Page 60 of Unmoored

Finally, Eden turns away and sheepishly stifles a yawn. “Sorry. It’s not you, it’s me.”

“I won’t be offended,” I laugh. “My kissing skills are rusty.”

“No,” Eden giggles. “It really is me. The bed’s real nice, that’s all. And—and I bet the hot water is, too. I missed this stuff more than I think I knew.”

Yes!It’s all I can do to hide my triumphant glee with a gentle smile. “It’s all yours,” I murmur, flopping onto the bed and tugging him down against me so I can wrap him tightly in my arms. “Make yourself at home. When I have to go, if you’re asleep, I’ll send you one of my brothers’ phone numbers so you can get a ride back to Dawn’s Embrace.”

Eden sighs and snuggles into me. “Thank you. For taking care of me, I mean. Protecting me.”

“Mm,” I try to grunt and shrug it off, but he won’t let me.

“I—I really feel safe with you. And I’m starting to learn how to trust that. It might just take me a while, that’s all.” He traces his fingertips along my collarbone. “But that’s not you, either—it’s me.”

“I know,” I promise Eden, and I kiss his forehead. “You can take all the time we need. And so will I. We’re going to do this right, you and me.”

“Really?” Eden whispers, peeking at me like he’s not quite sure.

I haven’t waited this long to meet Eden to go and fuck it up now.I smile calmly at him, reassuring him with one more little kiss.

“Really,” I promise. “Now, less talking, more napping.” I can tell he needs it—but left to his own devices, he’ll just chatter the morning away.

Eden sleepily giggles. “Yes, skipper,” he murmurs, and then he settles down in my arms.

I can’t get back to sleep myself—but it’s okay. I’m a man who knows how to make the most of every minute. If I can watch over Eden while he rests and try to figure out how to put all these new feelings into words…

Well, that sounds perfect to me.

ChapterTwenty-Two

EDEN

I’m startingto think I wasn’t listening to my heart when I told Murph I was okay with hosting his friends yesterday. Because today has arrived, and although all the brothers are aboard and everyone’s having a good time…

I’m not sure that I am.

I’m hiding out in the kitchen, taking my sweet time preparing bowls of grapes and orange slices and other little snacks for everyone. But although the sea is perfectly calm, my nerves feel like I’ve spent the night being tossed around on the waves.

“You sure you don’t need any help?” someone calls out from the stern, where most of them are gathered. It’s a little nicer on the bow, but there’s just not enough room for so many people, so we’ve made do with the stern until Murph shows up.

“Positive,” I call back, grabbing the bowls to deliver them to the stern.

I pause in the doorway to hand them out, because the guys also insist that every time I’m on the deck, I wear a lifejacket. Apparently Murph made them all promise. I can’t be mad at him about it. But it does feel like being the little sibling still wearing water wings when everyone else is in the big kids’ pool.

“Oranges?”

“And grapes! Oooh, kiwi—” Gage sticks his hand right in the bowl to grab some, before Ronan slaps his hand. “Ow. What?”

“That looked pretty a second ago.” Carter elbows him. “Look, that one’s still nice.”

“Oooh.” Drew cranes his neck to see the arrangements I’ve made with all the different shapes of fruits. “You reallyarean artist.”

“Thanks,” I chuckle sheepishly.

“No, thank you, Eden. You’re a great host!” Felix’s enthusiasm could carry for miles. “Ten out of ten!”

“Murph, though? One out of ten,” Alph grumbles. “The man’s frigging married to the sea.”

“Does that make Eden the mistress?” Drew teases me. Then he yelps, but there are several glares directed at him, so I can’t tell who just stepped on his foot. In any case… it’s a little too late. What if they’re right, and Murphismore married to his work than he is to me?

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