Page 84 of Pastel Kisses

“I knew it,” I whisper, voice cracking. “She’s still out there.”

“Hey, hey,” Jaxton murmurs into my hair, wrapping his arms around me. “You’re safe. You’re here, with us. Breathe with me, okay?”

Kam moves to my side, anchoring me with his hand on my back. “Nothing is going to happen to you. I promise. We’ve got eyes on every door, every window. She won’t get close.”

Liam brushes his thumb across my hand. “We should’ve told you sooner, and I’m sorry for that. You deserve to know everything. We just didn’t want fear to steal one more second of your peace.”

Lennox gently wipes a tear from my cheek I hadn’t even realized had fallen. “You’ve survived the worst, Bee. Now let us take it from here. Just let yourself breathe.”

Their voices, their warmth, their presence—it all slowly brings me back from the edge. The panic loosens its grip, giving way to trembling relief. I nod wordlessly, emotions lodged too deep for speech.

“You’re our girl,” Kam says, voice low and fierce. “And we’ll protect you and that baby with everything we’ve got.”

I manage a small, watery smile as I look at them—all of them—standing like a wall around me. Not just my lovers. My protectors.

“Sorry,” I manage to squeak out, the word barely more than a breath. My cheeks are warm, and my throat tightens around the vulnerability I didn’t mean to show. “Sometimes it just... sneaks up on me.”

Without hesitation, Liam leans in and presses a tender kiss to my temple. His touch, gentle and grounding, soothes something raw inside me. “There’s nothing to be sorry about, Bee,” he murmurs, his voice low and full of quiet strength. “You’ve been through more than most people could imagine. You don’t have to hold it all together all the time—not with us.”

I nod, breathing through the remnants of panic still whispering along the edges of my mind. A heavy silence lingers for a moment, filled only by the soft brush of Lennox’s thumb along the back of my hand and the comforting weight of Kam’s arm resting protectively along my shoulders.

“I’ve been thinking,” I say finally, clearing my throat. My voice is steadier now, but the memories still leave a chill in my chest. “When Sarah had me... she mentioned that the house we were in had been bought under a different name. She acted like it was no big deal—like she’d done it more than once. It was all so casual for her.” My fingers curl around the edge of the table. “I think she had more than one identity. The way she spoke... the confidence. It wasn’t her first time hiding.”

Their silence is thick, but it’s not from disbelief—it’s from processing. Kam’s jaw ticks as his hand tightens gently on my arm. Liam’s brows draw together in that thoughtful, protective way he gets when he’s silently plotting ten different ways to keep me safe. Lennox shifts beside me and takes my hand fully in his, squeezing it with firm reassurance.

“We’ll tell the detective,” Jaxton says quietly, his voice heavy with purpose. “Every single detail. And no more keeping anything from you, Kitten. You’re not just the one we love—you’re the strongest damn woman we know. And we’ll never let you carry this alone again.”

My eyes sting, and I blink quickly, leaning into Jaxton’s chest. He presses his lips to my hair and breathes in deeply, like just having me close is enough to anchor him too.

“I love you guys,” I whisper, and this time, it’s not broken or fragile—it’s strong. Steady. Sure. My voice doesn’t shake, and my heart doesn’t waver. “All of you. So much.”

Kam leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear, his voice low but firm, like a promise sealed in steel. “You’re stuck with us,” he says, his arm tightening around me. “And we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never feel that fear again. Not while we’re breathing.”

The room falls quiet, but it’s not heavy. It’s full. Of love. Of purpose. Of everything we’ve survived and everything we’re building from here.

Liam rests his chin on my shoulder, pressing a soft kiss there. “We’ve got you.”

Lennox’s thumb brushes over my knuckles. “Always.”

And Jaxton pulls me even closer, his voice a low hum against my temple. “You’re never going through anything alone again, Kitten. That’s not a promise—it’s a guarantee.”

My eyes close, but not because I need to hide or escape. For once, I close them because I can—because I feel safe. Wrapped in their arms, surrounded by warmth and certainty, I know the storm has passed. There may be battles ahead, but I’m not facing them by myself.

Not anymore.

With one last deep breath, I let myself lean into them completely. This? This is home.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Lennox

“B

e right back to get you, baby.” I lean down and press a slow kiss to the top of her head, letting it linger, soaking in her warmth. “Eat a couple more bites. I’m gonna go run your bath. And if you’re not in there by the time it’s ready…” I give her a playful look, “…I’ll come back and carry you myself.”

She lets out a soft hum, a sleepy smile tugging at her lips. “Mm… that sounds really nice. Are you going to join me, Lenn?”

Her voice is syrupy with affection and trust, and it tugs at something deep in my chest. I kiss her again, this time on the crown of her head. “Yes, ma’am. Wouldn’t miss it.”

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