Andfuck, that feels good.
It gives me hope that perhaps I can lose the chains of guilt and shame that have kept me bound for so long.
Talon brings his mouth to mine in a kiss that is needy, desperate, and hungry in a way it hasn’t been before.
Gripping my hair at the roots, his nostrils flare from breathing so hard as he plants his forehead against mine.
“I want you so fucking much,” he says against my lips. “I want you inmybed, not some rental. Inmysheets. Inmyhome. I want to make you breakfast inmykitchen after bathing you inmyshower, and I want you to seemycity.Ourcity,” he corrects. “You belong here. With me.”
The conviction in his voice has my eyes burning and my throat tight.
I’m saved from having to answer by the ding of the bell and the doors opening into a large foyer with glass-paned double doors on one end. I expected the doors to be solid, maybe with a peephole. These look like front doors you’d see on a house in suburbia, and I’m totally caught off guard.
Talon grabs the handle of his suitcase, mine still on top, and takes me by the hand.
“Welcome home, baby.”
Chapter 29
Talon
Ineed to slow down. IknowI do, but I can’t seem to stop. Being back home and having Zeke here with me has made me almostgiddy, and the need to touch him is even more overwhelming than usual.
I’m not sure many people think of New York City as their safe haven, but I did evenbeforeeverything happened in Montana. I do even more so now. And I hope Zeke does as well.
Stepping up to the retinal scanner, it only takes a second before I hear the double beep and a click, telling me the door is unlocked.
“Are youshitting meright now?” Zeke says next to me. I cock my head to the side in confusion. “Aretinal scanner.That’show you unlock your front door?”
Oh. Right. Probably not totally normal.
“Also,” he continues, “Seems like a bit of an oxymoron to protect an entry like that, considering these are giant, see-through glass doors. Just seems like someone could break in pretty easily.”
I smile.Just wait, I think to myself.
Pulling Zeke through the doorway, I kick it with the toe of my shoe as it closes. The sound of my foot colliding with the metal rings through the space.
“What the hell?” Zeke says, reaching forward to touch the door.
“It’s bulletproof. The glass on the other side isonlyon the other side, and I can choose what image is displayed through the glass.”
Zeke opens the front door, checking the image, and then peering back into the rest of the house to compare.
“That’s fucking crazy, but…is it really necessary?” he asks. “Are you in danger all the time?”
I walk him farther into my space.
“Personally, I don’t think so, but my parents weren’t taking any chances. Money makes people do some crazy shit. But truly, you’re safe here,” I tell him, walking toward the wall of windows, tugging him with me. “Look down,” I say, moving behind him and wrapping my arms around his torso.
“Is that Central Park?” he asks. The raw excitement in his voice fills my heart with joy.
“Yep,” I confirm, pressing my lips to his neck.
“Can we see it?”
“Of course, baby. We’re going to see it all.”
Zeke spins and jumps into my arms. He’s not as light as he used to be, and he knocks me off balance. I’ll be damned if I drop him, though, so I stumble backward before falling onto the couch, holding him tightly against my chest.
