Page 85 of Stolen for Keeps
She held my gaze. “There’s nothing else, Noah. That’s all of me.”
And I kissed her like I already knew. I’d already forgiven her, trusted her, wanted her. Her hand gripped my shirt like she didn’t expect softness, but I gave it anyway. Because what she gave me? That was real.
Silence settled between us, our lips quavering against each other.
I could’ve left it at that. Could’ve let her words linger and fade, and called it a night.
But instead, I felt something shift inside me.
This woman—this impossible, stubborn, and brilliantwoman—had trusted me with a part of her that she hadn’t given to anyone else.
And maybe it was time I did the same.
The words almost slipped out.
The things I never talked about. The past I kept locked up tight.
I wanted to tell her.
I wanted to let her in.
But just as I opened my mouth?—
She eased back into the pillows, exhaustion finally catching up to her.
I watched as her eyes fluttered shut, her guard slipping away completely for the first time.
And I told myself…soon.
Very soon, I’d tell her.
23
NOAH
I woke up early, the sky outside still carrying the hush of dawn. Beside me, Maya stirred, half-awake, her fingers twitching toward me like she thought she should get up too.
“Go back to sleep,” I murmured, brushing a kiss on her forehead. She needed the rest more than I did.
She mumbled something incoherent but didn’t fight me when I tugged the blanket higher around her shoulders. A second later, she was out again, her breathing settling into something deep and steady. I lingered for just a moment, watching her, then slipped out of bed and made my way to the kitchen.
Elia was already up, coffee in hand. He looked like he’d been awake for hours. Claire and Baby Dylan were probably still out cold.
He glanced up as I walked in, giving me a look that said he already knew and didn’t even need the words.
But instead of calling me out, he went with, “Your dog showed up this morning. I gave him some eggs.”
“Thanks, El.”
He wiped his hands on a dish towel, then added, “Also,Reko tried to dominate Koda. Poor guy looked deeply betrayed.”
That pulled a laugh out of me. “He’s still figuring out how to coexist with others. He hasn’t quite settled into the whole home and hearth thing.”
Reko was still a wanderer. He slept where he liked and followed his instincts.
Elia went back to fussing over the counter like he wasn’t baiting me.
I finally said, “Maya’s here.”
