Page 146 of Beautiful Exile

“Vampire,” Cope muttered, dropping a kiss to the top of my head.

“Love you, pucker,” I called.

“Love you, too.”

Nora gave my arm a pat. “Call if you need anything. I’ll drop some food at your place tomorrow afternoon. Any requests?”

I looked up at her, a smile playing on my lips. “Mexican casserole?”

She chuckled. “You’ve got it.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Her eyes misted. “Get some rest.”

Neither Linc nor I moved as everyone left. We listened as car doors slammed and engines started. But neither of us said a word until silence reigned for a few solid minutes.

Linc brushed hair away from my face. “My heart stopped when she dove for you.”

I curled into him more. “I’m sorry. I’m right here. Not going anywhere.”

He pressed a hand over my heart. “Just going to need to remind myself of that for a while. I hope you don’t mind a clingy boyfriend.”

My mouth quirked. “Boyfriend, huh?”

Linc chuckled, the sound skating over me. “Ridiculous term. But it’ll have to do until you let me havehusband.”

Everything in me seized. “Linc.”

“Not yet.” He dipped his head, brushing his lips across mine. “But soon.”

My stomach flipped, and I waited for the fear to creep in, the kind that made its home because I knew just how much someone meant to me, and how much it would cost if I lost them. But it didn’t come. We’d made it through too many battles for it to win now.

“I love you,” I whispered across his lips.

“I know.”

I laughed, pushing off his chest. “I want to take a really long, hot bath,” I muttered.

“Want to do it in my room here? Tub’s bigger.”

He was right about that. Cope had gone so ridiculously over-the-top in every bathroom in this place. But tonight, over-the-top relaxation was exactly what I needed. “That sounds good. Can I borrow sweats to change into?”

“You know I love you in my clothes.”

“Possessive.”

Linc grinned against my mouth. “With you? Always.”

A cell phone ring filled the air, and Linc cursed, pulling it out. “It’s Ellie.”

“Answer it,” I urged. “Can you take Brutus out with you so he can do his business?”

Linc nodded, getting to his feet as the phone continued to ring. “Come on, B-man. She’s kicking us to the curb.”

I just shook my head as Linc led Brutus into the backyard. AsI started up the stairs, I could feel the strain in my muscles. A bath would be good. But as soon as my hand healed, I was getting my ass back in the gym. If the dustup with Hannah had shown me anything, it was where I was weak. And I’d attack those weaknesses with a single-minded focus.

Making my way down the hall, I stopped at the room Linc had been half-staying in. Cope had decorated each spare room with one of our siblings in mind. This one had been for Shep. The artwork on the walls was a series of stylized architectural drawings, and the furniture had a rustic air to it that matched Shep’s tastes.

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