Page 176 of The Obedient Lie
I waswrappedin them.
Held.
Cherished.
Bastion’s mouth brushed my shoulder. “You were so good for us.”
Luca pressed a kiss to my temple. “Letting us take care of you. Letting us love you.”
My throat tightened. “I love you too.”
Neither of them moved.
Then Bastion’s voice came again — low, rough. “You mean that?”
I nodded.
“I’ve loved you since that night in the dorm window,” Luca whispered.
“And I’ve hated every second we made you question it,” Bastion added, his voice breaking slightly. “That’s on us. But we’re done fucking around.”
I turned slowly in their arms so I could see them both —
Luca’s eyes, soft and wrecked.
Bastion’s jaw, clenched like he was still holding something back.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “But I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything,” Bastion said immediately.
Luca brushed my cheek with his thumb. “Whatever it is.”
“When this ends — when we leave the academy, and everything gets more complicated… don’t shut me out.”
They were quiet.
Then Bastion said, “We don’t want this to end.”
“It doesn’t,” Luca added. “Not unlessyouwalk away.”
“I won’t,” I said, voice trembling. Until I’m told to I thought to myself.
Bastion kissed me — soft, nothing like before.
Just lips and breath and a promise I couldfeelin my chest.
Then Luca pulled me closer too, pressing his mouth to mine in a kiss that tasted likehome.
And when we finally pulled apart, Bastion murmured, “Let us clean you up, baby.”
He lifted me gently from Luca’s lap, like I weighed nothing, carrying me toward the ensuite.
They washed me, in the shower, so carefully — soft touches,so much patience.
Luca knelt in front of me and ran his hands over my thighs like I was somethingsacred.
Bastion kissed my shoulder before wrapping a towel around me and guiding me back to bed.
