“No way in hell,” Mitch said. “Let’s get this show on the road. You two lovebirds can kiss and make up later, after we make the hike back to Incident Command.”

“A minute,” Aidan repeated.

“Fine.” Mitch tossed up his hands. “It’s your face that’s going to be permanently swelled up like the Goodyear blimp.”

Aidan ignored that and the two medics trying to get at him. “Lily.”

“Right here.” She very gently cupped his face. “Don’t be mad, we left Incident Command to be here once they gave the clear.”

“Tell me now,” he demanded.

“You’re bleeding.” She looked at someone at his other side, but Aidan didn’t take his eyes off of her. “He’s bleeding,” she said.

“I know,” Mitch told her. “It’s his stubborn head. But apparently none of us are going anywhere until you two have this out. So maybe you could speed things up a little bit, yeah?”

Again the medics tried to move in, but Aidan grated out through his teeth, “Wait.”

No one backed away, but no one dragged him off, either, which he took to mean he could have his damn minute. “Lily. Tell me now.”

She was still hugging him like it was her job, but she pulled back and stared into his eyes. Hers filled. “I love you.”

Yeah. That was what he needed. His entire body relaxed, and suddenly he could breathe as the knot in his chest loosened. The night was pitch black, and one eye had swollen shut, but he had no trouble seeing the shadow of the men hovering over him, trying to move in. He held on to her tight. “Again,” he said.

Her entire demeanor softened, and she bent over him to kiss him softly. “I love you. Always have. Always will.”

He felt the stupid smile split his face and his already split lip. “Shit.”

She let out a breath. “Okay, so now you’re going to stop growling at your team and let them take care of you,” she said firmly.

Mitch laughed, cutting it off only when Aidan glared at him.

Lily ignored the exchange and scooted back just enough to let the medics take over.

“I’m fine,” he insisted, and got to his feet, holding his arm across his chest funny.

“Damn,” Gray said on a heavily blown-out breath. “You tore the fucker again, didn’t you?”

“Yep,” Mitch answered for him. “Rotator cuff,” he explained to a shocked Lily. “It happened when he kissed the rock.”

“Fuck you,” Aidan said, and dropped back to his knees. “Aw, hell.”

“Aidan!” Lily cried, dropping to her knees, too, facing him.

“I’m okay.” He locked eyes with her and held the eye contact as the medics fussed over him, dabbing at the cuts on his face, carefully restraining his arm and shoulder from movement.

“We’re taking him to General,” one of the medics said to Gray.