Chapter Twenty-Eight
~ Heart Unlocked ~
Soren
I turn my back to Kit as I pull on a pair of simple black underwear, then some loose slacks and a navy polo shirt. To me, this is comfortable, as casual as I ever get.
That sex really helped though, a lot. Having him wrapped around me, warm and real and safe, has loosened something tight in my chest. The relief is deep, almost dizzying.
But fuck… I just said “I love you” out loud in the middle of it.
I hadn’t even let myself think about my feelings that deeply before, but the second the words left my mouth I knew they were true.
I won’t take them back, even if Kit is currently malfunctioning like a broken robot.
I grin to myself as I reach into my drawer and pull out some of my sleep clothes… soft grey sweatpants and an oversized black t-shirt. Way too big for him, but right now I need Kit wrapped in my clothes. The possessiveness that surges through me is almost feral.
I walk back over to the bed. “Up, kid.”
Kit opens his eyes and stands slowly, already blushing. I’m enjoying this far too much, but I won’t say it out loud.
I carefully stretch the neck of the t-shirt wide and ease it over his head, making sure it doesn’t catch on any of the stitches. He pushes his arms through, and I let the fabric fall, swallowing him whole.
Kit looks down at himself and whispers, “Oh my god.”
I grin and drop to one knee in front of him.
Even though he’s not wearing anything underneath, I slide the sweatpants up his legs.
They’re the smallest pair I own and still massive on him, but the drawstring helps.
I tie it so that they won’t fall off his hips, but loose enough to still be comfortable.
Kit shuffles adorably and stares at his feet, completely swallowed by the fabric. He looks at me, shy and flustered. “You’re kidding, right?”
Still on my knees, I reach down and roll up the bottoms of the pants so his feet can actually touch the floor.
He huffs. “Can’t I just go to my room and get some clothes that actually fit?”
I hate that sentence more than I should. I growl low in my throat, stand up, and scoop him up under his thighs. “This is your room now,” I say as I start walking toward the door, carrying him easily. “I’ll have one of the girls move your clothes up here.”
Kit blinks. “Huh?”
I keep walking, heading downstairs with him in my arms. “Every night you go and sleep in our bed. If you don’t, I will hunt you down and drag you back up here myself.”
Kit whispers, small and dazed, “Oh… okay.”
I lean in and press a quick, easy peck to his lips, something soft and natural that I didn’t even know I was capable of until right now. This side of me, this loving, protective side, feels like it’s been unlocked by the same quiet orphan I didn’t even know existed two years ago.
I finally set Kit down when we reach the bottom of the stairs, but I keep one hand on his lower back just in case. He sways for a second, then steadies himself.
I watch him swallow hard, his hands fluttering like he doesn’t know what to do with them. His cheeks are still flushed pink, and his eyes keep darting everywhere except at me. He points vaguely down the hall, opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.
A deep, rolling laugh rumbles out of my chest. Telling him I love him has completely rattled him. It’s almost cute how malfunctioned he looks right now.
“Come on. Let’s go relax.”
Kit doesn’t really have a choice. I slide my hand down and thread our fingers together, tugging him gently along. He follows, still blushing furiously.
“You don’t relax,” he mutters.
“Sure, I do,” I reply. “Just not very often.”
He huffs a small laugh but still refuses to look up at me.
We walk into the bigger living room, the one everyone uses in the evenings once work is done.
It’s more of a community space than anything formal.
The large TV is on in the middle of the room, some random show playing.
Most of the people who live on the estate are already scattered around on the couches and armchairs.
I want Kit to feel comfortable here, like this is his home now, not a prison.
Most heads don’t even turn when we enter, but Lorraine notices everything. She’s sitting with Selina as usual, sipping tea while Selina nurses a beer. Lorraine looks up, her sharp eyes flicking over both of us, and a knowing grin spreads across her face.
“You two took your time…” she says, voice teasing. “Shower, huh?”
Her gaze lingers on Kit, amused and warm.
I roll my eyes at her. “Yes… we had sex, so what?”
Kit squeaks, an actual high-pitched squeak, and tries to pull away like he’s going to bolt. I just yank him back against my side and laugh, deep and unashamed.
Selina chokes on her beer. “Christ, boss! Maybe Kit didn’t want everyone knowing that.” She laughs, eyes flicking over to Kit. “Kit, you okay?”
Kit stares hard at the floor, completely silent.
I grin and pull him over to the big armchair that no one else is allowed to sit in. I drop down first and tug Kit sideways onto my lap, settling him comfortably against my chest.
Ray walks over and hands me my usual glass of whiskey without a word.
“Thanks, Ray,” I say, nodding.
Ray sits down near Selina and glances at Kit. “What’s up with the kid?”
I shrug, acting like I’m watching whatever nonsense is on the TV. “He’s just freaking out because I told him I love him.”
Kit groans softly and hides his face gently against my chest, curling in like he wants to disappear.
Ray coughs loudly and Selina stands up so fast she nearly spills her beer. “Excuse me?!”
Lorraine laughs, warm and fond. “I knew it.”
I raise a brow at all of them. “What are you, children?”
Ray shakes his head, grinning. “No, just… never thought we’d see the day, to be honest.”
Selina scoffs and crosses her arms. “Rude. It’s adorable, and we care.”
I wave a hand. “Sit down, Jesus.”
I lean my head back against the armchair, feeling more content than I have in weeks. My hand runs slowly up and down Kit’s back in soothing strokes. I can feel him gradually relaxing against me, his body melting into mine like maybe he actually wants to be here with me.
I won’t pressure him to say it back. I won’t make him feel uncomfortable. I just hold him closer and let the quiet chatter of the room wash over us.
Kit
I’ve been curled up on Soren’s lap for about ten minutes now, his large hand slowly stroking up and down my waist in a steady, soothing rhythm.
It feels… weird, nice, but weird. I’m still reeling…
Soren loves me? No, he couldn’t have actually said that.
I must have imagined it in the heat of everything. My brain is a mess.
Lorraine catches my eye from across the room and tilts her head gently. “Would you like a drink, dear?”
As she asks, she makes a small motion with her hand, clearly inviting me to come with her.
I smile softly and answer quietly, “Sure.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Soren’s eyes open, but I stand up anyway, careful not to move too fast. His hand instantly catches the waistband of the oversized sweatpants I’m wearing, stopping me from stepping away.
“Where are you going?”
I blush instantly, heat flooding my face. I still don’t know how to act around this version of Soren… the one who’s soft and attentive and says things like “I love you.”
I clear my throat and point toward Lorraine, who’s now watching us with an amused grin, an empty cup in one hand and the other planted on her hip. “I’m just going to get a drink,” I mumble.
Soren glances at Lorraine, then back at me, and lets out a low grunt. After a second, he releases my waistband.
I follow Lorraine out of the living room, too embarrassed to meet anyone’s eyes on the way. The second we’re in the hallway I let out a quiet sigh of relief, grateful for even a small bit of space.
Lorraine chuckles softly as we walk toward the kitchen. “I thought you might like a little breathing room and the company of a nosy old lady.”
I laugh, but it pulls at the stitches and sends a sharp sting through my face. I immediately drop my head, trying to hide the wince.
When we enter the kitchen, Lorraine pats one of the stools at the island. “Sit.”
I do, as she turns to fill the kettle and says over her shoulder, “You’re doing incredibly well, you know.”
I watch her move around the kitchen. “What do you mean?”
She leans against the counter, eyes kind. “For one, you must have an impressive pain tolerance. I think I would have vomited or passed out many times by now.”
She says it with a gentle laugh.
I nod, keeping my smile small so I don’t pull the stitches again. “Ah… well, I can thank the morphine for that.”
She smiles, but her expression turns a little more serious. “But you didn’t have morphine when you were on the…” She covers her mouth quickly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
She can’t finish the sentence. I can see the guilt flash across her face for bringing up the boat.
“It’s okay, Lorraine,” I say quietly. “No, I didn’t… but I did pass out, and vomit, and cried like a baby.”
I let out a sad little laugh at the memory… the pain, the rocking boat, Finn’s psychotic grin inches from my face.
Lorraine rounds the island and wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a gentle side hug. “Oh, sweetheart… I’m so sorry.”
I shake my head and force a small smile. “No need to be.”
Just then, two women in their early thirties walk into the kitchen. They stop when they see me sitting with Lorraine.
Lorraine smiles brightly. “I don’t think you’ve ever properly been introduced.”
One of them waves it off kindly. “It’s no bother, Lorraine. We know who Christopher is.”
I look down for a beat, feeling a pang of guilt that I don’t know their names in return. How could I? For two years Soren made sure I barely interacted with anyone.
Lorraine gestures between us. “Kit, this is Summer and Scarlet.”
I offer a soft smile. “Hi.”
They must sense my hesitation because Summer speaks to me without missing a beat. “Are you any good at word puzzles?”
I blink. “Uh… what?”