Page 151 of Chasing Shelter

“I love you.” I whispered the words into the silence between us, the quiet syllables louder than any scream.

Trace’s body jerked as if he’d been struck, but he didn’t let go of my hand. “You shouldn’t.”

“Too bad. I do. And you’re just going to have to deal with it.”

He stared down at me. “Bossy.”

“Damn straight.”

“I love you, too.”

“I know.”

One corner of his mouth pulled up. “Kinda stealing a little of my thunder there.”

“You’ll deal with that, too.” I stretched up on my tiptoes and pressed my mouth to his. “I. Love. You.”

Trace pulled back and slid a hand along my jaw. “You showed me what love can be.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “Now, who’s stealing the thunder?”

“Ellie?”

“Yeah?”

“I need to take you to bed.”

“Okay.”

“Just like that?”

I shrugged. “Seems I’m agreeable after you tell me you love me.”

One corner of Trace’s mouth tugged up the barest amount. “That really all it takes to break that stubborn streak?”

“Watch it, Chief. I could turn tonight into blue-balled hell.”

He leaned in, his lips hovering over mine. “Naw, you’d never be able to resist me.”

“Men,” I huffed. But I knew he was right.

47

TRACE

I woketo warmth and the scent of Ellie. Smoky heat wrapped around me as I held her to me and buried my face in her hair. The scent was stronger there. It must’ve been something in her shampoo.

Whatever it was, it held me captive as echoes of the night before played in my mind. Finally telling Ellie everything. Having her love me all the same.

It was the sort of gift you could never put a price on, but one I’d always hold sacred. I pulled Ellie closer as if she might disappear if I didn’t have that grasp.

A growl sounded from above me, making me realize there was another source of heat and pressure there.

Ellie shifted, rolling as she blinked a few times. Then she blinked again as her gaze lifted. “Why is Grem on your head?”

I reached above me and, sure enough, the damn dog was perched there. The second my hand grazed Gremlin’s back, his gummy mouth did its best to bite the crap out of me. “Ow,” I clipped, yanking my hand back.

Ellie giggled. “Please, he’s got one snaggletooth and it’s already loose.”

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