Page 86 of Citadel

“I know it has. You’ve done so much for me.”

She shrugs off my attempt to thank her. “And now you have Cole, so you don’t need me so much.”

“I’ll always need you! Breanna—”

“I’m not saying it like a bad thing. It’s a good thing. It was time. But it… it leaves me a little bit at loose ends. Like I’ve lost some of my purpose.”

She’s speaking as nonchalantly as ever—she’s never been one for deep, emotional conversations—but the words cut into my heart anyway.

I make a little sobbing sound and step over to hug her. “I’ll always need you, Breanna. Don’t you dare ever think otherwise.”

She hugs me back, holding the embrace longer than I expect. “I know. But it’s different now. It has to be.”

“I know. But you’re always going to be my family. The most important thing. I just have two now instead of only one.”

“Exactly right.” She pulls away, smiling her old smile. “Now I’m going to take off, and you get back to bed. You’ve got at least an hour left to sleep.”

“Be careful out there.”

She flashes me her dimple over her shoulder as she opens the front door. “I always am.”

* * *

When I return to the bedroom, Cole is awake. He’s still lying on his side of the bed, the covers pushed down, but his eyes are open, watching me closely in the dark room. He usually gets up the same time I do. His morning shifts guarding the perimeter or working with the construction crew start at the same time as my fishing or gardening shifts.

We’ve fallen into a good routine of life here. He’s planning to eventually make a trip back down south to check out the gang’s citadel and maybe find his brother, but he’s not ready to do it quite yet.

I’m planning to come with him when he goes.

“Y’okay?” he asks.

“Yes. Just seeing Breanna before she leaves.” I climb under the covers beside him.

“She okay?”

“I think so. She’s herself. I think it might be hard for her. That we’re together now.”

He frowns and pulls me closer. “Does she still not like me? I thought she was warming up some.”

“She does like you. She’s fully supportive. It’s just different now. Between her and me. Because I’ve got you.”

“Yeah. I guess that makes sense.” He brushes a couple of kisses against my hair. “Can I do anything?”

“No. It’s going to take a little time for us all to adjust, but she’d be so mad if she thought we were doing something different just to protect her feelings.” I push myself up so I’m propped above him, smiling down on him. “Besides, I don’t much want you to back off any.”

He smiles too, warm and soft and familiar now. “You’d have better luck stopping the world from spinning than getting me to back off from you now that I’ve got you.” He pulls me over so I’m straddling his hips.

“I’ve got you too. Don’t forget it.”

“No chance in hell of that.” He pulls my head down so he can kiss me, and I respond eagerly, opening my lips to his and trying to suck his tongue into my mouth. We kiss for a long time until our bodies are rocking together and I can feel the hard shape of his cock against my middle.

We made love before we slept last night. We were both tired, so it was urgent missionary under the covers—quiet, tender, and deeply satisfying.

But we’re alone in the house right now, and neither one of us is tired. After a while, Cole pulls my gown off over my head and starts caressing my naked body with big, callused hands.

He’s pleased when he discovers I’m already deeply aroused. He fondles my pussy as I’m draped on top of him.

“You’re likin’ that, aren’t you, baby?” His rough voice is another caress.

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