Crave (Talon Security #1)(61)

Had I not spoken? I wasn’t even aware of it.

“I….” My voice was hoarse in my ears. “I....” I tried again. He pulled me in close, wrapping his arms around me, enveloping me in a cocoon of safety. I pressed my cheek to his firm chest, breathing him in. “I thought Travis was going to die,” I stuttered, realizing why this particular event felt more horrifying than those in the recent past. “I felt so helpless.”

“But you weren’t helpless, Sam.” His deep voice rumbled from his chest like an oncoming storm. “You still tried to stall that fuck. You did what you could and ultimately, you saved him just as much as my bullet did.”

I looked up at him in surprise.

He took my mouth and I could feel his big body tremble as my lips met his. “Christ, tonight took years off my life,” he breathed against my lips.

“I hope not. I want all the years I can get with you.” I sighed.

“Well then, how does forever sound?” he murmured.

****

“What the hell is this?” Theo chortled, holding up the romper that Sid had tried to convince me to get rid of just days before.

It was two days later and we were moving in to our new house.

“Remind me why we didn’t just hire movers?” I grumbled to no one in particular as I snatched my clothing out of Theo’s grasp. “I’ll give you the same fashion lesson I promised Sid,” I told Theo.

“Is that a threat?” he replied, his gaze snapping over to Declan as he carried a box inside. “That sounded like a threat.”

“Don’t be such a b-a-a-by,” Sarah sang from our master bedroom. She’d volunteered to hang some of my clothes instead of lifting anything heavy. She was a good friend, but as she’d put it, manual labor was out of her jurisdiction.

“I’m all man, sweetheart,” Theo hollered back.

I rolled my eyes at their banter before I looked around our home. Between the two of us, we didn’t have much furniture, but it didn’t matter. We’d fill the bare walls with photos soon enough. Our new dining set would be center stage for dinners with our extended family of friends. We’d christen our new bed before making love in every room. We’d fill the house with so many memories, it’d be bursting.

I couldn’t wait.

Strong arms wrapped around me from behind as Sid’s lips met my neck. My whole body gave a little shimmy in response. I turned in his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Okay, babe?” he asked. He’d barely left my side since the event with Richards.

I nodded with a grin. “I’m moving into the house of my dreams with the man of my dreams. I’m great.”

He grinned, bending to take my mouth in a soft kiss.

Caden groaned as he and Travis came in carrying Sid’s giant TV. “We didn’t help you guys move so that you could stand there and make out all day.”

Sid shot him a crooked grin. “Hey, man, you offered.”

“Momentary insanity.” Caden shook his head.

Danny cocked a brow at him as she came in carrying Trixie. “Only momentary?”

Caden paused, making Travis grumble with frustration as he shifted the TV’s weight. Caden leaned over so he could kiss her briefly. “Insane over you.”

“Christ, bunch of fucking pansies,” Travis complained.

“Just you wait, bud,” Sid replied, slapping him on the shoulder. “I’ll try not to say I told you so when it happens to you.”

“Right,” Travis replied sarcastically.

I knew that despite his reservations, when my brother fell, he’d fall hard.

It was after dark by the time the last box had been brought in. We all sat outside enjoying the backyard and devouring the pizza I’d ordered.

“Ma called,” Travis told me when he came to sit by my side as Sid sat on the other.

“Oh?” I replied tonelessly. “Did she spare a breath to ask anything about you?”

He shrugged, taking a swig from his beer bottle. “Not really.”

I looked over at him, waiting for him to say more, despite knowing he wouldn’t.

“It took me a while to realize they were the reason I had a hard time getting close to people,” I shared. Sid’s hand slid over my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. I didn’t even realize he’d been listening as I continued. “You ever think it might be the same for you?”

Travis looked out at the darkened backyard, seeming to consider my question. “I think we all process things in different ways. For me—well, I had you to focus on. To take care of. I don’t think their apathy affected me the same way. It may have made me harder, more reserved, but that got me where I am today. No sense looking back.”