I’m worried about Grace, though. I don’t want what she endured today—especially from someone she thought loved her, to crush her delicate heart. What happened was horrible, but at least now Rick is permanently out of her life and can’t keep hurting her.
In the past, I had to bite my tongue when Rick treated her poorly because Grace keptbeggingme to leave it alone and that she could handle it. I’m so proud she finally stood up to him and that Harvey beat the shit out of that beetlebrain the moment he stepped out of line. I’m especially glad aboutthat.
Seiji doesn’t mind filling Harvey in on how our night was. I don’t think Harvey appreciated the details about him throwing up after watching Nevaeh pull thorns and bullets out of her shoulder.
My sweetheart turns in her seat, carefully taking Grace’s hand so she can heal the bruise on her cheek. My stomach burns,seeing how easy it is for Harvey and my mate to communicate without words. He didn’t have to say anything—just whispered her name, and she knew exactly what he wanted.
The burn isn’t because I’m jealous of their connection, but rather from the ache in my soul that demands her to be wholly mine. I can’t wait for the day our hearts and minds link the way our souls are, so no part of me would ever long for her like this.
But I’m a patient man if nothing else, I can wait. My mate was deprived of making choices for herself for years, and I’m not going to be yet another thing in her life she has no choice but to accept. In our relationship, I follow her lead. Whatever pace she sets, that’s what I’m following. She can ask me as much or as little, and I’ll give it to her.
Only when the purple bruise fades do I see Harvey sigh in relief and sit back with Grace snuggling into him. I don’t want to get in the middle, but I think Seiji will lose the bet.
It’s around four in the morning when we reach the hotel. Running to the passenger seat, I’m ready to carry my sweetheart, but my independent mate wants to walk. It’s good that we heal fast enough that she’s not limping anymore, but it’s bad for my lonely arms.
Since it’s Harvey’s first time, I show him around and to tease Nevaeh, ask if he has the same directional disability. Nevaeh doesn’t appreciate the joke, and now I’m afraid she will deny me kisses.Stupid idea Anxo.
Instead of splitting into two groups, everyone climbs in the elevator at once, sticking to each other as if the machine only works once every day.
The commotion makes Grace stir, and before she is even aware of what planet she is on, we bombard her with kisses and hugs.
The knot in my chest eases a bit when she leans on Harvey and explains how he helped lift her spirit after everything went down and took care of her.
Not to anyone’s surprise, our little Miss Goody- two-shoes wants to put everything behind her and start over instead of making space in her precious heart for hate and resentment for Rick.
Sometimes, I hate how good she is. I don’t like people taking advantage of my family just because they refuse to stoop down to their level.
A tiny body tackles my legs as soon as the elevator opens up, and I’m surprised to find August out of bed at this hour. His little arms raise asking me to pick him up, and I don’t deny.
Guess my clinginess is rubbing off on my son.
Picking up my boy, I walk out, clearing the path for everyone to do the same. I have him for less than a minute before his eyes find the one he wants most.
Any other kid would thrash in my arms or wiggle until I put them down so they could chase after my sweetheart, but August still has trouble asking for what he wants without overthinking the consequences.
Kissing his head, I pass him to my mate, who is equally desperate to hold him but doesn’t want to interpret. August might enjoy me loving on him, but he needs Nevaeh to fall asleep—or for basically everything else.
Resting his head on my mate’s chest, August fists the neckline of her dress, ready to shut us out and go back to sleep.
Khatri passes bottles of water to everyone as we slump down on the sofas after a long night. Apparently, August was out of bed as soon as we parked, waiting by the elevator for us. He might be getting better, but it’s not hard to see how important being around people he considers safe is for him.
Telling me he’ll be back in a short moment, Khatri escaped to a private balcony, no doubt to clean up our mess.
Nevaeh walks behind my seat to pick up the soft blanket on the back of it, to bundle our little guy and separate the dried blood on her from the kid. Patting August’s back and humming, she coaxes him to sleep.
As long as those two have each other, they forget about everyone else around them. Every day I spend with them, it becomes clear that August is and always will be my mate’s priority, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He deserves every bit of love she sprinkles on him.
“Nevaeh?” A broken whisper shatters the peace.
I didn’t even notice Harvey stopped near the elevator. The unmistakable terror in his eyes makes him push off the couch, but he’s not looking at me. His eyes are stuck on August in my mate’s arms, and the sheer horror on his face is unsettling.
Nevaeh, on the other hand, has gone quiet.Too quiet. Whatever she sees on Harvey’s face reminds her of something she doesn’t want to recall. Before she can say anything, Harvey chokes out. “Is he… I-is he yours?”
Every second Nevaeh fails to answer him, Harvey becomes more agitated. He can’t even look at August without his face crumbling in agony. Whatever silent conversation they’re having with their eyes, I’m not too fond of it. I want to know what’s gotten Harvey so mad and my mate petrified unlike I’ve ever seen her.
Gaining some composure, Nevaeh stutters, “Not in that sense. I mean,he is, but also not quite. I—we—in the dungeon. I mean, he…”
“Monkey!”
