This is Love, Baby(62)

My teeth are chattering from the adrenaline rush and all I can think about is getting out of this house.

But I stop for a moment to admire my handiwork.

Gabe. The damn devil. Dead.

With shaking hands, I drag my yoga pants on without panties. I grab Brandon’s bloody hoodie from the bed and tug it over my head.

I’m done with this life.

It’s finally over.

Those bastards aren’t coming for me anymore. I can take my time. But I’m ready to put my past behind me and start over with War.

I need order.

I need simplicity.

I need to feel safe again.

My heart races in my chest and I can’t seem to get it to slow. If War were here with me right now, he’d press a thumb to the pulse at my throat and count each rapid beat.

God, I need him.

With a deep breath, I open the front door and inhale the fresh scent of freedom.

“Bay.”

I jerk my gaze to the heavenly voice that somehow thunders through the madness in my head and blink in confusion to see the man approaching me slowly.

Beautiful but flawed.

Weak yet so strong.

Mine.

“War.”

I’m afraid to move. Afraid to chase off the vision of him. He seems so real. So close. So present. I want to thump myself in the head to remind myself that War is in the hospital.

“Are…are you okay?” His voice cracks and his hands tremble at his sides.

Land materializes from the behind him with wide eyes and I put a palm to my chest as if to still my pounding heart. “You’re really here.”

War winces but takes several more steps toward me, not deterred by my shuddering body.

“Bay, beautiful, please tell me you’re okay.”

Tears stream down my face and my knees buckle. Blackness eats away at my vision, causing me to sway. “I am not okay.”

And darkness envelopes me.

But with it comes a warm, all-consuming strength. It embraces me and keeps me safe. I unravel inside of my own head and let the warmth overtake me.

“For the love of God, Bay,” he chokes out, “Tell me you’re okay.”

The deep, husky voice parts through the gloom in my mind and I reach for it. I blink my eyes open and inhale a scent that belongs to my lover. My friend. My equal. My War.

“You’re really here right now with me,” I sob, “and we’re going to be okay.”

His hand strokes my blood-soaked hair as I cling to him. He flinches when I touch the left part of his chest where he was shot, so I settle for the right.

“I was so scared.” My tears drench his shirt and he continues to hold me.

“I was fucking terrified when I realized you were gone,” he says, his words muffled somewhere in my hair. “As soon as I realized what happened, I left the hospital to come for you. Your watch was fitted with a tracking device—in case Gabe ever came back for you. But when he did come for you, you weren’t wearing it. This time, though, I was going to find you and save you.”

“You did save me,” I whisper as I pull slightly away, searching his stormy eyes.

He smiles and his gaze skitters down my throat. “Bay, you saved yourself.”

His eyes become fixated on my flesh and realization washes over me like slick oil. Suddenly, a thought overwhelms me to the point I nearly vomit.

Blood.

So much blood.

I’m dripping in War’s worst nightmare.

Shit!

I try to peel myself from him but he grips me tighter. “Warren, I’m covered in…I’m covered in…”

He grips my hair and tugs my head back. “I see, beautiful. Believe me, I see.” Our eyes meet and his perfect mouth quirks into a half-smile. “But love’ll make you do crazy things. Like do absolutely anything—slay any dragon, even the imaginary ones in your head—for a chance to have the one you love in your arms once more. You own me, Bay, and you always win when it comes to battling my heart against my delusional mind. I love you.” He gives me a small smile. “I’m going to kiss that dirty mouth of yours now.”

I half sob and half laugh as his mouth descends upon mine. Our lips connect and he devours me as if he needs my love for nourishment. So I feed it to him. Every part of me, I give to him in our kiss. The promise of my love. Children. Loyalty and friendship. My heart.

“Kiss me again,” I order.

He smiles and dives back in. “Anything for the queen.”




The sound of the sirens grows louder as the police get closer. War, Land, and I have been sitting on the front porch waiting for them to arrive and deal with the situation. Land has been on the phone, answering questions from Detective Stark. She asked him to keep us out of the house until they arrived. Something about contaminating the crime scene and disrupting evidence. I didn’t care, though. I was perfectly content sitting next to War on the porch swing with his heavy arm draped around me.