She and Sammi switch places, my ability to talk vanishing. I squeeze her hand in mine, emotional pain turning physical in my chest. She’s going to be so pissed at me. We’ve overcome so much though . . . surely; we can get past my screw up?
“We are going to eat now that you’re back, Lily,” Sammi says, giving me a slight nod.
“Okay. Dresden and the others went back to the temporary house. Jameson, do you mind running Sammi and Vlad over there as well?”
“Of course not, Lil. I’ll drop them off and come back in case you need anything,” he says walking over to squeeze her shoulder briefly.
“Welcome back again,” Sammi says before turning and ushering everyone else out of my room.
Lily smiles until the door clicks shut. “What’s going on, Blake?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re all acting really strange. Don’t think I didn’t notice. Now, tell me what the hell is up?
I swallow the lump in my throat. I should tell her, it’s not right to lie to her when she’s sacrificed so much for me, my family, and for Sorina. Lying to her is no better than what James did to my mother . . . but I don’t want to lose her again.
†††
~Lily~
My stomach clenches as pain streaks through Blake’s eyes, his gaze dropping from my face to his hand resting on his lap. Something is going on or I’m just being paranoid. I knew coming back to him would be difficult, but the enormity of it eluded me until this morning.
I cup the side of his face and he leans into my touch, his lids closing. “Blake, please. What’s wrong?”
Placing his hand over mine, he gently shakes his head. “Nothing, Lily. The last two days have been stressful on all of us. It’s hard, realizing you and Dresden have been alive all this time when we thought . . .”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Fixing this might be the hardest thing I’ll ever do. Even more so than all the other things we’ve dealt with for the last year and a half. “Tell me how to make this right.”
He leans forward, pressing his lips to mine. My hand slides from under his into his hair, tugging gently. Our tongues meet and elicit a deep desire in my belly. Even with everything we went through before I left, there’s no way this perfect, amazing, compassionate man is meant for me.
“I love you,” I whisper against his lips.
He groans as if in pain, cupping the back of my head, forcefully pressing his lips to mine again. We consume and possess each other, my hands trailing over every inch of his face and chest, steering clear of his injured shoulder.
Ah, this is home.
Blake runs his fingers through my hair, pulling me closer and tilting my head, his lips skimming my jaw, and moving down my neck. I moan softly, my heart pounding, wanting to be entangled with him— all sheets and skin and kisses.
“That’s inappropriate,” a venomous voice says behind me.
Blake glares over my shoulder but keeps my head in place. “You’re free to get the fuck out.” His voice is dark and menacing; his lips going right back to my neck.
Gently, I pull away from him, rubbing my knuckles across his cheek. He sighs as I set his hand back in his lap, standing. Maria Johanson stands with her arms crossed, her hip pushed out, and face furious-looking with narrowed eyes.
“I don’t know what your problem is,” I say, stopping less than a foot from her. “I don’t really care, either, but this is your last warning. Fall in line with the rest of the team or pack your bags, because I’m done dealing with your stupidity.”
My head snaps to the side as her hand connects with the side of my face.
“Maria!” Sammi barrels into the room, stepping between us, her back to me.
I straighten myself, cracking my neck. Lunging forward, reaching around Sammi, Vlad grabs my waist, yanking me toward the opposite side of the room before I can grab the stupid bitch.
“Calm down, Lily,” Vlad hisses in my ear, his arms tightening as I struggle against him.
“Fuck that. She wants to break bad, let’s see how bad she really is.”
“What the hell is going on?” Hyde Monroe’s voice commands the space.