Possession (Steel Brothers Saga 3)

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” he said groggily.

“This is just an old robe of Marj’s. I don’t have any more clothes here, remember? And I didn’t want to put on that green dress from last night.”

“You look smoking hot in that dress.”

My cheeks warmed. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I like you better out of it.”

This time my body warmed.

“Come and sit with me.”

I approached the bed and sat down. He took my hand.

“Did I do the right thing?” he asked. “Telling you?”

I nodded. “It’s best that I know. I know it was hard for you, and it was hard for me to hear it. But now I understand you so much better. I love you, Talon. I want to understand you.”

“You’re sure none of it turned you off?”

“Oh my God, why would it? None of this was your fault. If the same thing had happened to me, would you feel any differently about me?”

He shook his head. “No. Of course not. But it’s different when it happens to a boy.”

“The only thing that’s different is that it’s less common. That doesn’t mean it’s not just as traumatic for a boy—in fact, it’s probably more so.”

“I sure wouldn’t wish it on anyone, living or dead. Except maybe the three fuckers who did it to me.”

“I can’t say I blame you for that.” I rubbed his hand. “And maybe we will find them. But Talon, just because Nico Kostas has a tattoo just like the one you remember and Larry Wade is missing a toe doesn’t mean you found two of the perpetrators.”

His body tensed and he went rigid. Shit. I shouldn’t have said that.

“But we don’t need to talk about that right now,” I said, hoping to defuse the situation. “Would you like some breakfast? I can make scrambled eggs. And toast. That?

?s about it.”

“I don't feel like eating right now, blue eyes.”

I must’ve looked concerned, because he said, “I’m all right. Just tired. Let me sleep for a few more hours, okay?”

I caressed his cheek. “I’d like to snuggle up beside you.”

“I know, baby. One day, I promise.”

I leaned down and brushed my lips over his. “I love you, Talon.”

“I love you too, blue eyes.”

I left the room and quietly closed the door. I went back to the kitchen, let Roger in, and prepared him some breakfast of kibble with a raw egg on top. I poured myself a cup of coffee and then made myself a piece of toast and some scrambled eggs. Once I sat down, though, I found I wasn’t very hungry after all. I took one bite of the toast and picked at the eggs. I did drink a whole cup of coffee and then filled another.

Would Wendy Madigan mind if I called her on Saturday morning? She seemed to genuinely care about the Steels, and she had told me to come back to her once Talon told me everything. At the time, I’d had no idea what everything was, but I sure did now, and I had many questions.

I took my dishes to the sink, refilled my coffee once more, and headed to my room. My cell phone was charging on the nightstand. It was ten o’clock, certainly not early by anyone’s standards. What the hell? I was on pins and needles to know what else she could tell me.

My pulse racing, I punched in her number.

“Hello, Jade,” she said into my ear.