Page 78 of Fighting Shadows

Shan leaves with Brenn and Aidan, who have both promised her a few drinks at their place to help her relax since I didn’t want to get drunk because of the family dinner tomorrow.

I cuddle into Tobias’s side, his arm around my shoulders, as we listen to the others talk about random stuff I have no clue about. I’m just content to sit here, soaking it all in.

Noah decided to stay, sorry Dominic convinced him too, with the excuse that he’ll be back tomorrow anyway since they were invited for the dinner.

“I just don’t understand why we can’t move him in,” Dominic whines.

“Because he’s not Autumn’s boyfriend! He’s your friend…” Atlas barks, but Dominic and Noah interrupt at the same time. “Best friend,” they both say in unison, causing a shiver to run up my spine.

I still don’t like the creepy talking at the same time thing, and I don’t think I ever will.

Tobias nudges me with his shoulder, “Want to come to bed with me, Babygirl?” he whispers into my ear, causing goosebumps to break out down my neck.

My tongue sticks to the top of my mouth, so I nod.

“We’re going to bed,” he announces, his hand in mine as he drags me along with him upstairs to my bedroom, locking the door behind us.

“Tobias?”

He doesn’t answer me straight away, his eyes cast down to his feet and his breathing heavy.

“Do you still want me?” he asks, his voice sounding broken.

“What? Of course, I do!” I cry out, reaching for him, thankful when he doesn’t pull away. Gripping his hand in mine, I duck down, looking into his eyes. “Where is this coming from?”

“I can share you with Noah if that’s what you really want, but I’m scared that you won’t want me anymore,” he whispers, shuffling from foot to foot as he avoids eye contact. “I’m broken, Autumn, and I’m terrified that you’ll realize that you are better off without me.”

My heart shatters from his words, each one piercing my heart because of how broken he seems. I keep my hold on his hand and lead him to my bed, pulling him to sit down.

Then I let go, his hand twitches reflexively to retake mine, but I avoid it and sink to my knees in front of him, submitting to him.

Looking directly into his eyes, I beg him to see that I’m telling him the truth: “I want you. I need you, Tobias. You are my rock, the one who understands me more than anyone else, and I would be lost without you.Youfound me; youbrought me back home. I’m yours just as I am theirs.”

Tobias's eyes glisten as he takes in my words, his body visibly relaxing, “What about Noah?” he asks.

He doesn’t look mad or upset; he's just curious. But I have no clue how to answer him, so I opt for the truth: “I have no clue. He’s become my protector in my dreams, protecting me from Charlie, and I guess having him around all the time makes it more real. I don’t know about Noah, but I need you to know that I will always be yours.”

“You mean that?” he asks with so much hope in his voice that my heart breaks again for my sweet man.

“I really mean it, Tobias. How can I prove it to you?” I ask him, needing to know how I can make this insecurity disappear.

He’s as much mine just as I am his.

“Your words are enough, Babygirl. I just needed to hear them come from you. I need you to show me that I’m yours now; make my brain turn off these thoughts,” he says, pulling me up from the floor and into his arms. “Own me, Mama. Prove I’m yours, forever.”

Chapter 40

Autumn

Iwake up to Tobias and Atlas pressed on either side of me, their bodies furnaces making me burn up.

“Morning, Babygirl,” Tobias murmurs into my ear, his hard cock pressing against my ass.

“Good morning indeed,” I say, pressing back into him and pulling a groan from him.

“If you two are going to fuck, can I watch?” Atlas mutters, his eyes still closed, but his hand moves under the cover, palming at his cock.

“What do you say? Shall we give your other boyfriend a show since he loves being a voyeur so much?” Tobias says, nipping at my ear.

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