“I thought I killed you,” he whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek. He sniffed. “I had to shoot you. Him. Fuck. Whatever.”
I leaned in for another kiss, and Noble moaned against my mouth. He wrapped his arms around me, and it was so bizarre after the way I used to be able to hold him as if he weighed nothing. The quiet strength of his body was comforting. “This is nice,” I whispered against his lips. “Fuckin’ weird, but nice.”
He snorted out a laugh as he nodded and pressed his lips to mine again. He tasted sweet, as if he’d been eating Christmas chocolates. He only drew back far enough to rest his forehead against mine.
“I hope you like Sage because you’ll be seeing him a lot.”
A strange expression slipped across Noble’s face, then it was replaced by a sly grin. He leaned forward and whispered, “Does he bottom?”
I froze, and there was a rush of excitement that raced through me—not mine. “If he does, I don’t want to know about it.”
“Sure you do,” Noble said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t want to miss that, if it would make you happy.” I pressed my forehead harder to his.
“I’m probably going to regret this at some point, but I believe you. You know too much not to be Tyler. I love you. I was so scared that night.” He conked his forehead against mine hard enough that I worried for him.
“Me too. You. I love you.”
The door opened and Journey, dressed in a winter coat, stepped out. His mouth fell open. “Oh, you do know him. Sorry, friend.” He raised his eyebrows at Noble, who only shook his head. Journey gave us a wave and took off toward the end of the hallway.
“Do you want to come inside? Maybe I could get to know the real you,” Noble said.
My chest gave a pang and I nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that. I’d like it a lot.”
Noble hugged me again, and I never wanted him to let me go.
“I cried for you. I… I went to the funeral. They had one. No one else came except for your partner, Nilsson.” His fingers dug into my back, holding too tight, but I loved it too much to ask him to stop.
I let out a shuddery breath. “He’s alive?”
“Yeah.” Noble tilted his head back and grimaced. “He’s a little impaired from you punching him. He’s taking time off work. He might never be okay.”
“Damn it.”
Noble tugged me through the front door, into his apartment, and toward the couch. I barely had the sense to shove the door closed behind us. I was off-balance because he was able to move me easily. It was difficult not to be grumpy when he sat down and dragged me onto his lap with a grin.
“You like this too much,” I grumbled, and he kissed my cheek.
“Start talking, and don’t leave out any of the weird details. I’ve never met a demon.” He squeezed me around the middle, and I groaned.
“You should be asking me about Sage. That would be far more practical.”
“I’ll meet him,” he said. “I’m more interested in you right now.” He rested his forehead against my cheek and smiled.
“You’re taking this well.”
“I’ve had time to consider it,” he whispered. “And I still love you.” His single blue eye searched my gaze and my heart flipped happily.
Snuggling in against his front, I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against his temple. “The first time I remember being aware, I accidentally bound myself to a young man during a ritual, one long-forgotten.” He rubbed a hand along my back, and I smiled. “It was foul and dark and evil, and it brought me into being.”
“Are you sure?” he whispered. “That it was so evil?”
I laughed. “I guess it’s all in the way you think about things.” I brushed my fingertips around his eye patch, and he pressed his mouth to mine again. My story got lost as he kissed me, and I knew I didn’t want to come up for air for a long time. When Noble finally sat back, he nuzzled his lips to my cheek.
“You’re different. Not as gruff. Is it because of the man you’re in?”
I glared, but he was all smiles. “Good different?”
