Chapter 23
Entangled in each other, her leg is draped around mine and my face is buried in her hair. Inhaling her sweet scent, my insides lighten instantly.
An entire range of emotions settles on my chest, making it more full. Waking up to Celine is incredible, but the sun peeks through the blinds, and my good mood threatens to dip, knowing we must return.
Celine shifts in my arms and opens those enchanting midnight eyes that own me. She presses a kiss to my lips.
“Good morning.”
“Waking up to your face, that’s how I want every day to start.” I gather her in my arms, carrying her inside the shower. Her face turns pensive. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to keep her here, all happy, safe, and mine.
“We’re going to be fine,” she says resolutely, the determination etched on her gorgeous features.
“We will.”
“You and me.” She starts, and my heart races, hearing the beginning of that declaration. That vow turns my knees weak.
“Today, tomorrow, always.” I press her hand to my chest, interlacing our fingers.
“You can’t go back now. A vow is a vow.”
This damn fear nags at me, trying to tear through my newfound happiness.
Celine snorts a laugh, easing me. We’re made of the same fabric, and without words, we understand what each other is going through.
“We need to be careful.”
“And Grandmother’s dinner is tonight.”
She bites her lip and turns her head while I shampoo her hair.
“We’re going to be fine.”
“I don’t know what bullshit she’ll come up with next.”
The last time we were in the same room, I almost choked on the food after her little marriage announcement. I won’t be surprised if they make Abi and me sleep together in front of them, just to make sure. My jaw clenches so hard it might break, and Celine grips my chin.
“Whatever it is, I’ll handle it,” she says.
Strong, brave, and perfect.
It pisses me off to have the woman I love sit next to me at dinner while I have to play house with another.
“I love you.” Three words that should convey the depth of my feelings. What a joke.
“They’re monsters,” she whispers. “And I will bring them down.”
“This isn’t just your battle. We all want to escape.”
“No one gets to hurt you and get away with it.”
There’s no feeling better than having your love reciprocated. Her loving me pumps me up so I feel invincible.
We wash each other with gentle touches.
Celine’s the first to slip out of the bathroom while I watch her mouthwatering ass jiggle on her way out. Even though I know she’s mine, I can’t tame my need for her. It’s a wild beast wanting its mate back.
The moment she’s not in my arms, I crave her back. I am only complete when I can touch, kiss, and feel her close––when there’s no bit of space between us.
I hurry to dry off, missing her already. Insatiable? Most definitely. Mad about and irrevocably in love with her? My ultimate truth, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing.
Getting out of the bathroom, I see her propped against the window. I could just watch her and never tire of the view. She looks at me over her shoulder and bites down on her lip. “This time, I’m going to ask. Before we leave, can I read more of the letters?”
I nod, and the sudden urge to play for her pushes me toward the piano. Walking downstairs, I sit, remembering how I used to play for her or lose myself in the music when I had to tune the world out.
My fingers hover over the keys, and her soft voice seeps through. I lift my eyes to her standing behind the stair railing above.
“I am truly sorry about the piano.”
“If you say sorry one more time, I will wash your mouth with my cock.”
“Hmm. I doubt that that counts as punishment.” She giggles and turns around, but not before looking at me one more time and gesturing for me to follow. I’m insatiable. And luckily for me, I’m not the only one.
***
After we pack, I put the bags in the cars.
Celine pushes herself off the porch stairs and raises her hands in the air, sighing.
“I don’t even know why I am so emotional. We’ll come back. It’s… ugh.”
“I know, baby.”
I take her mouth in a lingering kiss filled with longing, passion, and love. She rocks on her feet and clears her throat. “So I think it’s better if we keep this between us.”
“No one would tell.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust them, but we all have a lot on the line.”
I understand her reasoning, but I can’t shake the irrationality out of me.
“Nothing and no one will stop me from coming to you.”
“I mean, we’re good at sneaking around. Stealth is our MO.”
With a slap on her ass, she sashays toward her car.
“Tease.”
“You must mistake me for someone else.”
She bats her eyelashes playfully at me, and I shake my head. My grin doesn’t disappear the entire drive back.
The house is now fully renovated. I park my car and stride inside. Everything looks exactly the same as prior to the fire. I find our group in the living room seated on the couch, looking as if they hadn’t slept all night.
“What the fuck happened?”
Abigail holds her head between her hands, groaning. “Long night.”
The door opens and Celine steps inside.
“Wow, such a coincidence.” Blake chuckles.
Celine rolls her eyes at him. “Whatever, smartass.”
I look at Bailey, and my expression must convey my question.
She shakes her head subtly. Good, she must have taken care of any monitoring devices. With Felix, we can never be sure.
After I unpack, I tiptoe toward Celine’s room. The moment I am inside, I am on her, backing her into the wall. She wraps her arms around my neck and plays with the ends of my hair.
“Kaden.”
But her protest is more for show in how she melts in my arms.
“Kaden.” Abigail’s voice sounds from behind the door, interrupting our moment.
I grunt, and Celine slaps my chest. “Go. It’s okay.”
“I love you so fucking much.”
I kiss her one more time and go see Abigail.
She has bags under her eyes, and her hair resembles a bird’s nest. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this disheveled.
I follow her inside her room. Her eyes roam outside the window, looking so damn wretched. “Dane was in the hospital. His car caught fire while he was training. That was not an accident. I tell him the truth, and a few days later, he lands in the hospital.”
“Is he okay?”
“He’s out, but still…” Her entire body shakes and tears coat her lids. “How can I sit across from Grandmother and not want to stab her with the fork? How can we just pretend? I… I want to fucking kill Felix.” This girl has worn a mask all her life. I know she’s a good, caring person. The confident girl is, sadly, just a facade. Seeing her this wrecked makes me livid. “I just want this all to end.”
“It will. It fucking will.”
Tomorrow, I will lay all the cards on the table, and whether we want to or not, we will work together as a team.
“I don’t want to be alone,” she says before breaking down in tears again.
“Guys,” I shout.
A few moments later, everyone, including Mia and Hunter, is inside Abi’s room. Apparently, everyone bonded while I was preoccupied with my troubles. We all hop in her bed, hugging her, and she falls asleep.
When the others trickle out one by one, Celine sighs. “She’s not okay.”
“She will be. She’s strong.”
I wrap my arms around Celine’s waist, and she says, “I love how protective and caring you are.”
“Thank you.”
She pins me with a serious stare. “Well, remember how trusting and loving I am about this when you find me in a similar situation with Hunter. We’ll support his emotional needs as well.”
Fuck my life with a bulldozer.
“Love you too.”
With that, she slips out of bed. I let Abi sleep, and I walk downstairs, coming face to face with Hunter.
“How is Abi?”
I inspect him, and he appears to be genuinely worried.
“What? She’s a cool one,” he says defensively.
“Did she tell you something?”
“No, but Dane came by yesterday, even after everything. That guy is stubborn as fuck.”
I know that all too well.
Hunter smirks at me, entering Celine’s room.
“Haven’t you heard of knocking?” I hear her ask.
“You have nothing I haven’t seen before.”
I am already stalking toward him when he shuts the door in my face.
Trust her. She’s yours.
“Really, what’s next? Peeking through the keyhole?” Mia asks.
I feel my cheeks heat and revert to my inner asshole as we walk downstairs. “Your brother is a dick.”
“Yes, but only I am allowed to call him that since we shared a womb.”
“My deepest sympathy.”
Laughter rocks her chest. “You love Celine, and if my dad and Sebastian trust you, I will too.”
“What about the others?”
Her eyes pin on Blake, sprawled on the couch and is once again nursing a drink. He jerks his chin at me in greeting.
“I’m fine.”
She glares at him. “You reek of alcohol.”
“Cheers to the big, happy family.”
Mia storms away, and I take a seat next to Blake.
“Why are you sabotaging yourself like this?”
“You don’t know, man. I… she…”
“Wake the fuck up, Blake. We live in prison here, and if you find one good thing, you hold on to that.”
“If you knew…”
“Then fucking tell me.”
His secretive behavior gets on my last nerve.
“Nothing you could ever do will make me see you as less than my brother,” I assure him, but he remains silent.