Chapter Seven
Saint was fucking exhausted as he dragged their luggage through the door.
The cabin was dark except for the Christmas lights.
He had sworn he had unplugged them before they left.
Since Clover had moved into his mind and set up shop, Saint hadn’t thought straight.
A very familiar sound cut through the dark.
It had Saint dropping the luggage and tucking Clover behind his back with one arm while the other hand flipped on the lights.
“Oh. You’re home.”
From his back, lounging on Saint’s couch, Jacobe looked totally relaxed with a gun ready to fire pointed at them.
“You’ve really stepped things up a notch,” Saint said as dryly as possible. “Now you’ve decided you’re ready to go to prison instead of just leaving Clover alone.”
Jacobe’s expression changed, turning evil and angry in a way Saint had never seen.
That was saying a lot. “There’s no such thing as living without Clover.
” The way his face and anger stayed totally focused on Saint meant Saint’s large body kept Clover totally hidden from sight.
Or Jacobe saw Saint as the only thing standing between him and the center of his obsession.
Jacobe’s rage kept him talking while Saint pulled his cellphone from his back pocket and handed it to Clover on the sly.
“You don’t understand! But if I let you live, you’ll see.
You’ll see how he lights up every corner of your life and then rips it away, leaving you drowning in the dark.
He won’t stay with you. I mean, a boss sleeping with his employee.
How cliche can you get? Don’t worry, though.
I’ll put you out of your misery so you never have to feel this way. ”
Saint searched for a way to keep Jacobe talking while Clover got them help. “How long were you two together? It must’ve been a long time to break you like this.” Saint knew the only thing Jacobe mourned was the control. He just needed Jacobe to stay focused on their conversation.
“Two years, three months, and three days. Three hundred and nighty-eight days.” He took on a dreamy expression and a new horror rose inside Saint.
This guy was for real insane. He wasn’t just mean and controlling.
The guy had lost his mind. “He smells so good, and his skin is so soft. I couldn’t let him near anyone else.
He’s irresistible. Well, you know that. He’s like staring into the face of love and knowing it’s all yours. ”
Saint wondered if the “it” in that sentence was the love or Clover. It wasn’t too much of a stretch. Jacobe obviously didn’t consider Clover as a real whole person who existed without him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll set you free before you end up like me when Clover comes home to me.”
Before Saint even had time to react, Clover stepped around him. His anger carried him across the room in a clipped pace. “For fuck’s sake, Jacobe. You’re being fucking ridiculous.”
Saint’s mouth fell open as Clover plucked the gun from his hand like a ninja.
His anger obviously outweighed Jacobe’s insanity.
He racked the weapon, releasing the unfired shell before waving the butt at Jacobe in obvious frustration.
“This is too goddamn far. Why do you think we’re over?
Save your breath. It’s for ridiculous shit like this.
Not that you have any chance of me ever taking you back, but did you really think breaking into Saint’s cabin and threatening to kill—”
“Our cabin,” Saint said, correcting him.
Clover didn’t miss a beat. “Our cabin, threatening to kill people, would actually get me back? Murder is a damn long prison sentence. Not that any of that matters to you. I’m done with you.
I’ve been finished with you for almost nine months and a whole year before I got brave enough to leave, and that’s no one’s fault but yours.
Saint didn’t steal me. He didn’t seduce me away.
We didn’t even know each other back then.
When will you take responsibility for your actions? You lost me. No one else. You.”
Damn, he was sexy with his eyes flashing with fury. Saint was turned on and he couldn’t help it.
Clover didn’t let up on the berating. “Did you really think that tagging me, controlling me, hitting me, and fucking cheating on me was shit that endeared me to stay? You were an awful boyfriend. You’re a terrible person.
A waste of oxygen. If you think you deserve me, you’re as insane as you’re acting. ”
One of his security teams burst in, armed to the teeth and wearing Kevlar. They all froze as Clover handed Diesel the gun and walked straight into Saint’s arms. For all his fury, he shook hard enough to chip a tooth. “Thank God. I was running out of things to say.”
Even though he was obviously terrified and had handled the situation like a boss, Saint couldn’t hold his tongue. “What were you thinking? He could’ve killed you.”
Saint felt Clover shrug. “He could’ve killed me a million times over the years. But he’s obviously high as a fucking kite. That always renders him useless.”
He kissed Clover’s temple. “You’re the bravest and strongest person I know. You also looked hot as hell, berating someone. I mean, you scared the shit out of me when you stormed between that gun and me. Please don’t do that again, but I was definitely turned on by your fire.”
Clover chuckled. His shaking eased a hair. “Best you know what you’re in for now.”
“I look forward to every second.”
Clover laughed again. “Good, since you’re stuck with me.”
“Thank God.”
He loved the way Clover felt when he laughed, and the conversation was obviously easing his nerves. Saint barely noticed the police pouring in. His arms wouldn’t unlock from Clover. Clover was all that mattered
“Mr. Zhao.”
Clover lifted his head and looked toward the young, brown-haired cop. “It’s Knack, but you can call me Clover.”
At his statement, Jacobe shot to his feet and had to be restrained.
He went wild, fighting against his handcuffs and the two cops holding him.
“I’ll fucking kill you, you motherfucker.
There’s no goddamn way he married you. You piece of shit.
I should’ve just pulled the trigger when you walked through the door. ”
“So much for him being useless high.”
Thankfully, Clover had already walked away with the officer and didn’t hear his muttered words.
Saint’s gaze landed on Diesel. He moved his way. They shook hands. “Thank you again for coming to the rescue. This is getting to be an all-too-common experience.”
Diesel glanced toward a still struggling Jacobe, who still screamed about how Clover would only get married over his dead body. Diesel shook his head as they dragged him out the door.
“Hopefully, this’ll be the last of all this.”
Saint nodded. “He needs mental help. You should’ve heard the shit he was saying before Clover jumped his ass.”
Diesel laughed. “Clover is great. You’re a lucky man.
If you hadn’t immediately staked your claim, I might’ve thrown my hat in the ring.
” Before Saint had time to feel one way or the other, since Diesel looked like a goddamn supermodel, Diesel kept going.
“Congratulations, by the way. I had to leave after the party to get home by Christmas. I love this job, but seeing my mom comes first, you know? But I heard Steel and the guys really came together to create the perfect Christmas Day wedding.”
Saint couldn’t stop smiling. “It was pretty perfect.”
Diesel shook his head. “I’d like to say I can’t believe this happened so fast, but damn. I’ve seen you two together. You’ve definitely shown there are soulmates out there.”
Clover appeared at his side and hugged Saint’s arm. His gaze stayed on Diesel. “Thank you so much for showing up. I was running out of steam. There’s no telling what he might’ve done.”
Diesel dipped his chin, acknowledging the appreciation. “It’s all good. We’ll always come when you call. Plus, this gives me the chance to switch vehicles. I came here in the SUV. I’ll take the Ram back to the warehouse.”
“Mr. Knack.”
Saint and Clover looked over at the officer.
The guy looked at the paper he held. “Saint.”
Saint kissed Clover’s forehead and stepped away to answer any questions the police had. Anything to move this along so Clover and he could get back to their peaceful existence. They were still newlyweds, after all. They deserved to be alone.
In his fuzzy pjs, Clover sat curled up in Saint’s lap while Saint kissed his neck.
Saint’s thumb swept back and forth across Clover’s wedding ring.
It was like he was savoring this crazy thing they had done.
As much as Clover still couldn’t believe he agreed, he had lost more for less in his life.
He wasn’t scared to take a chance. Saint was a miracle.
Their wedding had been gorgeous. Thankfully, the Steel company seemed to have more than just security working for the company.
Somehow, they had gotten copies of Saint’s and his birth certificates and even had a judge to marry them.
The guy had looked happy to do it too. It was the wildest experience of his life. Clover didn’t regret a damn thing.
“I can’t stop picturing you storming your way to Jacobe and snatching that gun. You nearly gave me a heart attack before immediately turning me on. Damn. You’re so strong.”
Clover had to clear one thing up. “I’m not strong.
You forget I spent years under his thumb.
” Clover shrugged. “I guess him threatening to harm you was the breaking point for me. You’re my person, and he wanted to rip that away from me.
It wasn’t happening. But I turned you on, huh? Is that why you’re hard?”
The sexy chuckle Clover couldn’t resist vibrated against his neck. “I’m always hard around you.” His hand swept up Clover’s inner thigh. He made it impossible to hang on to a coherent thought.
“Fuck.” The curse came out so breathless, Clover was almost embarrassed.
Almost, but he loved it. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that this is us for the rest of our lives.
As much as I keep trying to dredge up a single ounce of shame over how quickly things moved, I can’t.
I’ve never been so attached and certain in my life. ”
Saint slowly slid the zipper down on Clover’s pajamas. His hand slipped inside and massaged Clover’s erection. “I love you and I know you love me. Nothing else matters.”
Clover let out a pant. “Damn right I love you.”
Saint shot to his feet, keeping a tight hold on Clover. He turned and gently set Clover where he had been sitting. The next thing Clover knew, Saint was on his knees with Clover’s cock in his mouth.
Clover ran his fingers through Saint’s hair as his hips left the couch. “Goddamn, Saint. That feels good.”
Saint chuckled around his erection.
The sensation had Clover writhing. He wanted to fuck Saint’s mouth, but he equally wanted the blow job to last forever.
Clover’s gaze locked on their lit Christmas tree.
They had definitely found a way to change Christmas into the happiest day of the year.
On the edge of orgasm and with love driving his heart and soul, Clover had never had a clearer mind.
From the moment he set eyes on Saint, there had been a spark.
No way could he have known that spark was the feeling of meeting his soulmate.
Apparently, fate had gotten tired of Clover fucking up and not seeing his true path.
Jacobe stalking him straight into Saint’s arms was the biggest gift of his entire life. A true holiday miracle.
Check out the first book in the Steel Security series, Finding Shelter