Page 29 of Reigning
Cold fingertips skim along my jaw, his lips pressing slowly to mine. It’s the gentlest touch, the sweetest kiss.
“I love you, too, Tamer.”
I fist my fingers into his shirt and hold him to me for several long moments. He’s all I wanted, and now he’s here, and I’m just not ready to let him go.
Strong arms wrap around me, holding me to his chest in the silence.
I don’t know how long we stay like that, me just listening to the sound of his hard-beating heart. I glance up into those pale-blue eyes, his attention shifting over my face slowly.
“Help me wake Chaos.” I take his hand and pull him close to me as we walk quietly over to the sleeping shifter.
Chaos.
I pause, but then Rime is right there in the bond. He’sinthe bond I share with Chaos as if we’ve shared this link between the three of us our entire lives.
Chaos, wake up,Rime says.
Dark lashes sweep up to reveal deep, two-tone eyes. Chaos looks from me to Rime, his big hand slipping into mine before his attention settles on the ice shifter kneeling at his side.
Seconds pass while Chaos just stares curiously up at his friend.
Rime leans closer.
Arlow said all this shit to me, and it got me thinking that…I never told you I loved you.Rime clears his throat, but his words never waver.I think after all of this I should be honest and let the people I care about be honest. I shouldn’t avoid affection. I—
His words halt the moment Chaos slams his lips to Rime’s. The ice shifter digs his fingers into Chaos’ strong shoulders, and both of them pull away before it deepens any more than it already has.
“You don’t have to tell me you love me for me to feel it. I get it. It’s not a big deal.” Chaos glances away for a single second. Then Rime reacts.
His fingers catch Chaos’ jaw, and he drags his attention right back to him. “I love you. Don’t brush off my affection just because I’m shit at giving it.”
Chaos smiles one of those big perfect smiles that flares warmth inside me.
The two of them quiet until Rime dips his head lower and gazes up at him. “Are you going to say it back to me?” There’s a little bit of anxiety in the man who always plays it so calm.
Chaos lifts a careless shoulder. “Well, I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet. Did he pressure you like this?” Chaos looks to me, and I narrow a taunting glare at him for making Rime look so uneasy right now. “I’m kidding. I loved you before you even knew I loved you.” His voice lowers into a serious tone. “For a long time. For always.”
“That’s not possible. I always knew you loved me.”
“Since when?” I ask Rime, making both Chaos and myself too curious about his reply.
“Since we were kids. I knew he loved me and I knew he deserved better.” He looks away before bringing his attention slowly back to us. “I thought…I thought he deserved better. I…I don’t believe that now.”
Aww, my heart is this puddle of mush just watching the two of them right now.
“You don’t believe that because you think you and Arlow balance it all out. She makes up for your terribleness just like you make up for her craziness.” Sinister walks over to my side, pulling his dark shirt over his smooth chest as he goes.
Craziness. My refined fanatic mindset is insulted.
“What makes you think that?” Rime asks with an arch of his brow.
Sinister kneels at my side, brushing his lips against mine. “Because that’s exactly how I feel.”
“She’s coming,” Kain growls from behind us, and the men immediately stiffen around me.
The door at the top of the stairs swings open, flooding the darkness with light. Just before they all pull away from me, Chaos kisses me softly. It’s sweet at first. Then his tongue slips slowly against mine before our lips ever fully meet.
He steps back from me in a rush, his gaze searching like there’s so many things he wants to say but there isn’t enough time.
