Page 56 of Falling Faster
"Careful, Ty." Craig's murmured voice hovers by my ear. Strong hands slip down to the bare skin below my T-shirt sleeve.
A thrill races through my body, sending my heart rate soaring and goosebumps dotting my skin.
I spin around.
Craig stands before me. As dashing as ever, clad in blue jeans, boots, and a T-shirt with my superhero's shield on his chest, he smiles. "Hi."
"You're back! You weren't supposed to be back until late tonight." I push into his arms and my whole being relaxes when they come around me, wrapping me in his strength and his cinnamon scent.
He presses kisses to my temple, cheek, then lips. "I missed you. So I hopped on an earlier flight."
"I'm happy you did. I'm not used to sleeping without you." My hands roam his back, and I pull him in, snuggling him closer to me. "How were the fans with the new song?"
"Enthusiastic." With his arm around me, he walks us to our table. "They loved it. Adding it to the set list was a good move."
We round the table and he greets Slater and Noah, then says hello to the foundation's volunteers. With our busy schedules, life often feels chaotic and like we're pulled inmultiple directions. But once a month, we don costumes for the hospital visits. Craig's prediction several months ago was right, the kids love seeing Loki, and the other villains mixed in with the superheroes. In addition to playing the villains, I've been Robin to Craig's Batman twice, and Deadpool to his Wolverine.
Craig slips his arms around my waist and grins at Falling Midnight's logo on my chest. "How has today been?"
"Really good. We sold a lot of books. Slater and I were working on sketches for the new series yesterday and this morning. I'll show you later." I pet the tail of the dragon tattoo peeking out from beneath his short sleeve, something I've taken to doing whenever we stand like this. "I'll have plenty to keep me busy on the tour bus."
"Will I be on your list?" His gaze tender, he strokes his hand through my hair. "I plan on keeping you occupied. There are things we need to discuss."
"Such as?" I lean into the caresses.
"You and me and a vacation once the tour ends."
The tour kicks off next weekend with Falling Midnight playing several shows in California. Slater and Noah will be hanging out in Celek's beach house, which Cody and Devon still rent from the Bedlam captain, relaxing for a week before renting their own tour bus and joining us. There's a rumor Celek might come too. I'm not sure how Devon will react to that. The summer tour should be interesting.
Drawing in Craig's cinnamon scent, I hook my finger through his belt loop and rest my head on his shoulder. "I like the idea of a vacation. We've been working hard."
"So hard. Need to make sure we play hard too."
"I like that even more."
Slater thumps Craig on the shoulder. "For tomorrow's trip to the hospital with the foundation, are you sure you wantNoah and me dressed as the hero and villain from our book instead of other superhero characters?"
"Definitely. I think the kids will enjoy it. They loved the book with them as the heroes."
Eyes twinkling, Noah picks up his discarded cup of tea. "I don't know how I get cast in the villain costumes when we do this. I think I'm a good guy."
"Thebestguy." Slater presses his hand to the center of Noah's chest, over his heart. At that spot beneath his shirt, is a heart tattoo with the couple's initials. I saw it a few times when he took his shirt off while I stayed with them. Noah got it as a grand gesture, public acknowledgement of his relationship and feelings for Slater, and thanks to the cameras recording post-game interviews while the players are halfway out of their gear, that tattoo is one of the most well known in the hockey world. "You're definitely superhero material."
They're sweet, gazing at each other with so much love. And when I look over at Craig and catch the curve of his gorgeous mouth as he gazes at me, like I’m the center of his world, I know anyone who sees us can feel our love. I wiggle my eyebrows at him and blow him a kiss. "I'm looking forward to being the Joker to your Batman again."
"I wanted to be Batman for sentimental reasons." Craig grabs me by the waist and tugs me to him. "I met you dressed as him a year ago, and you changed my life."
The image of Craig in the costume and then the two of us in the Batmobile flash into my mind. "Things like meeting you and driving in that tricked out car didn't happen to me. Not until you. Now, I never know what's coming, but I know we'll ride through it together." With a heady rush of anticipation for our future, I link my arms around his neck. "I love you."
Craig smiles and brushes his finger along my cheek. "Love you, too. You crashed into my life, into my heart, and every day you make me feel like I can do anything, because I have you by my side. You say I'm your superhero, and Ty, you're definitely mine."
"You always make me feel like one. Super fans of each other, superheroes to each other, whatever the label, I'll take it. And I'll take you. Forever." My body buzzing and my heart full, I pull him for a kiss.
