Sins of Mine - Mary E. Twomey Page 0,24
him, and I love that he saves this sliver of scandal only for me. His hands roam my body, with fingers flitting under the edges of the fabric so he can tease us both.
We carry on because we can, and because it’s good for us to remember the fun parts of us that every now and then need to come together.
When the water shuts off, Paxton kisses me once more before helping me off his lap. He tucks me under the covers and slides in behind me. He does his nightly routine of trilling his fingers up and down my bare arm, which I love. Goosebumps erupt all over my flesh as my spine turns to melted chocolate, molding against his firm torso.
We breathe in and out together, and it feels like we’ve become one body.
Gray meanders out of the bathroom, his head dipped low. “Arly-girl, I’m sorry I made you think I didn’t want to be with you. That’s the furthest thing from…”
But Paxton holds up his hand as he sits up in the bed. “We can talk about all that tomorrow, yes? I think the best thing for us tonight is sleep. Have you eaten, Gray?”
“Had a squirrel on the way here.”
Paxton’s nose scrunches. “I’ll take that as a no. Let me see what I can scrounge up from the kitchen.” My prince bends at the waist and kisses my naked shoulder. “I’ll be back in a few. No serious talks while I’m gone, yes?”
I nod, wishing nothing serious or scary ever threatened to weight the high that comes from being together.
Paxton rolls out of the bed and claps Gray on the shoulder. “Take over for me, yeah? All the weight falls on her shoulders, so nighttime is reserved for relaxing. She likes this.” He does the tickly tease to Gray’s arm.
Gray opens his mouth but then shuts it, nodding. Instead of moving to the bed, he grips Paxton in a hug that warms me down to my toes. “I’m sorry, brother. I’m sorry you thought I deserted you. I’m back, and I’m not leaving. I’m here now. I won’t do that again.” Then he holds Paxton’s face, pressing their foreheads together. “This is my pack.”
Paxton smooches Gray’s closed lips, his fingers bunching in Gray’s wet tresses. “Glad to hear it.”
Paxton moves out the door and down the steps, leaving Gray and me in the bedroom, bathed in lamplight.
Gray’s steps are careful as he limps toward me. His gaze is hesitant, like a nervous animal waiting for permission before he jumps on the bed.
All it takes is me flipping down the comforter to invite him in for him to take the spot he never should have left vacant. He moves to the mattress and lays down on his back, letting out a groan that tugs at my heart.
“Have you been sleeping on the ground?”
Gray turns his chin toward me. “Yeah. Rafe would love it, but a shifter sleeping in fae territory as his animal out in the open isn’t exactly safe. Hunters and whatnot. Plus, Rafe doesn’t exactly blend in.”
I want to stay mad at him, and part of me probably still is, but he’s so forlorn and repentant that I can’t maintain my anger. “Baby,” I coo, then run my hand down his cheek.
I’m surprised to find a solitary tear there.
The moment I touch on his raw emotion, he turns toward me and lets loose a defeated sob. I gather him into my arms because that’s where he belongs. His face buries itself in the crook of my neck while silent grief shudders through his body.
“Everything’s all wrong!” he cries quietly while my fingers find their way into his hair. “I wanted to make a place for us, but I failed.”
I kiss his forehead. “We never needed that. We’re a family here, all on our own. All we’ve been missing is you.”
Gray cries softly, trusting me with the grief of defeat. “I wanted a safe life for you. A pack life is the only way I know to do that.”
He’s so tired. He never gets this overwhelmed.
“Pumpkin,” I whisper. “It’s going to be okay.”
“How? I can’t see it.”
The last of my coldness melts away as I bring the comforter up to his shoulder and rub my hand up and down his side. “You watched out for me in the prison. Now it’s my turn to protect our family. Trust me to look after you, Gray. Trust me to give you a safe place to rest your head.”
He