Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Seraphina
STILL INTO YOU DRILL – DRILL GATES
Iwake with a start, half panicked, the early morning light is just beginning to spill through the curtains, soft and pale gold, filling the room with tranquility.
Breathe, Seraphina. Breathe.
Trey is asleep beside me, on his front. His face is relaxed in a way I rarely get to see when he’s awake—unguarded, peaceful, almost boyish in the absence of all the noise he carries.
I watch him. I always watch him. It brings me more joy than I probably deserve. I wonder if he can feel my eyes on him the way I feel his when he lavishes me with his attention.
My nightmare fades—its claws not sunk as deep this time, no lingering aftershocks.
Maybe it’s the familiarity. I only had a few outings in Vegas, and each one was overwhelming.
From being sneaked into hidden rooms on secret floors to spaces suddenly filling with guards, rarely a familiar face in sight.
Trey’s dark lashes rest against his cheeks. There’s a faint shadow along his jaw, rough and unshaven, and a strand of dark hair has fallen forward over one eye, soft and stubborn, like it refuses to behave. Something in me aches to reach out and brush it back.
Instead, I just smile.
Because this man, this man who thinks he is somehow less than what he is…he is a fool. He is everything and more.
Trey is selfless in the way he gives without keeping score. Fierce in the way he protects without hesitation. Broken in places, maybe, but he still chooses to love. Still chooses me.
He doesn’t see it.
But I do.
Carefully, I shift away from him, making sure not to disturb the steady rhythm of his breathing. The sheets cool immediately where I leave his warmth behind, and I pad quietly across the room toward the closet.
The moment I move, Artemis is up. She presses her side against my leg as if to steady me, a silent, grounding presence. Klause, on the other hand, is sprawled on his back, tongue lolling, teeth on full display. It draws a soft smile from me.
A second later, he rolls over with an indignant huff, tail wagging as he gets to his feet and begins padding around, nose to the floor.
My running clothes are already laid out.
I dress in silence, holding onto the softness of him a little longer in my thoughts before I let the day begin.
Klause and Artemis quietly flank me as I leave the bedroom, quietly closing the door.
The house is still quiet when I step into the kitchen, the soft hum of the refrigerator the only sound—until I see him.
Sam stands at the counter, broad shoulders slightly hunched as he readies the blender, already dressed in running gear. He fills the space without trying to, all height and solid muscle. At six foot five, he’s easily the biggest member of Burnt Ashes, his frame heavy with strength.
I smile despite myself.
“Morning.”
He glances over, offering a small nod, the corner of his mouth lifting just enough to count. “Morning, Sera. Want a smoothie?”
I shake my head gently, moving past him toward the coffee machine. “Thank you, but I think I’ll stick with coffee.”
Trey did warn me that Sam fills those smoothies with all sorts of poisons, drugs, and other items of evil. I’m fairly certain Trey wasn’t being serious, but still, better safe than sorry.
“Fair,” Sam says, turning back to the blender. “One should be fine, just don’t go too heavy. Too much caffeine during pregnancy can cause issues. Had an aunt who caught hell from her OB/GYN over it.”
He measures a few scoops of what looks like flour, then switches the blender on with a sharp whir.
Oh, no…should I not be having coffee?
He must notice my hesitation, because he lets out a quiet chuckle. “Hey, it’s fine. Just don’t neck the whole pot.”
“Okay,” I say softly.
I busy myself with the routine. Water, coffee grounds, the familiar motions grounding me—while I steal the occasional glance at Sam.
It hits me, suddenly, how little time I’ve actually spent alone with him.
He’s always there, always steady. Trey seems to love poking him, like an annoying little brother.
I wrap my hands around my mug as the coffee finishes, turning slightly toward him.
“Do you have a girlfriend, Sam?” I ask softly. “Someone special? You can bring her here…I wouldn’t want to keep you from that because of everything that’s happening.”
He goes still for a second, then reaches for his glass before moving to sit on one of the stools.
He shakes his head.
“Nah, no…I don’t do the whole relationships thing.” He lifts his glass. “Not anymore.”
I don’t push. I just take the seat opposite him, curling my fingers around the warmth of my coffee, letting the silence sit where it needs to.
After a moment, he exhales lightly, like the words have been waiting anyway.
“I’ve been in love,” he says. “Decided the heartbreak wasn’t worth it.”
Something in my expression must give me away, because he huffs a quiet laugh, low and self-aware.
“It was a while ago. Just before we got signed.” His gaze drops briefly to his hands. “But…she was everything to me.” He looks away. “I guess some of us don’t get happy endings.”
My chest tightens.
I set my coffee down without thinking and stand, stepping into him before I can second-guess it, wrapping my arms around him.
He stiffens for half a heartbeat—like he’s not used to it—then his arms come around me, solid and warm, returning it.
“I’m sorry, Sam,” I murmur. “For what it’s worth…I think if you ever gave someone your heart, they’d be the luckiest person in the world.”
He lets out a quiet breath against my shoulder.
“Yeah?” he says, a hint of a smile in his voice. “Might have to take on your pretty boy husband, then.”
I laugh as I pull back, picking up my coffee again, the warmth of it spreading through my palms.
“I didn’t think I would ever have…” I gesture vaguely around us, at the house, at everything, “any of this. Or a man who would—could—love me the way Trey does.” My voice softens, a shy smile finding me. “But he doesn’t do anything halfway. When he gives his heart…he gives all of it.”
I glance back at Sam, something gentler settling into my chest.
“I don’t know if Trey ever told you… I said some pretty harsh things about you when he first mentioned you.
” He frowns, fidgeting, clearly uncomfortable.
“Feels like I’m confessing my sins to a nun,” he mutters.
“I thought you might be running some kind of con…taking advantage of that little idiot. But…you’re good people.
And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry you’ve been having such a shitty time of things. ”
“Thank you, Sam.”
“No, thank you, Sera. You’ve been good for him. He might never grow up, but you give him something to focus on…and that stops him from harassing me.” He smiles, and I can’t help but laugh with him as I take a sip of my coffee. It’s too hot, burning my tongue slightly.
“Harassing you?”
“Yeah. He kept making fake dating profiles in my name. At first, he was matching me with every woman he thought I’d like… then he started making profiles just so I’d find men.” He shakes his head. “Little shit.”
I try to look scandalized, but I can feel my smile betraying me.
“So…are you looking for love?” I ask.
“Love?” He pauses, considering it. “I don’t really think—” He cuts himself off, finishing the last of his green smoothie before setting the glass down with a quiet sigh. “I mean…maybe. My head says yes. My heart says no.”
“I’ll say a prayer for you,” I tell him softly. “For healing…and for something new to find you when you’re ready.”
“Thanks,” he says, a faint crease in his brow.
“Not sure I’ve earned prayers, but…” He exhales, leaning back slightly.
“Seeing you and Trey…and Mac and Logan finally getting their shit together…Braden used to go on and on about Logan ending up with his sister.” He huffs out a small laugh.
“Yeah…it does make me think I’d like something like that for myself one day. ”
I nod, offering him a soft smile before reaching up to pull the hair tie from my wrist. My fingers gather my hair, sweeping it back, twisting and securing it into a ponytail with practiced ease.
“Oh—and Braden would have fucking loved you. The way you keep your manchild under any kind of control? It speaks volumes,” he adds with a snort.
I don’t quite know what to say to that. His words tug at something deep in my chest, warm and aching all at once. Emotion rises too quickly, too close to the surface.
“That was really kind of you to say, Sam. Thank you.” I sniff, offering him a small, sincere smile.
“I wish I’d had the chance to meet him.” Sam nods sadly.
“I-I need to get back into my normal routine,” I say, rolling my shoulders slightly as if already preparing myself. “My morning runs with the dogs.”
I glance over my shoulder toward the hallway, where Trey still sleeps, then back to Sam, my voice softening just a touch.
“Usually, Trey’s waiting by the door for me to come back,” I admit, a small smile tugging at my lips. “But I left him sleeping. I think he needs the rest.”
Sam watches me for a second, then pushes up from the stool in one smooth movement.
“I’ll come with you.”
I pause, brow lifting slightly as I turn toward him. “Do you actually want to…or do you feel obligated?”
He lets out a low laugh, shaking his head.
“I was going to run anyway,” he says, grabbing a bottle of water from the counter. Then his eyes narrow slightly, a hint of something almost wary creeping in. “But you’ve gotta promise not to let your dogs take a chunk out of me.”
I blink at him.
“The darker one has been eying my pants this entire time. Little bro likes balls for sure. They fucking terrify me, Sera.”
A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it, echoing slightly as I head toward the patio doors.
“Why is everyone so scared of my babies?” I call over my shoulder, still laughing as I reach for the handle and push it open, the cool morning air rushing in to meet us.
As soon as we step beyond the patio, the air shifts—cooler, cleaner, carrying the faint scent of cut grass and early blooms. Dawn stretches across the grounds, light threading through the trees in long, quiet beams.
The guards Niko stationed along the perimeter move like shadows within it. One passes along the edge of the path and gives a short, respectful nod as we come into view. Another lingers further out, watchful, unmoving.
Sam notices.
“Comforting,” he mutters.
I don’t answer, already stepping onto the path, rolling my shoulders as I slow to a stop. “Stretch first,” I say, glancing back at him.
We move through the motions side by side, the silence broken only by the rustle of leaves.
Then I set off at an easy pace, leading him down the familiar route—the one worn into me as much as the ground beneath our feet. Gravel crunches softly as we pass along the edge of the property, the trees closing in, filtering the sunlight into shifting patterns that dance across our skin.
We loop beyond the treeline, and the moment the house comes back into view, something inside me lifts.
A smile breaks over my face before I can stop it.
Trey.
He’s there, leaning casually against the patio doors like he’s been waiting all along, a mug of coffee in his hand. Shirtless. Grey sweatpants slung low on his hips. The early light catches on his skin, tracing every line of him.
I slow to a stop in front of him, breath still uneven from the run, shaking my head.
“I seem to recall leaving you asleep in bed.”
His gaze drags over me.
He sets the coffee aside without looking and steps forward.
“It’s cute,” he murmurs, voice rough with sleep, “that you think I don’t notice the minute you leave, baby.”
His hand finds me with ease, fingers slipping just beneath the waistband of my yoga pants, hooking in and tugging me forward until I collide lightly with his chest and then his mouth is on mine.
When Trey kisses me, the world doesn’t just fade, it ceases to exist.
There is only him.
He kisses the way he lives. Without restraint. Without hesitation. Every part of him is in it. Every emotion. Every unspoken truth.
When he’s carefree, when something in him is unguarded, almost boyish, his mouth is soft against mine. Gentle. Like he’s afraid I might slip through his fingers if he holds me too tightly. Like I’m something precious.
When anger simmers beneath his skin, when the world has wronged him or threatened what’s his, it changes.
His grip tightens. His kiss turns fierce, unyielding, almost punishing in its intensity.
It steals my breath and leaves something behind, something lingering, like the echo of a storm that refuses to pass quietly.
And when desire takes hold of him…it consumes. His mouth moves with a hunger that feels endless, like he’s trying to tear through every barrier between us, like closeness isn’t enough unless there is nothing left at all.
There are so many sides to this man, my husband, and I love them all.
I don’t love him in pieces, or in the parts that are easy to understand. I love him whole.
Because he saw me when I was invisible.
He gave me a voice when I was not allowed to speak.
He loved me when I had been taught I was unlovable.
So when he kisses me, I don’t lose the world—I choose him. And my faith does not doubt the righteousness of his heart.