Page 65 of Living Without

Quickly changing, I told him when I was decent and then moved past him to the bathroom. After closing the door, I readied myself for bed and then stared at myself in the mirror.

The day had been huge. Having Kelsey leave, to Saxon taking me to lunch and telling me he’d loved me, to arguing there and then in the car. Then with my parents, and finally in the bedroom. I was drained, exhausted. As I was sure Saxon was as well.

Still, after everything, I found myself smiling. I was about to sleep in a bed with the man of my dreams. My hand slapped over my mouth, and I giggled behind it. How he thought I would think him ugly after seeing the scars was beyond me. If anything, his hotness skyrocketed, and one day, when it wasn’t so fresh, I would tell him.

Biting my bottom lip, I went to the door and opened it, only to stop still. Saxon sat in the bed leaning against the headboard with the blanket pulled up to his waist, and his gorgeous chest was bare.

“You good?” he asked roughly.

Shaking my head to clear it, I smiled and squeaked, “Yes.”

“Nary?” he bit out, not believing me.

“Sorry.” I waved my hand in the air and slowly approached the bed. “It’s just, I’ve always dreamed of opening a door to see you waiting for me in a bed.” Smiling so wide it hurt, I finished, “Actually, having it, seeing it for real, is better than any dream.”

Wow, was that a blush hitting Saxon’s cheeks?

It was, and witnessing it sent my belly fluttery.

“You’re crazy.” He smiled.

Nodding, I shifted back the covers and climbed in. Saxon slid down to lie on his back, and before he could move again, I moved in and rested my head on his chest, curling my arm over his stomach. I quickly tipped my head to his chest and pressed my lips there with a gentle kiss. “Crazy for you,” I whispered. My words got me a squeeze from his arm around my shoulders.

Blissfully, we drifted off to sleep together.

Chapter Twenty-Four

SAXON

Two weeks later

Love. It was a fuckin’ funny thing, only because I never thought I’d feel it so strongly for anyone besides Nary. But shit, the way Stoke, Malinda, and Josh had been that night at Dive’s house had been… Christ, amazing. I held so much guilt and hate inside me for what I’d done. Didn’t realise my own dad had fuelled those emotions, making me hate myself even more. It was why I’d driven Nary away. Never thought I was good enough for her. Not only had she proven me wrong, but her family did also.

Since that day, Nary and I had spent just about every waking and sleeping hour together. I was surprised she was content to stay at the compound in my room with me. But I also suspected she was holding herself back by not returning to her apartment she shared with Parker, and also with not goin’ back to uni. Both of those subjects I needed to touch on with her, but after Parker saw me the other day, it was time to broach at least the first subject.

It was early. We were lying in bed, and I’d been awake for a while holding my woman in my arms as the sun started to shine through the cracks in the curtains.

Nary stirred beside me and stretched, her arse pushed back against my erection.

Hell.

That was what is was. Hell. Waking up for the last two weeks with a hard-on. Still, I wasn’t keen on gettin’ into her panties until I knew she was ready. Shit, we hadn’t even kissed, and there had been a fuck lot of times I wanted to, especially when she’d give me her attitude about random shit.

“Morning.” She sighed. How she knew I was awake, I didn’t have a clue. She sensed a lot of things about me. Like even before I walked into a room, her eyes would already be on the door as if she’d known I was coming.

“Mornin’, angel,” I muttered against her neck as she stretched again. I bit off the groan as she pressed back against me again. Before I did something stupid, I rolled to my back. Instantly, she rolled over and laid her head on my chest. Her hand lazily ran up and down my scarred chest and stomach. She honestly didn’t give a fuck I was defective. Made me love her more for it. I cleared my throat. “Gotta talk to you ’bout something.”

Parker had told me that he was moving outta the apartment, and since he owned the building, he’d already shifted into the one on the top floor. He wanted Nary to come back, make that place her home for as long as she wanted. He’d also suggested I should move in with her. It was a big step, but shit, I was ready for it.

She tensed after my words. I glided my hand up and down her back. “It’s all good, Nary.”

“Okay,” she said quietly.

“Parker stopped by the other day.” Her body tensed again. “Wanted you to know he’s moving out and you’re gettin’ another house buddy.”

Suddenly, she sat up, her back to me and ranted, “He moved out? Why would he think to do that? I was thinking I would go back there eventually, and I would feel safer knowing he was there. Since he’s not taking undercover work at the moment, he was going to be around more. But now he’s moving out, and I’ll be with some stranger. I don’t think I can move back there… I think I should stay here, in this room with you, but only if you’re okay with it. I mean I know we’re together, and you’ve never told me to get out of your space, but if you want, I could move into another room here at the compound, where I know I’d be safe.”

I knifed up, placing one hand on the bed at her hip, and I leaned in, resting my chin on her shoulder. “Angel, you can’t stay here forever. You need to get back to where all your shit is.”

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