Ambrose (The Theriot Family 5)

“There’s a grocery store near here?”

He grinned. “Of a sort.”

23

Ambrose

Eric helped me off the couch, and I led him to the bedroom I’d renovated. I wanted to show it off to him, even though the mattress on the floor might be more practical for our purposes. The antique bed was smaller, but that meant he’d be forced to stay close to me all night. I wanted that. After years of spending every night on my own, of being annoyed when even Dax or Beau slept on my couch, I wanted this man next to me. Fuck, I’d sleep with my cock in his ass if he’d let me.

We showered in the absolutely real shower with hot water and good pressure. Damn, it felt good. Living here might make me a soft as my brother and cousins.

At least I’d still be hunting and fishing regularly. It wasn’t like we could run to the grocery store whenever Eric wanted to order in, and there might be a gator or two to wrestle. I wouldn’t totally turn into a city boy.

I was up before dawn as usual. Eric was sleeping soundly, so I left him a note in case he woke, telling him I needed some things from my cabin.

That was true, but that wasn’t all I intended to do. I was going to catch us some fresh fish for breakfast.

As I sat in my boat, waiting for the fish to bite, I enjoyed the peace of the early morning and my solitude. Could I have these moments and Eric too? Could I really be happy occasionally coming out here in the middle of nowhere even if we had a nice, modern house?

I hoped to hell I could, but as good as things seemed now, I knew everything would change once we faced Carlotti. First, I had to survive it. The idea that Eric might not was absolutely unacceptable. I would do anything it took to protect him, even if that meant sacrificing myself, but once Carlotti was gone, everything that had forced me and Eric together would no longer be there. Would Eric still feel the way he did today?

A tug on my line distracted me. I reeled in a fish, then quickly managed to catch a few more.

I was back at the house and frying up our breakfast before Eric woke. When he made his way into the kitchen in nothing but a pair of athletic shorts, I couldn’t help but stare. He was almost too gorgeous.

“I thought we had to go get groceries.”

“I caught these this morning.” I nodded toward the frying pan. “And I picked up some eggs from my cabin.”

“You’ve already been fishing and started cooking?”

“All while you’ve been lying in bed.”

“I didn’t even hear you get up.”

“Of course not.”

He rolled his eyes. “Tell me there’s coffee because if not I’m going to have to find my way to your cabin to get some.”

“I brought that too, and you’d never find my cabin.”

“Never?”

“Not before something found you.”

When we first met, I would have been sure he was exaggerating, but now… “Is it really that dangerous out here?”

“It can be if you’re not paying attention and sometimes even if you are. Just stick with me and you’ll be fine.”

“As long as you’re giving me food and caffeine, I’m good with that.”

“Have a seat.” I pointed to the kitchen table.

He studied it for a moment. “This table is handmade, isn’t it?” One of the guys from my unit had helped me make it, and it was perfect.

“It sure is.”

He ran a hand over the smooth finished surface. “It’s gorgeous. I love seeing this side of you.”

“Just because I can survive with nothing doesn’t mean I can’t also live like this.” Shit. I hated how defensive I sounded.

I turned back toward the counter, gripping it with my hands. Eric came up behind me and put his arms around my waist. “I know that. You’re so much more than you seem on the surface. I bet you really could do anything.”

I couldn’t speak. Everything that had happened over the last day seemed to hit me at once. I just stood there, trying to keep it from totally overwhelming me.

I heard Eric opening cabinets, then setting a pan on the stove. He lit the gas burner. Then I heard him cracking eggs. I turned to watch as he efficiently whisked them and poured them into the pan once it was hot. I was mesmerized watching him. I’d never been turned on by someone cooking before, but damn if he wasn’t doing it for me now.

“Enjoying the view?” he asked a few moments later.

“I am.”

“I like to cook, you know. Maybe I don’t usually kill my own food, but I can make you breakfast or dinner or whatever. You don’t have to take care of me all the time.”