Page 91 of Obey

He blushes and groans. “No. But I’ve never… The only person I’ve dated is you, Mads. I don’t know what kind of stuff is good! I wanted to do it right and proper. And maybe give you time to change your mind before I went all in.”

I scoff at him. “I’m not going to change my mind. Fuck, why would I? Just because we almost died or some shit?” I try to tease, but it seems to fall flat. “It doesn’t change how I feel. And you don’t have to say it back. Okay?”

Now Knives gives me a strange look. “You might if you decided you didn’t want to put up with my shit after all, Mads. And I basically just said it back! In a roundabout way. Without the words.”

I almost laugh, but I don’t want him to take it the wrong way. So instead, I stand up, crossing the room to him and pulling him into my arms. “We’ll figure it all out,” I murmur against his neck. “We have time. Sorry to spring that on you.”

He hugs me back. “Yeah. We have time.” After a beat, he adds, “Love you too, Mads. Probably always have.”

I don’t know what has me flying higher: the scene, the fucking, or the fact that he loves me too.

“We’re disgusting,” I tell him anyway, feeling a little self-conscious by all the feelings we’re sharing. “Let’s get out of here. You’re going to take me home and help me shower and tuck me into bed.” I smirk at him. “If you’re lucky, I’ll let you stay.”

Knives rolls his eyes. “We’re going to my place, so of course I’m staying.”

“Sure, fine,” I say.

The truth is, I don’t care where we’re going… as long as we’re together.

And not in the fucking swamp.

EPILOGUE

KNIVES

“I told you to put the fucking couch in the middle!” I shout at Lance and Evan. “How’s that layout going to work if we put the TV by the only empty wall?”

The expressions on their faces make it clear that I’m really, really pushing things, but I’m beyond stressed—about the move, about the furniture, and, mostly, about living with Maddox.

Maddox comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Chill out, Nayeem,” he says so only I can hear. “We can always move things around.”

He’s playing it cool, like he’s calm and relaxed, but I can feel the tension in his body, too.

I wonder if he’s regretting the decision to move in together.

Lance sits down on the couch and nods. “Like he said. Do it yourself.”

I scowl at Lance. He’s always up Maddox’s ass, looking to him a lot like Maddox looks at Silvano for guidance. It would be funny if it wasn’t so fucking annoying—and if Maddox wasn’t my boyfriend.

Sure, Lance has his girlfriend—and their baby—but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

“I mean, we’d appreciate the help, and we are offering beer and pizza,” Maddox hints, stepping away from me as he gives Lance a pointed look. “So if you could please move the couch into the middle?”

Evan snorts. “Are we five now?” he asks, sounding as perpetually amused as ever. “Asking pretty please with a cherry on top?”

“It’s better than demanding it like a barbarian,” Lily says, taking a sip from a glass of wine. She’s been standing by the door, offering input without lifting a hand of her own. “Besides, some of us brought our own beverages.” She lifts the glass in a mock salute to me.

“Evan, just do it so we can finish all this,” Evan’s boy Helios says. He’s carrying one of the boxes labeled “kitchen,” and he helpfully puts it down… on the dining room table, even though the kitchen is right there.

“Here, I’ll help them. You go grab more boxes. I think there’s only one left,” Maddox says, pushing me in the direction of the door.

I obey only because I don’t want to flip out at Evan. Despite everything, he’s still technically my boss.

I leave the small house Maddox and I had bought—bought!—and head to the big truck we’d rented to haul all our shit. Sally is sitting on a chair on the front deck, rocking the baby. He’s adorable, but at just two months old, he also doesn’t do much beyond eat and sleep.

“Hi,” Sally says, smiling. “Sorry, give me a few minutes to get him to sleep, then I’ll carry some boxes.”

I shake my head. “No, don’t worry about it. We’re practically done anyway, and you really shouldn’t be lifting anything.”

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