Page 130 of Bad Wolf

“Well, technically we’d be in separate dorms, but I know what you’re saying. We just had a huge fight about trust though. Oh, God your brothers,” she whimpers, but not in a sexy, breathy way. In a heart wrenching way.

“They hate me.”

“Hey, now. Don’t do that. They do not hate you. They love you. I think I’ve just scared them half to death lately.”

“Please still tell them I’m sorry for losing my temper in front of them.”

I groan, “God, aren’t you sick of that word lately?”

“What word?”

“Sorry,” I say flatly.

“Oh. Yeah.”

“I don’t want to have to say it for a long damn while.”

She throws her arms over my shoulders, her palms cupping my neck.

“Then let’s not. Let’s try and be as honest and truthful as we can with each other. And not get so defensive.”

I kiss the tip of her nose. “You got yourself a deal, Baby.”

I kiss her puffy lips, bruised from my assault in the shower and then reluctantly step away.

“You finish up in here and I’ll try and clear the actual bed of your grand gesture.”

She cringes, but nods as I pad back into the chaos I don’t think I’ll ever be able to live without.

I put everything carefully back in her suitcase and pulled it into the closet to deal with tomorrow. We’ll find a home for her stuff to live, tonight though, I just need to lie with her in my arms for a while.

I plug my charger into my phone and take another look into the bathroom where Wren is finishing up with her hair. Pulling the sheets back, I sit on the edge of the bed, still naked, and wait for her to join me so we can climb in together.

When Wren joins me, I kiss her soundly and then get myself comfy, expecting her to curl into me.

She’s fidgety though. First resting her cheek on my pec and then sitting up to reach for her water. She looks at her phone and puts it down again.

I know it’s not the mattress, or the sheets. Or the pillows. Last time she stayed over, she slept like the dead.

Wren’s unsettled. Fretting about tomorrow. So I rearrange my pillows and the way I’m lying, pulling her in nice and tight and wrapping myself around her like a cocoon. She hums and lets herself finally sink into the mattress.

“I love you, Wren,” I whisper.

I feel her nod and she presses a kiss to my forearm.

“We loved with a love that was more than love.”

I smile into her neck and close my eyes. Maybe my next tattoo will be a quote she clutches out of thin air.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

WREN

Me: Hey dad, plans have changed. Heading your way now.

With my hand in his,Knox’s strides are purposeful as we weave in and out of the people going about their morning commute. He wouldn’t let me come alone and I didn’t even try to fight him on it.

I need him here with me.

---