"I love you so much," Carissa whispered.

She inched up and pressed her lips to his. He gently cupped the back of her head, holding her to him as he kissed her with all the love and passion and fear of a man who'd almost lost the one person in the world who meant everything to him.

Carissa broke the kiss and gasped for breath, once again wincing. "Ow," she muttered.

"Are you sure you don't want me to get the nurse?" he asked, stroking her hair and the ...