Page 84 of Sanctuary

“Not at first,” I say, trying to keep our tone light so I don’t get overwhelmed with emotion this close to home. “At first I drove you crazy. You weren’t happy then.”

He chuckles and stops walking so he can turn to face me. “Maybe? But I’m honestly not sure. Because even then the world felt different to me. Like maybe I actually had a purpose for staying alive. Even if that purpose was trying to hold my own with you, it was better than nothing. And when I finally let go of the rivalry…”

I could move us past this moment, keep him from saying what will touch me down deep in my core. Instead, I say breathlessly, “What?”

“When I finally let go, I found this space in the world I share only with you—where I can be at peace and also thrillingly alive at the exact same time.”

My throat tightens. “Aidan.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m not forcing a conversation on you that you’re not ready for. I can wait as long as you need. Or we can stay like this for the rest of our lives, and I’ll still be happier than I’ve known was possible. Because that space of safety with you exists whether we’re having sex or not, whether or not we’re ever romantic again. It’s always going to be there for me, as long as you’re in my life. And that alone will make me happy.”

His voice breaks a few time as he offers this heartfelt confession, and his eyes are very soft as they gaze down on me.Tender.

My face twists up with a surge of emotion. I grip fistfuls of his jacket. “I do love you, Aidan," I rasp out before I rethink the instinct.

He jerks. Makes a guttural sound. His eyes blaze with something like joy. “Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. You already knew it, so don’t pretend it’s a surprise.”

“I did hope. But you have every reason not to.”

“And even more reasons to. I love you.” I move my hands up to cup his jaw on both sides. “And you’re my safe place too.”

With a throaty moan, he leans down to kiss me. I kiss him back, eager and emotional and just a little clumsy.

We’re both smiling again as we pull away. Despite the distraction of the jolting excitement in my heart, my body is starting to hum in anticipation, responding to the idea of being with Aidan intimately again.

I’m not fully aroused, but I’m closer right now than I’ve been since he and I broke up.

He strokes my cheek with his knuckles. “Your sister is watching us from out the window,” he drawls. “So why don’t we have the rest of this conversation later?”

I’m beaming and can’t seem to stop. “That sounds like a good idea to me.”

That evening, Del, Cole, Aidan and I sit around after dinner and talk for a long time. It’s the best evening I can remember.

As the time passes, however, Aidan gets quieter, and his eyes grow bleary. Finally, he says he’s got to go to bed.

He’s still not fully recovered, and the trip back to Monument was hard on him.

I get up to go with him, but he’s worried because it’s relatively early. He wants me to spend more time hanging out with my sister instead of turning in early just for him. So he convinces me to stay up a couple more hours.

Later, after we’ve locked up the cottage for the night, I slip into the bedroom that’s always been mine as soundlessly as possible.

The room is mostly dark, but Aidan left one small candle burning on the dresser so I’d have some light to get ready for bed.

I wash up as thoroughly as I can in the basin and then dry off and brush my hair and teeth before I put on my nightgown. As I move toward the bed, my foot lands on a creaky board, and it groans startlingly loud.

I freeze.

Aidan chuckles from the bed. “I’m already awake, love. Don’t worry about it.”

“I was trying not to wake you up.”

“I know. You’ve been impressively quiet. But I woke up as soon as you came in.” He shifts in bed, his tone changing slightly. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

My chest clenches. So does my pussy. I climb into bed beside him, scooting over closer. “You were supposed to be sleeping.”

“I did sleep. But now I’m awake.”

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