25. Ashes
ASHES
S irena looked amazing. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Except now, since I’d lost her in the crowd. I’d turned for a minute to push some ass weed off the kitchen table and she was gone. Stitches was talking to Church, so that was a bust. Sin was gone. I peeked out the back patio to see Bryce and Asylum together. I caught Sin pushing his way to his bedroom, a pained look on his face.
Concerned, I searched the downstairs and didn’t find her. Finally, I went upstairs and stopped at Church’s room to see her coming out of the bathroom, a paintbrush in her hand.
She froze as I stepped into the room and closed the door.
“Hey, heaven,” I greeted her. I hadn’t spoken to her since she basically broke things off with us. I understood why she left, but it didn’t make her absence hurt any less. Then, seeing her tonight on another guy's arm, well, I was struggling.
She didn’t move. Didn’t come to greet me like she always did. Panic surged through me. Had she truly been serious and wanted to break up? Church and Stitches both said she was coming back. In fact, Stitches seemed happier lately, and I’d just watched the pair grinding on one another in the living room only minutes before.
“How have you been?” When she didn’t answer, I cleared my throat and cautiously moved toward her. “I’ve been trying to learn sign language. I’m shit at it.” I stopped in front of her and tucked a lock of her long hair behind her ear.
“You’re scaring me,” I murmured. “I miss you.”
She finally reached out and cradled my face. I closed my eyes and blew out a soft breath at her warm touch.
“Stitches says this isn’t forever, but each day feels like an eternity without you,” I said, opening my eyes to stare down at her. “I get why you left, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. What can I do to bring you home?”
She took my hand in hers and traced letters onto it.
“Sin,” I murmured. “When Sin is ready, you’ll come home.”
She nodded and wrote more.
I love you. I miss you. Soon.
“It was a surprise to have you just walk out,” I admitted, twining my fingers with hers. “I love and miss you, too. Doesn’t make me less afraid, though.”
I released her hands and pulled her close at the waist.
Carefully, I leaned in, wondering if she’d kiss me. I tentatively brushed my lips against hers. She came to life beneath me, and I unraveled. I dragged her into my arms and crushed my lips to hers, our bodies pressed to one another’s.
I lifted her, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around my waist.
“You look phenomenal tonight,” I said between frenzied kisses. “Beautiful. I almost came to you, bent you over the kitchen table, and fucked you so everyone could see you’re still mine.”
She let out a soft moan against my lips as I lay her on the bed, my body leveled over hers.
I kissed my way down her body before I got to her pelvis, then I spread her legs, pushed her short skirt up, and kissed her pussy over her lacy black panties.
She squirmed for me. I couldn’t help myself. I tugged the lace down her thighs and buried my face in her wetness, eating her as she writhed beneath my mouth.
I grabbed her thighs tightly and sucked and flicked her clit. She drove her hips up to meet my mouth, making me insane with want.
Within moments, she was coming in my mouth, her fingers tangled in my hair as she forced my face deeper into her pussy.
I ate like a man starving, gobbling everything up.
Finally, she came down, and I pulled away, my mouth and chin wet from her orgasm. Even my shirt was damp.
I pulled her panties back up her thighs and pulled her skirt down. I crawled back up her body and planted a soft, sweet kiss on her lips.
“Do you taste the mess you made, heaven?” I murmured.
She nodded for me, making me smile.
“I love you. We’re waiting for you and trying to help Sin and Cady. I do understand your reasoning, even if others don’t. You wanted to keep us watchers together. I fucking love you for that. But I also know something else.” I cradled her face as she stared back at me with those impossibly beautiful eyes.
“You also needed this time for yourself. For… Bryce. I get it. I understand it’s easier this way. You trust us to handle shit here, and we trust you’re handling shit there. But when you come home to us, you’ll never leave again. Understand?”
She leaned into me and pressed her lips to mine before pulling away, cradling my cheek.
“I understand.” Her words were soft and sweet.
“I accept Bryce if you want him. I trust your judgement. I even accept Asylum. I can see us all being happy together someday.”
Her smile grew, making my heart swell.
“It’ll be fun.” I smiled back at her. “And complete chaos. I honestly can’t wait until we’re all together. I think it’ll be perfect. We’ll be untouchable.” I kissed her again. “Just promise you’ll come home to us once we have everything sorted. And that you’re safe.”
“I promise,” she whispered against my lips before I kissed her breathless.
I meant everything I said. I wanted this.
Whatever the fuck this turned out to be. As long as she was with us, it was all that mattered.
Now to get Sin’s head in the game.
We had our work cut out for us.