And we held each other until we stopped.
Even then I couldn’t be away from him as we finally stood again, and he closed the door then led me up to the bathroom.
We undressed as hot water filled the large tub, and without speaking we slipped in together, his body under mine as he wrapped himself around me. His lips trailed my neck in not-quite kisses.
There was so much we needed to talk about, so much I was sorry for, but words were too big right now, and what we needed was touch.
When the water cooled, he dried us both with a towel, then threaded his fingers between mine to lead me to our bed.
It was still our bed.
My body slotted perfectly in next to his, and he pulled the bright purple blanket up over us, sealing us in with his warmth.
I cried again as all the weeks of exhaustion seeped out of me.
“Rest,” he whispered, placing a kiss to my temple.
Rest. Just for now, I could rest.
Benny was already awake when sleep eased away from me again, and the room was lit with a late morning sun.
His breathing was deep and content behind me, like a familiar and comforting song. I never wanted to be without it again.
I rolled over to look at him. His brow pinched as beautiful brown eyes took me in.
“Are—” He cleared his throat. “Are you… home?”
I swallowed. “If you’ll still have me.”
He scoffed. “Obviously. I’ll always have you. You’re it for me, Harper. Nothin’ you ever do could change that.”
I didn’t deserve him. I was keeping him anyway.
I claimed his lips in a kiss far firmer than I felt.
“You’re it for me too,” I whispered as we parted.
For a moment we just existed there, his nose brushing against mine as we shared air.
But there was a reason I’d come back, and we needed to talk.
“You’re going to kill Leon,” I whispered, as if someone might overhear us.
He inhaled deeply. “Shady told you that, huh?”
“He did.”
“Did you come back to stop me?”
I shook my head. “I’m going to help you.”
fifty
Benny
SIX SECONDS.
“Use the maintenance elevator. Go directly to the roof. Do not deviate.” Shady’s instructions had been clear.
