23. Stitches
STITCHES
T hese four walls were killing me. The drone of Sister Elizabeth’s voice was beginning to piss me off too. Sin hadn’t come home last night. I even checked his room throughout the night because Church was pissed off he was gone.
I had no idea where the fuck he went, but I was sure it was nowhere good. Sister Devon was missing. They’d tried to search our place this morning, but Church decked Sully so hard in the face he’d stumbled off our patio.
Then I’d kicked him. Pretty sure I broke a rib or two. Ashes had to pull me off him.
I assumed I’d be getting punished for it. At this point, I didn’t give a fuck. If they were going to throw me into the hole, fine. Just get it the fuck over with. Maybe I’d die this time, and it would put me out of my misery.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. I was out the door without a second look. It was when I rounded a corner too quickly that I crashed into a soft body.
I reached out and caught her at the waist before she tumbled backward, finding myself staring into the colorful eyes of my angel.
“Baby,” I murmured, tightening my hold on her waist. “Angel.”
Her eyes widened as she took me in. I hadn’t seen her in over a week. Fuck, what a miserable week it had been too.
“Where have you been?” I asked thickly.
She didn’t say a damn word. Instead, she continued to stare up at me.
I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t fucking stand to be so close to her and not have her. To know she wasn’t mine anymore. That she was sleeping in the same bed as that motherfucking Bryce Andrews.
Without thinking it through, I gripped her arm tightly and dragged her down the hall. She tried to tug out of my hold, but I tightened my grip and continued on until we reached the doors that connected the school portion to the cathedral.
The doors banging closed echoed behind us. No one ever came in here unless it was during our Sunday service hours or they felt the need to pray. And no one here prayed as much as they should.
I brought her to the pulpit and turned her so she was staring out at all the empty pews. I placed my hand on her stomach and pulled her against me, her back to my front.
“I have missed you for eleven thousand five hundred twenty minutes,” I husked out in her ear. “For seven of those nights, I’ve lied awake in my bed, whispering your name like a fucking prayer, angel. I have begged God to hold you again, and wouldn’t you know it, God heard me because here we are.”
Her small body trembled against mine.
I wrapped my tatted hand around her delicate throat and breathed her in.
“You said you were leaving, but I’ll never let that happen. Your absence has only made me crazier. Only made me want you more. Come home to us, baby. I’ll fix everything.”
She breathed out, the tremble in her body growing. I let my hand snake down beneath her skirt before working my hand beneath her silk panties.
“I hope you aren’t letting anyone fuck what belongs to the watchers,” I said thickly. “That would make me really upset. I might kill someone.”
I pushed my finger into her tight pussy, earning a soft moan from her.
Fuck, I’d missed that sound.
There was no way I could contain myself. I’d lost my damn mind in my misery of missing her. Of missing my family being together. It kept getting taken from us, and I was over this shit.
I pushed her forward, dragging her skirt up with the motion. I didn’t hesitate. My cock was out and pushing into her pussy within moments. Her hands flew to the pulpit, and she clung to it as I slammed deep inside her, groaning as my cock hit rock bottom.
Her legs buckled, but I was quick to hold her, fucking into her body in several deep, satisfying slams as I reminded her who she fucking belonged to.
“You’re going to come for me, angel,” I rasped, rolling my hips against her ass. “You’re going to remember I love you, and you love me.”
Her knuckles were white as she clung to the edge of the pulpit. I thrust into her roughly, working her over. She was so wet it was like a damn slip and slide.
I fucking loved it.
The sound of our heavy breathing, slapping skin, and her soft moans empowered me. When her pussy spasmed and clenched around my cock, I was done for.
I came with a low groan, spilling myself deep inside her trembling body.
I slowed my movements until I was holding her in my arms, my lips at her ear, and my cock still buried balls deep.
“I love you, Sirena. With everything I am, I love you, and I will always love you.” I kissed her temple fiercely and held her tightly against me, her back to my front.
“Come home soon, baby. Give me hope that you’ll be in my arms again. I-I can’t…I can’t without you.” I swallowed hard, my throat tight from the emotions threatening to choke me.
I forced myself to pull my cock from her pussy. I tucked myself away and zipped my pants. She turned around to face me, her face flushed.
I dragged her against my body and pressed my lips to hers. She kissed me back without hesitation, soothing my wounded black heart.
“ Come home . We’ll get Sin worked on. I don’t care if you have to bring Andrews with you. Bring him. I’ll fuck you with him. I just want you back in my arms where you belong. Please, baby. We need you home. It’s not home without you.” I rested my forehead against hers, enjoying the way her hands felt on my chest. So warm. So familiar. So satisfying.
“There you are,” Asylum called out. “You didn’t meet me like I told you to.”
I closed my eyes and breathed out before looking at him.
“Sorry,” he said, giving me an apologetic look. “My job is to make sure she’s safe. I was worried when I didn’t see her in the commons.”
I grunted, grateful he was on the ball, but a little annoyed he’d interrupted.
“You got off, though,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder. “I waited.”
Sirena’s cheeks flushed red at his words. He tweaked her nose before draping his arm around her shoulders.
I hated how he knew shit like that. Of course, based on the fact she looked like I’d just fucked her, he may not have been using the voices to tell him shit. It was common sense to assume I’d buried my cock inside her.
“You two look good together,” I murmured. They really did. She molded to him naturally. I don’t think she even tried to. They were like magnets, drawn together. Puzzle pieces.
“Like a couple puzzle pieces, huh?” Asylum asked, his blue eyes sparkling.
I scoffed. “You’re always in my head.”
“Uh uh,” he tutted, tapping his head. “You’re in mine.”
I rolled my eyes at him before studying the pair for a moment.
“I-I don’t hate this.” I gestured to them. “If you come home, you can bring him too.” I was pleading with any bargaining chip I had. All I wanted was my girl in my arms again. It was killing me not to have her.
“Really?” Asylum grinned. “I have your blessing?”
“Man, yes. I know you care about her. I know she cares for you. You can even put on that goofy fucking rabbit mask.”
“I don’t wear a rabbit mask. I’m the guy with the fork, remember?”
I sighed. “You know what I mean. Your other personality. Mirage. A-And Bryce. Bring him, just come home, baby.” I focused on her. “Please, Sirena. Sin does need time, but fuck it. Make him see?—”
She pressed her finger to my lips to silence me. I gave her a pleading look.
“I have an idea,” Asylum said. “She struggles to speak sometimes. That’s my bad. She never used to shut up when we were kids.”
She rolled her eyes at him and let out a huff.
He smirked at her.
“Anyway. Sign language. Why can’t we do that?” he continued.
I frowned and looked at Sirena. I’d never considered that. Apparently, she hadn’t really either.
“Check this out.” Asylum pulled out his phone and quickly sent a message. A moment later, my phone pinged. I pulled it out and stared at what he had sent.
It was a sign language course.
“I’m game,” I said immediately, looking at her. “If you are.”
She bit her bottom lip for a moment as Asylum showed her his phone.
“It’ll be easier for you to communicate,” he assured her gently as he brushed a dark strand of hair away from her face. “I think this will work. I’ve been seeing it a lot lately.”
I knew he didn’t mean what a normal person meant. He’d had a vision or something of it. I trusted him enough to believe he was telling the truth.
“Yeah?” he continued softly. “OK. We’re in.” He looked at me, but I was too busy staring at her.
“I’ll learn it, angel. I’ll do whatever you want as long as you come home.”
She hooked her pinky with mine, and I relaxed.
“I’ll tell the guys,” I said. “We’ll start tonight. Even Cady.”
She nodded eagerly, relaxing me further.
I actually smiled for the first time in a week. This felt good. It felt promising.
She moved forward and kissed me gently. I closed my eyes, relishing the way her lips felt against mine.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” I murmured as I held her.
She gave me another gentle kiss before stepping back to Asylum.
I watched her slip beneath his arm again.
“Do you kiss her?” I asked him, my voice soft.
“Sometimes,” he answered. “When she wants me to.”
I nodded, my throat tight. “Are you fucking her?”
Asylum chuckled softly and pressed a fierce kiss to Sirena’s temple. She looked at her feet, her hands twisted in front of her.
“No, man. I’m not fucking her. That’s not the sort of relationship we have right now. Someday, hopefully, but not right now. She’s working on Shadow and keeping herself for you guys. No worries.”
“I wouldn’t care,” I said, my voice rough. “If you two were together. Seriously. I want you to be happy.” I reached out and tilted her chin up. “If you want to fuck him, I wouldn’t care. I only want you to come home.”
She gave me a sweet, shy smile before taking my hand and kissing my palm. I blew out a breath and nodded. She wouldn’t fuck him. They were just exceptionally close friends for now, but eventually, he’d join. I knew that without a doubt.
Months ago, I’d have lost my fucking shit knowing she wanted him.
Now?
I’d welcome the crazy fuck with open arms.
He was already one of us. He just hadn’t come home yet.
“Soon,” he murmured, his eyes fixed on me. “Soon…brother.”
I nodded.
It couldn’t arrive soon enough. It would mean our family was whole again. I’d accept it however I could get it.
I just needed to get the others on the same train.