There was no point running. He wouldn’t get an answer, just be laughed at and that question would probably be fed back to Garrison, meaning Alex’s life would become a damn site less comfortable.
He walked back home,checking the perimeter of the cottages before letting himself into him. He didn’t want to wake Abby with the noise, but he was desperate for a shower – holding idiots who’d been fighting meant close contact and the bloke had been sweaty, and he knew Abby would rather be woken up for a few minutes than havethatpushed up against her.
Abby.
Amelia Hope.
The woman with two names, because Abby didn’t exist.
With the information Kenny had given him, Alex knew she’d done the right thing. Finding Amelia Hope would’ve been too easy for someone who wanted information. Hiding away in Severton had protected her.
He showered quickly, keeping the power of the water low and hoped not to wake Abby. Tiredness was kicking in now the adrenaline of stopping the fight had worn off and all he could think about was getting in bed next to Abby and falling asleep until morning.
She was lyingon his side of the bed when he went into the bedroom. Her hair was covering both pillowcases and the duvet was wrapped around her middle, leaving her breasts exposed for him to look at. She looked beautiful; sleep mussed and calm, but his cock had a different idea to letting her sleep.
Alex’s relationships had never been serious. There had never been a girl to take home to meet his mother, or his father. Women had been around, and he’d never kept any one hidden because that would’ve been unfair and he wasn’t ashamed of anyone he’d been involved with, but there hadn’t been someone who he’d wanted tokeep.
Keep.
He wanted to keep her. Not that she was his – she was her own woman, but he wanted her there, in his bed, in his home. Their home.
He thought back to when she’d asked about how he was going to fill the stone house and she’d mentioned children.
He wanted that with her. No one else. There hadn’t been another person with whom he’d considered a future beyond the next few dates.
Alex slid into bed beside her, wanting both to not wake her and for her to wake up enough to talk. Because he had words he wanted her to hear.
The sheets barely moved as he slid under, his arm gently resting over her waist, her body still with sleep.
Alex couldn’t take his eyes off her.
He’d asked Zack and Scott how they’d known they were in love. Wanted to know how they got to the point that they wanted to say the words. Now he understood.
It was need and desire and want and adoration. It was not caring that there was baggage and a past and that there had been other lovers. Because the path ahead might be rocky, but they could climb it together. Be each other’s guide because that was what love was.
Everything.
She stirred under his fingertips, moved and stretched, her eyelashes fluttering before she looked at him.
“I could feel you staring.”
He smiled. “I love you.”
“Okay. That’s probably something that I’m happy to be woken to hear.” Her hand sprawled over his chest then moved up to his shoulder, pulling herself closer to kiss him.
“Was everything okay?”
He could tell her now what Kenny had said, start the explanation and the theorising, see her elation at further confirmation that Tilly was alive, but he wanted – needed- more than words.
“It was fine. Are you okay?”
She smiled. “Always.” Her hand stroked his face. “But you’re home now so I feel even more okay.”
He moved to kiss her and it shifted from sleepy to needy in three heartbeats. Soft skin and hot touches were the lullaby he needed.
“I love you.” He said the words again as his mouth travelled from her neck to her breasts, sucking and biting each peak until she moaned and pressed her legs together, her tell that she was turned on.
He kept going, trailing over her stomach, down to the place between her legs, wanting that no other man should go there because it was his. Him only.
