Page 112 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

For several long moments, we remained joined, breathing heavily as the aftershocks rippled through both of us. Theo's weight pressed me into the nest, but I welcomed it, my arms wrapped around him as our heartbeats gradually slowed. When he finally moved, it was with careful deliberation, rolling to his side and bringing me with him so we remained close in the nest.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his analytical gaze returning as he studied my face with careful attention. "Your heart rate is elevated, skin flushed, pupils dilated."

I smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to his chest. "That's what happens after mind-blowing sex, Theo. It's a good thing."

"Mind-blowing," he repeated, considering the term. "An apt metaphor, though neurologically inaccurate." His fingers traced patterns along my spine, the touch soothing rather than arousing now. "Your experience was... satisfactory, then?"

I laughed softly, propping myself up on an elbow to look at him properly. "Satisfactory doesn't begin to cover it. It was incredible."

Something softened in his expression—a vulnerability I hadn't seen before. His hand came up to cup my face, thumb tracing my cheekbone with that precise attention he brought to everything.

"I've observed that most people find my analytical approach... off-putting," he admitted quietly. "Particularly in intimate situations."

"I'm not most people," I reminded him, turning my face to press a kiss to his palm. "I like the way your mind works, Theo. The way you see everything so clearly, so precisely. It makes me feel... seen. Really seen."

Theo studied me for a moment, that brilliant mind of his processing my words. "You are," he said finally, his voice softer than usual. "I see you, Vivian. All of you." His fingers traced the curve of my shoulder, down my arm, with careful appreciation. "Every detail."

I nestled closer to him in the nest, my head finding a comfortable spot to lay as I closed my eyes, “Good. I see you too.” I didn’t hear what he said after that as I let sleep overtake me, my body tired from the days actaivites.

Chapter Fourty-Six

Iwoketothesoundof a snarl, and an loud alarm going off. Bolting upright, I found Theo already on his feet beside the bed, reaching for his glasses on the nightstand. He moved with surprising speed for someone so methodical, pulling on his pants in one fluid motion.

"What's happening?" I asked, clutching the blankets to my chest as the alarm continued its shrill warning.

"Security breach," Theo explained tersely, his analytical mind clearly shifting into crisis mode. "Stay here."

Before I could protest, the bedroom door burst open, and Dakota filled the doorframe, his massive form silhouetted against the hallway light. His eyes took in the scene—me in the nest, Theo half-dressed—but his expression remained focused on the immediate threat.

"Perimeter alarm. East side of the property," he reported, his deep voice cutting through the noise. "Gabriel and Lucas are already moving to intercept."

Theo nodded, buttoning his shirt with efficient movements. "Probability of direct threat?"

"High," Dakota answered, his gaze shifting to me. "Someone cut the fence. Get dressed. We need to move you to the safe room."

My heart pounded as I scrambled out of the nest, grabbing clothes with trembling hands. The alarm continued its relentless wailing as I quickly dressed, Theo already typing something on his phone—likely accessing the security system remotely.

"Surveillance cameras on the east perimeter are disabled," he reported, his voice clipped and analytical despite the crisis. "Consistent with professional infiltration techniques."

Dakota moved into the room, positioning himself between me and the windows. "How long until you're ready?" he asked, his dark eyes continually scanning for threats.

"I'm ready," I said, pulling on shoes with shaking hands. "What's the safe room?"

"Reinforced panic room in the basement," Dakota explained, crossing to me in three long strides. "Designed to withstand almost anything." His hand settled at the small of my back, guiding me toward the door where Theo was already waiting, his expression tense but controlled.

"Move quickly, stay between us," Theo instructed, his analytical mind clearly calculating the safest route through the house. "Follow our directions precisely."

As we stepped into the hallway, the alarm suddenly cut off, plunging the house into an eerie silence that felt more threatening than the noise had been. Dakota and Theo exchanged a quick glance, their bodies tensing further.

"Someone's overridden the system," Theo said, his voice low and controlled despite the gravity of his words. "We need to move. Now."

Dakota took the lead, his massive frame moving with surprising stealth as he guided us toward the stairs. Theo stayed close behind me, his body practically touching mine as we moved through the darkened hallway. The house felt different now—no longer a sanctuary but a potential trap, shadows transforming from cozy to threatening in an instant.

"Stay low," Dakota whispered as we reached the top of the stairs. "If you hear shooting, drop to the floor immediately."

My pulse thundered in my ears as we began our descent, Dakota taking each step with cautious precision, his body poised to react to any threat. Halfway down, a crash sounded from somewhere in the house—glass breaking, followed by a muffled shout that might have been Gabriel or Lucas.

Dakota froze, his arm extending to stop our progress. For several tense seconds, we remained motionless on the stairs, listening intently. Then, a flash of movement at the bottom—a shadow passing quickly across the foyer Dakota reacted instantly, pushing me back up the stairs with one powerful arm while drawing a weapon from beneath his jacket with the other. Theo's hand clamped around my upper arm, pulling me back up toward the second floor.

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