Page 56 of Bed of Thorns

I took a deep breath, the incredible scent of the ocean something I never wanted to take for granted. When I heard the door, I pressed my hand against the railing. For all Edmond’s near manic happiness at being a part of something he already enjoyed, there was an underlying feeling that failure wasn’t allowed. The fact he hadn’t called to let me know how the first test had gone had created butterflies that had remained in my stomach all day.

There was utter silence as he walked in, every footstep he took managing to echo, the sound jolting. I dug my nails into the wooden surface, fighting to remain where I was. He needed to come to me. Anything else would push him further into the ugly places his mind sometimes swept him to.

When almost two minutes passed, I slumped against the railing, quietly sipping on my wine. What would he do if he’d failed the tests? From what little he’d told me about the company who’d hired him, they accepted no failures. Whether or not the relationship was healthy had also crossed my mind.

As I’d done since the beginning, I sensed his presence behind me, his strong figure looming several feet away. Why I felt the need to find courage was ridiculous. He was my lover, my friend. I shouldn’t be burdened by the strangling sensations but here I was, fearful to turn around.

The few seconds that passed were interminable, adding to the anxiety. A glint of light caught my eye, catching my breath. Then I realized what I was seeing.

Champagne.

A gorgeous, bubbling flute of champagne.

I turned around so quickly the glass was almost knocked out of his hand.

Edmond burst into laughter, his eyes dancing.

“Oops!”

He shook his head several times, lifting his arm so he could lick the fallen drops from his hand. I wrapped my fingers around his wrist, shifting his damp hand closer to me, never taking my eyes off him.

His grin was infectious, the light dancing in his eyes more intense than I’d seen before. Then his nostrils flared as I licked his fingers, a slight growl rumbling from his chest. “Be careful, my beautiful creature. We might use this champagne for something else.”

“No, you don’t. You don’t get off that easily,” I purred, finally taking the glass from his hand. “What happened?”

He took a step back, clearing his throat. He’d worn jeans and a tee shirt instead of one of the many new suits he’d purchased with the gift of funds his cellmate had provided. He was barefoot, the shirt hugging his carved body, the shadow of stubble covering his jaw making him the sexiest man alive.

“All three tests passed.” He enunciated the words, holding his head high then taking a deep breath. “We’re on our way.” Using one arm, he swept me off my feet, pressing me against his chest. In that beautiful moment I felt protected, safe from everything in the world.

“I’m so happy!”

“I already called my boss. He’s thrilled.”

I lifted my glass, wrinkling my nose as I studied him. “You deserve all the accolades.”

“We do, babe. You were right here with me.” He took a sip, his eyes never leaving me. When he finally let me down, he remained close, the heat of his body a giant rush of energy and need. I could tell he was drinking in my reaction, gauging whether or not I was truly happy.

I was, but…

I shook off the nagging feeling, pushing away from him and licking my lips playfully. “We need to celebrate.”

“We will, babe. I assure you that we will. I found a house today.”

“What?”

“Yep. On my lunch break, I looked at a few houses online. It’s perfect for us.”

“Edmond. We can’t afford to do anything yet.”

“We’ll see. Take a walk with me.” Edmond held out his hand, smiling yet I felt a heaviness to his emotion.

“Of course.” There was something else on his mind.

We walked down to the beach, his fingers wrapped around mine, sauntering slowly as the twilight began to set in. The bright orange ball settling into the ocean was breathtaking.

“I’d do anything to protect you, make you happy.”

“What’s wrong?”

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