but neither Patrick, nor Viktor wanted her to go back to her old apartment. They didn’t want to leave her all by herself. They’d both spend a lot of time out of their houses, but it would be safer for her to stay with one of them. They would feel calmer that way.
“It’s up to you. You can stay with Viktor or with us,” Patrick said and put his hand on Jena’s shoulder. Everyone of them had stayed with her for some time at the hospital, but Abby most of all, because the guys had to go to the team practices.
“Thank you,” Jane smiled up at him, but turned to Viktor then. “If it’s okay, I’d like to stay with you.”
“Of course it’s okay.” Viktor smiled warmly at her. That was what he’d wanted, but of course she had to make the decision herself. It filled him with pride that she chose to stay with him.
They put her bag in the trunk of his car and said goodbye to the other two. During the drive they stayed completely silent. Viktor didn’t know why he was nervous all of a sudden. Maybe because he didn’t really know what he should say to her or whether they should talk about what had happened. Maybe Jane didn’t want to talk about the topic at all.
Once inside the apartment, he didn’t know if he should put Jane in the guest room, if she needed privacy, but she took that choice from him, when she walked straight to his bedroom. He followed her, only to see her sprawled out on his bed.
“Are you comfortable there?” he asked with a smile.
“Kinda.” Carefully she rolled on her side and looked at him. “Viktor? Could you please lie down with me and hold me?”
“Of course.” Slowly he got on the bed, lay down behind her and wrapped his arms around her. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she put her hand on top of his, pressed her back against his chest and closed her eyes.
“Did you mean what you said back there in my apartment? When my father attacked me?” Her voice was so quiet that he nearly hadn’t heard her. He didn’t have to ask what she was referring to.
“You heard that?” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, buried his nose in her hair to hide his reddened cheeks.
“Yes. Just before I lost consciousness.”
“Yes, I did mean every word I said.” He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck before he continued. “I couldn’t keep that to myself. I haven’t felt this way in a long time. Seeing you there, I was just so happy that we got there in time to save you. I’ve never been that scared in my life.” Jane carefully turned around in his arms to look in his eyes. She brought one hand up to his cheek. “I meant it when I said that I won’t leave you. You mean too much to me that I’d let anything else happen to you.”
Jane bit down on her bottom lip before tears were brimming in her eyes. One after another plopped down on the bed.
“Hey, don’t cry.” Viktor brushed her tears away and lifted her head up so that she had to look at him again. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m… just so happy. You saved me, Viktor, you really did.” She gave him a quick kiss. “You made me fall in love with you when that was the last thing I ever wanted to do. I’m not cut out for a relationship. I have so much baggage-“
“Screw the baggage. I already know so much about you and it doesn’t mean anything. I fell in love with you.”
“I wasn’t finished.” That had managed to make her smile again. “I have so much baggage but you made me forget about all that. You listened to me, you encouraged me, you saved me from my past and from myself. I’m no longer afraid of a relationship.” She ran a hand through his hair, had to smile at his widened eyes, because this wasn’t what he’d expected her to say. “I want to try this with you. I’ll need a little help, but I think we can manage that. I love you, Viktor and I want to grow old with you, take care of you and let you take care of me as well.”
“Are you serious?” he asked with a grin.
“Idiot.” She gave his head a little nudge. “Why do you think I’m saying all these-“ she was cut off by a kiss. A gentle kiss that made her melt against him, wrap her arms around him and hold on. She didn’t have that much strength due to her injuries, and Viktor cradled her more in his arms than actually holding her against him.
“Okay, I won’t question you again.”
“Can we stay like this for the rest of the day then?” Jane buried her face in his chest, inhaled his scent deeply and smiled to herself. This was where she felt good, where she felt home. Here, in this apartment, in his arms.
“At least for some time. I’ll get up in a bit to make us something to eat. I have the rest of the day off, though.”
“Sounds good to me.”