“It means,” Aries said, eyes flashing with real anger, “that we’re preparing for war.”
Finn pulled me into the elevator, staring vigilantly at the front door of his apartment building until the elevator doors closed.
My stomach dropped as I remembered the last time we’d been in here, the night Bennie had been attacked. The night Finn had figured out that I wasn’t just his boyfriend, but his stalker too.
The last time we’d been in here, the tension had been tangible. The anger had radiated off him, and I’d known he knew before he’d even opened his mouth. I’d known an explosion had been imminent, but I’d had no tools to defuse the bomb.
This time, the air around us held a weird electric tension too, but I knew Finn’s anger wasn’t directed at me. He was upset, yes, but not because of anything I did.
Unfortunately, that knowledge didn’t help my baser instincts. I was still worried I might lose him again. Couldn’t help but remember the way I’d stood outside his door, unable to move because the pain had been so overwhelming.
Finn squeezed my hand, and I looked up to find him smiling at me. He took a step toward me and reached out, combing his free hand through my hair.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he whispered, the gentleness in his voice soothing, helping my chest expand. “But I’m not going anywhere, okay? We’re fine. I promise. But I need to pack a few things.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
I closed my eyes, reveling in the soft caress of Finn’s fingertips brushing along my neck.
“I mean, if I’m to stay with you indefinitely, I probably even need to pack more than a few things.”
I froze.
“What?”
Had I heard him correctly?
Finn let out a teasing laugh, his fingertips dancing up my neck until they found my cheek and gently cupped it. “Eric. You’re preparing to go to war with Ambrose’s clan. They already tried taking me once. As much as I hate to admit it, I know I’m not safe here. And I know you wouldn’t be able to stay away if I were to stay here. You’d be out there on that fucking roof every night—which would putyouat risk. And I don’t want that. I love you. That means I want you safe, just like you want me safe.”
My heart soared, the last shreds of emptiness in my chest vanishing as light filled me from within until I was about to burst.
“You love me?”
I’d heard that correctly, hadn’t I?
Finn laughed, his thumb brushing over my cheek.
“I do. It’s way too early to say that, but… we said we’d be honest with one another. So, that’s how I feel.”
“I love you too,” I whispered, brushing my lips against his. He tasted like Finn. Likehome. “So, so much.”
The elevator dinged, and Finn stepped back, pulling me with him, a wide smile on his face. A smile I’d put there by loving him. The way I’d been wanting to for years and years.
“Come on. Let’s get my stuff packed, and then I want to go home.”
I followed him with a goofy smile on my face, already planning the next steps. Finn probably wouldn’t be able to take much of his stuff today. But we could go through his belongings and figure out what he wanted to take. Then we could return tomorrow or the day after with Bennie in tow—hell, maybe even Aries since apparently we were allies now—and pick up the things he wanted to keep. Then we could donate the rest, or Finn could put it into storage, or whatever he wanted.
And then… then he’d be living with me.
The thought was crazy.
A little over a week ago, I’d thought he would never talk to me again, and now he was moving into my house.
Finn unlocked the door and led me into his apartment.
The air was a bit stale, but that was to be expected.
