His rhythm stutters, then stills as he follows me over the edge.
We stay tangled like that for a long moment, breathing hard.
Then he eases out of me, careful. Pulls the blanket over both of us. Gathers me into his chest.
I rest my cheek over his heartbeat, still trying to catch my breath.
He brushes a hand over my hair.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Better than okay.”
He presses a kiss to my forehead.
“You’re mine now,” he murmurs.
“I know.”
“And I’ll worship you every damn day if you let me.”
I smile into his chest. “Then I’m yours.”
He exhales. “Good. Because I wasn’t letting go either way.”
Chapter 6
Saint
She’sbarefootinmyshirt, stirring canned stew like it’s a five-star meal, and I’m just sitting here trying to remember how to breathe.
Her hair is still sleep-mussed. Her thighs peek from beneath the hem. Every now and then she hums under her breath, some soft, lazy melody I don’t recognize, and it sounds like peace.
I’ve seen war. I’ve seen hell. But nothing has ever knocked the breath out of me like this woman in my shirt, humming in a safehouse kitchen like the world hasn't tried to break her.
"Smells better than it looks," she says, glancing over her shoulder with a crooked grin.
"You could wear that shirt and cook gravel, and I’d still eat it."
She bites her lip, trying not to smile. Knows exactly what she’s doing.
"Careful, Saint. That almost sounded like flirting."
"Who says I’m being careful?"
Her cheeks go warm, but she doesn’t flinch. That’s what I like about her. She doesn’t run. Not anymore.
She ladles the stew into two bowls and brings them over. I let my hand brush her hip when she passes. Just a touch. Just enough. She’s warm.Real.
"Thanks," she murmurs, settling beside me at the tiny table.
We eat quietly. The kind of silence people spend years trying to build with someone. The wind rattles outside, but in here it’s only the hum of the stove and her knee brushing mine under the table.
After a few spoonfuls, she pauses with her spoon halfway to her mouth.
"So," she says, aiming for casual, "how mad do you think Ava’s gonna be?"
I raise a brow. "For what?"
