Page 44 of Bones

I returned to the kitchen to grab my keys and found Aurora with her face practically against the window as she stared out into the garden. Victoria was perched in her lap, enjoying the attention.

Still jealous of Demon Dog.

At my approach, Aurora turned to me and smiled.

And my cock instantly hardened again.

Will it always be this way?

Christ, I hope so.

Thankfully, it was positioned to stretch uncomfortably across my pelvis where it was hidden behind my flannel, though I moved carefully as I grabbed my cell from the counter.

“I’m taking the passcode off,” I told her as I touched the screen. “And starting a draft email that’ll go to me at Black Horse. Use it. Need anything before I go?”

Her lips parted, and for a moment, I thought she’d speak. Hoped like fuck she would. But she pressed them back together and shook her head.

“Help yourself to anything while I’m gone, okay? Anything at all. Want you to make yourself at home.”

Make this your home.

I didn’t want to leave. If it was anything but Black Horse, it would’ve taken literal black horses to drag me away from her.

But with Aurora showing up out of nowhere, I couldn’t shake the feeling that shit was about to get turned upside down. Too many people relied on me, and I didn’t want to leave them hanging. But if it was between them and Aurora, she’d win every time.

Easily.

The best thing I could do was get the wheels in motion before she learned the truth so I could focus on her.

And whatever was headed our way.

“Be back as soon as I can,” I said as I walked out the door, each trudging step like moving through drying concrete.

Getting into my truck, I headed down the driveway and out to the road, my thoughts on everything I needed to do in a short time.

I’ll see what’s up with the order and then start the conversation with Kevin. Unless the building goes up in flames, I’ll be out in an hour.

Less than that if it does since there’s no reason to stick around in the ash.

I made it a few streets away before making a sudden U-turn that almost took out a fence. Gunning it, I returned home and barely stopped long enough to throw it in park before taking the steps up my porch two at a time.

When I threw open the door, Aurora startled from her position standing in the entryway.

My urgency to return to her… She was trying to leave.

Leave me.

Not gonna fucking happen.

The panic that tightened my muscles until they squeezed my bones didn’t lessen even though she still stood in front of me. Even though I caught her in time. When I scanned her, she didn’t seem guilty or angry about her thwarted escape attempt.

She was happy.

Happy to see me.

“You’re coming with me,” I stated, not bothering to make it a request since it wasn’t one.

Her small smile grew, and Jesus, I couldn’t get over how damn beautiful she was.

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