When a piece of me understood she’d had little choice, even when the woman was still keeping me protected from the details. But she was going to have to figure out I wanted to hold them all, no matter how ugly they might be.
Trust me, the way I needed to trust her.
Fully.
Wholly.
Without reservation or question.
Fuck, I wanted it. To look at her and never again think of what she’d done.
To never again feel the pain of the blade she’d driven into my back.
Right then, I shunned it all and edged up behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She leaned against me with a slight laugh, peering back at me from over her shoulder. “Prince, huh? Wow, someone sure thinks a lot of himself.”
I rocked my erection against her ass because if Aster Rose was around, that shit was going to be hard. “Give me a couple minutes, and you’ll be thinking a lot of me, too.”
She giggled again, and I held her, my face pressed to the side of her neck, her face tipped up to mine. I rocked her there for a second, just relishing in the feel of what was always supposed to be.
Her phone pinged on the counter.
She jumped a little before she reached for it and read her text.
“Who is it?”
I’d already seen it, but I held the chuckle that wanted to rumble out.
She lifted her phone, though there was a frown knitting her face.
Tessa: Coffee (okay, fine, mimosas) at O’Malley’s at noon! Half day shenanigans, baby. Your presence is required.
She pushed her phone aside like it might actually be a bomb.
“You don’t want to go?” I rumbled it at her ear. “You don’t need to worry…she’s only half insane.”
Aster almost caught onto the lightness, but I still felt the way she warred.
“What is it?” I asked, urging her closer to me.
I felt her eyes trace the message again, and her heart slugged a missing beat.
“You’re afraid you don’t belong?”
Her head shook. “No, Logan, I’m afraid to get attached.”
So yeah, my spirit soared.
I pressed my mouth to the sweet spot behind her ear, my words low when I told her, “Get attached.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“I think it’s a fantastic idea.”
Stepping away from her, I slung into my jacket and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“I have to go. See you later, honey.” I sent her the biggest smirking grin I could conjure.