Page 108 of Nyx
My heart falters before it kicks into double time, trying to hide my enthusiasm before I’m sure what he’s asking. “My house? Won’t I need it?”
“You never… stay there anymore. You belong here. With me.”
“Yeah, I do, don’t I?” I ask quietly as he nods so enthusiastically his hair bounces, like he needs to convince me.
“And I know you are a whore—”
I choke on my sip of water, nearly spewing it from my nostrils as he wrinkles his nose at me. “I’m sorry,” I rasp through a cough. “What?”
“Cameron says you are a whore.”
“Whywould Cameron call me that?”
“Because you keep all the things in your house. Boxes of things he says you don’t need.”
“Well, fuck Cameron for being a gossipy little hen,” I mutter, before speaking with a distinct enunciation. “Ahoarder.”
“Is this not what I said?” His exasperation makes me laugh. So fucking cute.
“Not quite, precious. But I don’t havethatmany things… it’s just that I was alone, and having stuff to keep me busy made it easier. And yeah, sure I… collect a few things…” He bats his eyes at my rambling, and I take a deep breath. “That isn’t important right now. Um, back to what we were talking about… what were you trying to ask me?” His gaze drops to the mattress as his cheeks darken, but I grip his chin and lift him to face me again. “I want to hear it,” I whisper. “Please?”
“You can live with me. Here. I know it is small, but we can find places for your things. Or if you want, they can h-have my house and we can take yours.”
“No, you’re comfortable here. I would never take that away from you.” He breathes a relieved sigh, and I move the tray to the dresser before curling back onto the bed and dragging him against me, running my fingers through his hair. “You really want me with you?”
“I want,” he says immediately, “always. I want.”
“Then you’ll have,” I promise as I run my palm up and down his arm. “Those things aren’t important, Nyx. Stuff, trinkets… they’re souvenirs from a time when I didn’t have anybody, and now I do. I have you, and you have me, and that’s all I need in this world.”
“You will stay with me?” Giant sage eyes stare into mine, trusting, and so fucking beautiful.
“I’ll always stay with you, Nyx. You’re mine. Forever.”
Reyes
“You’resureaboutthis?”Samuel asks for what might be the twentieth time as I stand in the doorframe of my old place. Once Nyx and I decided I’d move in with him, it took a few days to sort through the things I had shoved into random boxes. My hoarding—I grin to myself at the word—ended up coming in handy. The extra stuff I brought from my former camp was needed with the new faces, even if just for a little comfort in a stressful time.
“The two of you deserve somewhere to call home.” I keep my voice low so as not to spook Daiwyn, and she glances up at me from the chair. She’s several inches taller than Samuel, but is always hiding behind him when they interact with anyone. He protects her, and they need a sanctuary where she can let down her walls. Somewhere she can heal. “It’s not fancy, but it’s peaceful.”
“We are grateful,” Daiwyn says in her soft voice, and I fight the urge to pull her in for a hug.
“Anything you need, please ask. Nyx and I are just across the street.”
“Thank you, Reyes,” Samuel says as he shakes my hand.
“Ronan wants everyone at dinner tonight,” I remind them as I pat my palm against the doorframe. It wasn’t my home for long, but so much happened while I was inside these walls.
“We’ll be there,” Samuel promises, and I give them both another smile before I cross the path to our cottage. When I walk inside, Nyx stands in the kitchen, tongue poking out between his lips in concentration. He chops a salad for dinner tonight, and both of us pretend not to notice as Boomerang sneaks a sliver of carrot off the edge of the counter. Ever since we’ve been back, Nyx has taken more of an interest in cooking. He says that finding new ways to combine the ingredients is soothing to him, and Ronan has even given him a few rudimentary lessons in baking. His cornbread was dense and way too crumbly, but I ate it anyway and loved every bite.
“Need any help?” I ask, and he glances up with a tiny grin.
“No. I am almost done.” I walk over and wrap my arms around his waist, resting my chin on his shoulder. He laughs as I press a kiss to his ear, then he shoos me away like a fly. “Distracting.”
“You like it,” I tease, and he looks at me with nothing short of complete adoration.
“I love it.”
“I’m going to take a quick shower before dinner, okay?”
