Page 47 of Living Without

His eyes were on Kelsey, and since she was close beside me, I felt and heard her sigh of relief. “Sorry,” he offered. “I had to have a shower, darlin’, and then speak to Mason.” Kelsey nodded, but said nothing. She was just glad he was back.

God, how was she going to be once he was gone?

The men walked behind Kelsey and me down the hall and into Saxon’s room. As I guided Kelsey to the bathroom, I said over my shoulder, “Can one of you find my mum and get her to grab some clothes for Kelsey?”

Gypsy sent a chin lift and left, closing the door behind him. By the time I had the water running warm for Kelsey, there was a knock on the bathroom door. When I opened it, trackpants and a long-sleeved tee, like mine, was shoved through. “Thank you,” I said before closing the door once again. Turning around, I placed the clothes on the basin and asked, “Will you be okay on your own?”

“Yes.” She nodded. I moved to the door again until she called, “Nary.” Looking to her, I saw a small, sorrowful smile. “You will never know what you did for me… backthere.You saved me, and I want you to know, I-I’ll make sure to cherish the days, months, years to follow because you have given me this chance to live. You have shown me compassion and hope. You have me feeling emotions I haven’t felt in a long time, even in that place. T-thank you, for everything.”

Through watery eyes, I grinned and said, “We’re in this together, and you’ll always hold a place in my life and heart, Kelsey.”

“Same to you.”

“Have a nice shower, honey.”

Her smile changed to a sweet one. “I-I’m sure I will.”

After closing the bathroom door behind me, I lifted my eyes to see only Saxon in the room sitting in his desk chair, and before I could ask where Gypsy was, Saxon said, “He’s grabbin’ a bite to eat.”

“Are you, um, do you, that is—”

“Angel.” My eyes flicked up from the floor. “Get in the bed. Your girl can have the other side.”

“But, this is your room.”

He looked to the bed and then back to me. “Havin’ and knowin’ you’re in here, my room, eases something inside of me. I’d prefer you in here taking care of Kelsey.”

Oh, my God.

Did he just say that?

“Okay,” I whispered and then moved from the door to the bed.

“Your mum sent some sleep pants. They’re on the bed.”

Picking them up, I was glad for the soft material to sleep in. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Saxon had spun his chair to face the desk. Quickly, I removed my jeans and pulled up the sleep pants. “I’m decent,” I said and pulled back the blanket, climbing in. I rolled to my side so I could face him. “Thank you.” Suddenly, I found it hard to keep my eyes open.

“Fuck.”

Blinking open my eyes, I asked softly, “What?”

His warm, hooded eyes were on me in his bed. “Nothin’.” He grunted. “Get some sleep, angel. If I’m not here when you wake, your mum will be, promise.”

I hummed as my eyes drifted closed again. “I like this Saxon, a lot,” I mumbled, not that the words really registered in my mind or the fact I had said it aloud.

“This is the way I shoulda always been with you.”

His words drifted through me before sleep took me under.

Chapter Seventeen

SAXON

Seeing her in my bed fuckin’ did something to me. Blood rushed to my head and dick. I was a guy, so it was bound to happen, especially when I’d been picturing it for a goddamn long time while I had my cock in hand. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and leant back in the chair. Right then wasn’t the time to have a hard-on, not after what my woman went through.

When the bathroom door opened, I sat straight and looked to Kelsey, ready to fly if she freaked without Nary awake or Gypsy in the room. First she took in the sleeping woman, and then her eyes came to me. “S-she was very tired.”

I tipped my chin up in response. “Gypsy will be back soon. He’s gone to get food for you.” I was lettin’ her know she wouldn’t be in the room alone with me for long.

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