She’sours.
For a long moment, the room is silent except for their ragged breathing.
They don’t move. Just breathe together, sweat cooling, heartbeats steadying.
Then Gray pulls out carefully, collapsing beside her and pulling her into his arms. She drapes herself across his chest, both of them still trembling.
“Holy shit,” she whispers.
Gray huffs out a laugh, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Yeah.”
“That was…” She trails off, lifting her head to look at him.
“Explosive?” Gray offers, the corner of his mouth twitching.
She laughs, the sound light and free, and something in me aches at the joy in it.
Gray brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. “I meant what I said. About trying. About being here.”
“I know.” She leans into his touch. “And I meant what I said too. I love you, Gray. All of you.”
“I love you too.” His voice is rough, broken open. “Always.”
She smiles, pressing a kiss to his chest before settling back against him.
That’s when Gray’s head turns, his storm-gray eyes locking on us.
He doesn’t move. Doesn’t pull away from her.
Just watches.
Waiting.
I step forward, my voice rougher than I mean it to be. “We need to take care of her.”
Gray’s jaw tightens, and I see the wolf rise in his gaze—possessive, protective, ready to fight.
But Jace moves beside me, his voice quieter, steadier. “Please. Let us do this.”
For a long moment, Gray doesn’t move.
Then, slowly, he nods.
I cross the room, my footsteps quiet on the floor. Gray shifts, carefully disentangling himself from Bree, and I reach down, sliding one arm beneath her knees, the other behind her shoulders.
Bree’s barely awake when I lift her.
She’s warm and boneless in my arms—her skin still holding Gray’s heat—and the scent of her wraps around me like a brand. Vanilla and sweat andher.
Her head lolls against my shoulder, trusting, and something in my chest cracks.
I carry her down the hall to her room, Jace ahead of me, Gray trailing behind like a shadow.
No one speaks.
Jace disappears into the bathroom, and I hear the water start—low and steady, filling the space with steam and warmth.
I lower Bree onto the edge of the bed, and she blinks up at me, her green eyes unfocused but trusting.
