His body moves closer as his hand grips my waist before he pulls me toward him, our chests moving in the same rhythm.
We’re locked in a stare, one I never want to get out of, so many things said and promised, and for the first time in my life, I feel at peace. At peace with what happened to me, at peace with knowing my life will never be a bad one with Luke, but most of all, at peace with who I am.
I may be broken, but Luke sees that, he relates to it, even if I don’t know how. Two broken things shouldn’t fit together, but we do, just like a jigsaw.
“Luke?”
“Yeah?”
He turns to face Ty, and I fear when he looks back at me the spell will be broken. But when he does, it’s still there. Everything on plain view for me to see.
“We’ll tighten up security, get Ch
arlie to station a couple officers nearby.”
“Good idea,” he says, not looking away from me.
“I’ll give you guys a few minutes.”
The sound of the door closing still doesn’t have him moving, and when he gazes down and back up, his eyes flare. “What are you wearing?”
“I—one of your t-shirts.”
He tilts his head. “Why?”
“Because… I don’t have anything else to wear.”
His head reels back, his body following the movement. “Fuck. Why didn’t you tell me?” I shrug, not willing to tell him I didn’t want to feel like a burden. He’s already done so much to help me.
He grabs my hand and pulls me along with him as he opens the office door. “I need a tail.”
“A tail?” Ty frowns as we come to a stop next to him, Kitty, and Evan.
“I need to take Lily to get some clothes.”
They all look at me, seeing what I’m wearing.
“Kitty,” Ty says, and throws his arm wide in a silent signal to move. Luke pulls me toward the door, but I hesitate.
“Luke, it’s fine. I’m okay with wearing your t-shirts.”
He shakes his head as he opens the warehouse door and doesn’t stop until we’re at the passenger side of his SUV. “I am too, darlin’.” He pauses. “Believe me. They look way fuckin’ better on you, but you need more clothes. I should have done this sooner.”
I look over at Ty as he gets into his SUV with Kitty beside him.
“It’s fine.”
“No.” He grips the top of the door, his knuckles turning white. “You need something, you tell me. No matter what it is. Got it?”
I smile, nodding. “Got it.”
Lifting onto my tiptoes, I place a kiss on his lips before his arm comes around my waist. He starts to deepen it, tracing his tongue along the seam of my lips, and I don’t hesitate. I give him access because with him I’m not only safe, but willing. I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything. And when I move closer to him and grip the sides of his t-shirt, everything fades away. All that matters is him and me. Nothing else. Just us.
LUKE
I roll over and reach out my left arm, Lily lying asleep on my right. The ringtone of the burner cell I have stops and starts up again, the loud noise causing Lily to stir.
“Yeah?” I answer, my voice gruff.