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Don’t let her die, he prayed Not now

“Stay witharound Keira’s, and in his heart he heard the echo of her words froht, “I will”

Other words crowded his throat as he realized he’d never said he loved her Even when he’d told her he wanted all of her, even when he’d told her that he needed her trust in every way there was, soet the words out Each time he’d started to admit it to her and to himself, he’d drawn back

You were afraid

He closed his eyes for a moment Yes, he’d been afraid He’d ht and her priceless gift to hirave He’d told her she was his woman, and he’dless than her heart, mind, body and soul But he’d never said

“I love you, Keira,” he whispered, squeezing her hand

Had she knoas in his heart? When she’d told him, “I love you, Cody,” had she known even then he loved her, too? God, he hoped so Somehow it seemed important that deep inside her she kne much he loved and needed her That she remembered it in the recesses of her soul, so that wherever she herever she went, she carried that knowledge with her

And that the knowledge would bring her back to him

“Stay with ain He bent down and brushed her cheek with his lips, and when he straightened he had to blink several times to clear his vision

He was still there twenty-four hours later He’d dozed fitfully in the chair beside her bed, but he refused to leave or even to relinquish the left hand lying so still and white against the sheet for more than a couple of minutes When his own arm turned numb, he switched positions and switched arms, but he refused to break the connection

It was almost as if he could soth into her body by holding her and never letting go “Stay with hout the endless night and the following day she did, her quiet breathing reassuring him that she was still alive

He was still there when they ca to tell him she would live