Page 18 of Silent Fire

Noel focused on the steady thump of Tomas’s heartbeat against his cheek. The scent of leather and smoke and something wild grounded him when panic threatened to sweep him away completely.

“That’s it, cariño,” Tomas crooned, lips brushing Noel’s temple. “Just like that. You’re doing beautifully.”

Secure in the circle of Tomas’s embrace, Noel felt some of the tension bleed from his quivering muscles. He clung to the guy, relishing the sense of safety that came from having this powerful, protective presence surrounding him.

A single tear slid free. Then another. Noel whimpered, clinging harder to Tomas. He couldn’t let himself break. Not now. Not here. Not when he’d held everything inside just so he could survive. The abuse, being on the run for half a year, enduring cold, hunger, then nearly killed in that farmhouse…

Not once had Noel cried, and he wouldn’t let it happened while he stood in a diner parking lot.

“I promise to hold you together, little flower,” Tomas murmured.

A sob broke free, followed by an even louder one. As hard as Noel fought to keep himself together, the cracks in his armor finally shattered. He sobbed against Tomas’s chest as arms tightened around him. It was as if a release valve had been open, allowing all the pain, fear, and loneliness to erupt from him like a geyser. Noel’s knees buckled, but Tomas refused to let him fall, whispering a litany against Noah’s hair.

Footsteps sounded behind him. Tomas answered with a quiet growl, the vibration thrumming through Noel. He couldn’t bring himself to pull away from the shelter of his wolf’s arms, letting it shore up his crumbling defenses.

He wasn’t sure how long they stood like that, Tomas a solid anchor while the world spun madly around them. But eventually, the rawness in his chest eased and his ragged breaths evened out into a more natural rhythm.

Only then did Tomas loosen his grip, pulling back just enough to meet Noel’s eyes. His expression was a strange blend of fierce protectiveness and infinite tenderness, made all the more striking by the sharp angles of his face. His thumb brushed over Noel’s cheekbone, a barely-there caress that somehow conveyed more care than a thousand words ever could.

No questions, no demands. Just quiet understanding and a depth of feeling that stole Noel’s breath in a different way.

Tomas gently cupped his cheek, those brown eyes silently questioning whether Noel was all right or needed more time. Noel leaned into the warm palm, his eyes briefly closing. Not from comfort, but to brace himself for the words that brought him another surge of pain. “The ring. On the bike seat.”

Cesar walked past them, clearly to retrieve it, as Tomas held Noel’s gaze.

“Honestly, I feel a lot better,” Noel admitted when he saw Tomas was still searching for an answer. “That’d been a long time coming. Just wish I hadn’t done it in public. Or against your shirt.”

Tomas leaned in until their faces were a hairsbreadth apart. His hand slid around to rest at the nape of Noel’s neck. “I know how to do laundry, mi elegido. Anytime you need to release stress, your gorgeous face better be pressed against my chest. You pickin’ up what I’m puttin’ down?”

Noel’s lips trembled with a grateful smile. “Bending over to retrieve it.”

“Me vas a volver loco,” Tomas groaned with a smirk.

A throat cleared behind them. Sighing, Tomas turned. Cesar handed him the ring, but Noel looked away. He never wanted to see that thing again. “It’s Brian letting me know he’s found me,” he muttered.

The fingers on Noel’s neck tightened.

“He was here while we were in the fucking diner eating?” The words were little more than a guttural snarl. “That pendejo who’s been after you?”

Cesar moved a step closer to Noel.

“I’ll rip out his fucking throat with my bare hands.”

Noel gazed at his protector turned predator, his jaw ticking. “Remove your hand from my neck,” he said slowly, his voice firm.

“Tomas,” Cesar said, warning and caution in his tone. “Tell me if I need to call Matias.”

“For what?” Tomas’s eyes were glowing amber, the tips of his canines peeking from under his top lip.

Planting his feet, Noel shoved at Tomas’s chest, making the man stumble back a few steps. “I said to get your fucking hand off of me!”

Tomas blinked several times as Cesar eased halfway in front of Noel, phone in hand. “You okay there, bro?” His voice was tight, cautious, like he knew he was dealing with a feral beast.

“You think…” Tomas pointed between his chest and Noel’s heaving one. “You think I would hurt mi elegido?” he growled, low and gritty.

“We’re cool. Everything is cool,” Cesar said, lifting his hand, palm out. “You’re just being a little scary with your mate, bro.” Then his tone made it clear he was done coddling. “Step the fuck back, reel your shit in, or I will put you through that brick wall. Ponme a prueba y descúbrelo.”

Test me and find out.

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