‘How big of a brat you are.’
The pout melts into a giggle.‘You’re a dick.’
‘You’d know.’
‘I’mnottired yet.I’m awake.Need guarding.Have to stay.’
Lachlan kisses him.‘Uh huh.’
‘Surprisedyou’restill awake though,’ Jules mutters and then grins, eyes closed.‘Mr Five Seconds Flat.’
‘I feel like that’s gonna stick.’
‘Lucky for you, you like when I’m a bitch.’
‘I do,’ Lachlan says.‘I really do.’
Jules sobers slightly.
He’s trying hard to stay awake.
‘You’re not gonna walk this back, right?’
‘I won’t walk it back.’
‘Because I know you,’ Jules goes on, hint of warning in his tone.‘You regret things sometimes.You blame yourself.Iknowyou, Lachlan.This was good.Only good,do you understand?Best night of my whole life.No bullshit guilt.’
‘Mine too.I won’t walk it back and I won’t regret it unlessyoudo.’
‘Never.I love you, and I’m gonna keep you safe.’
‘Me?’
Jules sighs, arms slowly losing their strength.‘Yeah, you, Bodyguard.I’m gonna get so strong from CQC and learn all this other stuff so I can save you.’
‘You don’t need to do that.’
‘That’s what love is, isn’t it?Saving each other?’
Lachlan accepts his definition because he has no other to offer.
‘OK, baby.’
‘Tell me you love me tomorrow?’
‘I will.’
‘We could…’ Jules stifles a yawn.‘Make our… own… way.’
Lachlan strokes his hair, watching him fall asleep with bone deep adoration.‘Little language of our own, yeah?’
Jules nods, hums.‘You and me.’
‘You and me, sweetheart,’ Lachlan promises.
Jules falls asleep.
Lachlan stays until he can’t be spared a moment longer, and then he pulls away, tucks Jules in and kisses his hair.
