Revive Me

by Nikki Castle

This book is for those who think their identity and self-worth are wrapped up in just one thing. You have so much more to offer the world.

But then, I see her.

My focus immediately zeroes in on her ass. Fuck, I want to bite it.

Lily was wrong. I absolutely remember her.

“Dom,” I say on a shaky breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him move closer so he can hear me better. “What is it, Roman? What’s wrong?” Slowly, I turn my face toward him, shock and horror tensing everything inside me. I can feel myself starting to disassociate, can sense that this moment is going to change me forever. My voice is devoid of emotion by the time the words make it to the tip of my tongue. “I can’t feel my legs.”

It isn’t until I’m watching him wheel out of the room that I realize I’m going to be alone in the building with a man who gave me the hottest kiss of my life but who doesn’t even remember my name.

Of course, I remembered her.

“With all due respect, you’re two years post-accident with an injury that your doctors said you could have rehabbed at least to the point of assisted walking. I don’t think I’m the one wasting time here.”

The problem is, I can’t tell if his muscles are actually weak or if he’s just not trying. Or if his muscles are weak because he hasn’t been trying.

But there’s a big part of me that wonders if it’s Liliana I don’t want to walk away from. That maybe, even in my current state, I want to be around her. And who knows…maybe she really can help me.

I take another drag before saying carefully, “I’ll tell you what. If you get me on my feet, I’ll quit.”

And…fuck. She’s right. It might be the first time I’ve laughed in two years.

“Fine,” I concede. “I’ll do the reps, if you…smoke a cigarette.” I almost smirk when she swallows thickly, already going green at the thought. But without any hesitation, she nods and says, “Deal.” My amusement disappears. “You’re not going to smoke a fucking cigarette,” I growl at her.

My eyes drop down to her hand. I can barely feel her touch where she has it, and I kind of hate it. I want to feel it. I want to feel her.

My dick is hard. And it’s not like an oh whoops, I saw a pretty girl and got a chub erection, it’s hard. Like a I popped three Viagras, and I’ve never been harder erection. And with the basketball shorts I’m wearing, there’s no hiding it.

“Whether this takes one day, one week, a hundred weeks…we’re going to get it. We’ll figure out how to get you there. And not because you’re no one if you can’t walk, but because you’re strong enough to make it happen.”

“Victory or not, I’m going to take this, Liliana,” he says in a deliciously deep voice. It takes minutes for my heart rate to return to normal after that.

I walked. And I have Lily’s number in my pocket.

“I’ve been thinking about the night we met…” he starts, shifting his body slightly. “About…how it ended.” The memory only makes the air thinner, and my breaths come quicker. “And regardless of what…could have happened, my biggest regret is that we weren’t allowed to finish that kiss.”

But…I don’t care. Because just for a few blissful minutes, we weren’t patient and physical therapist. We were Roman and Liliana, just two people who shared an earth-shattering kiss.

I wave her off with an attempt at nonchalance. “I wasn’t worried. I knew you’d take care of me.” I’m more worried that I can’t take care of you. Not that I’ll have the chance.

Whatever’s passing between us feels…big. Too big for either of us to understand. But it’s no less powerful because of it.

“Checking me out again, Doc?” he teases. “It’s alright, I do the same thing. And personally”—his gaze drops down my body, and my cheeks heat for an entirely different reason—“I think the sweets you eat go to all the right places.”

“All I know is, I’m better with you in my life. Professional or not.” There’s a beat of hesitation, and something flashes in his eyes. “I just…want you to know that.”

but…at this point, I’m pretty sure she could be wearing a burlap sack and I’d still think she was the most beautiful girl in the world.

“You gonna catch me, Doc?” She’s not laughing at my teasing. “Always.”

My eyes drop to her lips, the need to taste the sound only growing. She’s so perfect.

“I told you that it was okay not to hope for it. That I would carry that hope for you.” Her voice drops to a near-whisper. “I’m going to carry it for a little while longer, okay? I just need you to trust me.”

“I think I’m ready to carry that hope now,” I whisper. Her eyes fill with tears all over again, and when another runs down her cheek, I brush it away with my thumb. And then, I kiss her. It’s everything and nothing like our kisses before this. She tastes just as sweet, and I want her just as much, but things also feel…different. I’m not kissing her to feel something—I’m kissing her because she’s everything.

“You’re what’s best for me,” he bursts out. “You made me better. You’re the only one who made me better. Liliana, please…” Another flash of fear in his eyes. “Please don’t leave me to do this alone.”

“You know what a dozen failed therapists have taught me? That you were the secret to my success. There’s a reason you’re the only one I made real progress with.”

But…then you came around, and you made it feel like a rehabilitation goal was not only worthwhile, but achievable. You gave me hope, Liliana. You…revived me.”

“I don’t know if I deserve it now, but I think I’m dying without you. I couldn’t go another day without seeing you and telling you thank you and, God, you’re just so beautiful.”

“Liliana…” The sound of my name on his lips is the best thing I’ve ever heard. “I miss you. Every single day. And I’m so grateful for you. You saved my life. And hopefully, I’ll never be able to return the favor, but I’d love to return it with other things, instead. Happiness. Comfort. Excitement. Love. So, Liliana…” He smiles then, so much love and tenderness in his eyes that I think my heart might fly right out of my chest. “Will you do me the honor of going to the movies with me?”

“They are. But mine rose from a lily.”

I want to tell her that I’m always okay when she’s around. That my legs never hurt when she’s kissing me. That I’m so madly in love with her, my physical therapy has been solely focused on one specific exercise lately. Getting down on one knee. But I’m not quite there yet, so instead, I smile and tip her chin up for another kiss. “Never better, Doc.”