Oh good.I’m glad.
“Come on,” Lucky says, slipping the glass out of my grip and—oh, it’s because I drank all of it.“Let’s lay you down.”
Awareness seeps back in slowly as I rise from Sterling’s lap and let them both lead me to Lucky’s bedroom.Sterling becomes a hazy blur at my feet while he helps slip my shoes and socks off.The lighting shifts, disappears, enveloping the room in darkness.Ah.Lucky closed the curtains.
My senses return as I lie down.
The woodsy smell of his cologne, the comforting softness of his stark white sheets.Even the way he and Sterling bicker in whispers to each other as they tuck me in makes me smile.
I find my voice just as they turn to leave.“You’d better not be leaving me.”
It’s a little cruel perhaps to use this against them.Too soon definitely, from the way they both whip their gazes to me, apologies writ large on their faces, but maybe I’ve earned a little selfishness.We might all be safe, but they’re standing too damn far away from me, and right now, I’ll use anything and everything I can to correct that.
I hold my hand out.“We don’t have to do anything; I just want to be close to you.”
I close the door softly behind them.
Lucky recovers first, smiling softly as he teleports beside me.I’m impressed; appearing under the covers is a nice touch, and I don’t need to read his mind to know the kiss is coming.
It’s soft, gentle in a way that betrays his concern, and I don’t push, instead replying to every slow press of his lips with my own, letting the easy rhythm of it soothe my still-racing heart.
There’s a dip in the mattress on my other side, then tingles roll down my spine as Sterling kisses the curve of my neck.
I turn my head and catch his mouth.
* * *
Make Your Choice:
don’t leave me hanging; it was just getting good*(go to 82)
I’d rather go to the epilogue(go to 84)
go back(go to 71)
What am I doing?
Pa would be horrified to know this is what I’m using his advice for.Have I really lost enough hope that I’d sabotage someone else’s property and risk a fine—or worse?
Closing the cabinet, I stand up, almost too afraid to meet my own gaze in the mirror.This is what it’s come to, huh?
Lucky is leaning on the wall in the hallway when I exit.“Pretty sure you’re not meant to use the facilities at these things,” he jokes, but his eyes are scanning me worriedly.
It’s sweet that he’s concerned about me.It makes me feel about ten percent worse than I do.
“Water pressure is important to me,” I say.
With his forearm perched on the doorframe, he leans past me to take a look inside, reigniting my shame.“That’s something we have in common.”
He’s not even going to say he was right, is he?
Eager to leave, I’m almost at the door when I see a familiar face, his dark hair standing out easily above the crowd—literally a head above—and if I didn’t think Fate was laughing before, well, bumping into my most decorated coworker after being unceremoniously fired would do it.
Sterling stops and stares.
What’s really interesting though is that he isn’t looking at me.No, he’s staring straight at Lachlan as he walks over.
“Mac?”Lachlan asks, and they must really go back if he feels comfortable calling Sterling that.
