I’d give her the world if I could, but donating what I received from the house to an organization that made sure people like her were never in that position was the least I could do.
“Why did we spend all this time apart?”
My throat burned as I pulled her tighter, crushing her to me. I didn’t care that we were standing right there in the open, her hair brushing my jaw, her body trembling against mine. I’d hold her anywhere. I’d hold her forever if she let me.
“I don’t know, Lune. I don’t fucking know. I should’ve fought harder, should’ve seen it sooner. All that matters is that we’re here. I’m here. And I’m not letting go again.”
Her breath hitched, and before I could second-guess myself, I crushed my mouth against hers. She whimpered into me, clutching my shirt like she might fall apart if she let go, and god, I’d been starving for this.
But beneath all that fire, it was healing, too. Like every kiss was stitching something back together inside me that I hadn’t realized was still torn.
I broke away for air, our foreheads pressed together, both of us panting. “Where’s Dirks?”
“Inside the main house.”
I kissed her again, harder this time, and she didn’t resist. No, she melted. She threaded her fingers into my hair, tugging me closer like she needed me as much as I needed her.
I didn’t even remember walking inside, didn’t care who might see us. The front door clicked shut behind us, and still, I couldn’t stop tasting her. By the time we stumbled down the hall, her back hitting walls, my hands gripping her waist, we broke into her bedroom, and I kissed her like I’d die if I didn’t.
Her nails raked down my chest, desperate, and I laughed low against her mouth.
“Not tonight, honey. I want to do that thing you love.”
Her brows furrowed, breath ragged, lips swollen. “What? What are you talking about? Ball gag? Pegging Dirks? Getting on my knees and sucking you raw?”
My cock twitched traitorously at the mention of him, and I groaned, burying my face in her throat. “That fucking bastard,” I muttered. “No—I mean, yes. As much as I want all that, right now... ” I pulled back, cupping her face, forcing her to see me. “I want to hold you. I want to kiss you until our mouths are raw and then wrap around you until you fall asleep. Let me do that?”
Her eyes softened, wide and glassy, and she nodded once. “Okay.”
That’s exactly what we did. We lay tangled together, skin on skin, mouths bruising each other with lingering kisses that slowed until they became lazy brushes of lips. Her heartbeat eased against my chest, my hand stroking her back until finally her breathing evened out. For the first time in too fucking long, I felt peace.
Hours later, the bed shifted behind her. My eyes cracked open, and there he was—Dirks—sliding in quietly on the otherside, careful not to wake her. He met my gaze over her shoulder, draping his arm protectively across her waist, and for the first time in years, it felt whole again.
I tightened my hold around her, his hand brushing mine as he settled. She was sandwiched between us. We were back. The three of us.
I pushed open the bedroom door and was surprised to see Dirks and Luna in the kitchen already.
“Coffee. I slept in.”
“No shit you slept in.” Dirks grabbed a mug from the cabinet. “It’s two in the goddamn afternoon.”
“Whatever,” I shot back, rubbing my eyes. “It’s been a long couple days.”
Luna tugged at his arm, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Can we show him? Please, Dirks?”
I reached out, grabbing her hips and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Show me what?”
My coffee was halfway to my mouth when Luna thrust a folded sheet of paper toward me.
“What the hell is this?”
“Just look.” She urged me, her bright eyes practically glowing.
Dirks leaned back against the counter, arms folded, clearly trying not to grin too hard.
I unfolded it, my stomach twisting as my eyes scanned the numbers. A wire transfer.
Half a million dollars.
