I chuckle, the vibration rumbling against Tilly’s chest. I fire off the gate code and toss the phone back onto the nightstand, silencing it.
I look down at Tilly. She’s watching me, her hair a wild halo around her head, her lips swollen and red. She looks thoroughly wrecked, and the sight fills me with a primal satisfaction.
“We good now?” I ask, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes.
She lets out a soft breath, a small smile touching her lips. “Yeah. We’re good.”
“Good. Because you’re coming tonight.”
“I know.”
“No, I mean you’recoming.” I run my thumb over her bottom lip. “I want you in the VIP suite. I had Koda set it up.”
Her eyes widen slightly. “A suite? Ben, isn't that... too much?”
“No.” I lean down, kissing her briefly but hard. “I want you away from the crowd. I want you comfortable. And when I look up from the ring, I want to know exactly where you are.”
She searches my face, looking for hesitation and finding none. “Okay. The suite.”
“And since you’re sitting with the family...” I grin, tracing the curve of her hip. “You probably need to go meet them.”
Tilly’s eyes pop wide. “Right now?”
“Yes, right now. They just pulled up to the gate. They’ll be in the kitchen in five minutes.”
“Oh no.” She sits up, the sheet pooling at her waist. “Ben, I look like I’ve been... well, I look like I’ve been doing exactly what we were doing.”
“You look beautiful.”
“I look like I’ve been ravished.”
“Because you have been.” I sit up behind her, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder. “And I’m very proud of the work.”
She swats my arm, but she’s laughing. “I need a shower.”
She scrambles out of bed and disappears into the bathroom. I lie back against the pillows for a second, listening to the water turn on, feeling more ready for this fight than I have in years.
Twenty minutes later, we walk into the kitchen together.
Tilly’s hair is damp, pulled back into a low bun, and she’s wearing a pair of jeans she borrowed from Audrey and a sweatshirt. She looks nervous, her fingers fidgeting with her sleeve. I slide my hand onto the small of her back.
The kitchen is full of noise. Koda leans against the counter with a mug in his hand, deep in conversation with Reign. Charlotte sits on the floor with Audrey, watching Elaine stack blocks into a wobbly tower.
Everyone goes quiet when we walk in.
Koda turns first. He’s massive—an inch taller than me and twenty pounds heavier. He scans me, checking for damage, then shifts his gaze to Tilly.
He sees the way she leans into my side. He sees my hand on her back.
A slow smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.
“Finally decided to join us,” he rumbles.
“Flight go okay?” I ask, steering us further into the kitchen.
“Two-hour delay and a screaming baby three rows back, but we survived.” Koda sets down his mug and crosses toward us. He stops in front of Tilly. “You must be Tilly. Audrey’s told us about you. I’m Koda.”
“Nice to meet you.” Tilly offers her hand, and Koda engulfs it in his massive paw. “I’ve heard a lot about you too.”
