Page 54 of Where We Ended

Silas didn’t even give her a single glance; he just kept walking until he was directly in front of me.

Whispering in my ear, he said. “Dolemus, sed praecepta tua mihi irrumabo significant cum uxor mea hic adest, hoc modo vultus.” Sorry, but rules mean fuck to me when my wife is in here, looking like this.

My eyes fluttered shut as his hand came up to my jaw, gripping it firmly as he leaned into my space and pressed his mouth to mine.

He would have just announced to everyone that we were married, if he hadn’t whispered it. The memory of when we’d gotten married burned in my chest as more of a warning than a cherished reminder. The reality that he hadn’t even asked me. Not technically…it was me who pushed to be bound to him.

Just like always.

I tried to push those memories away as his mouth moved over mine, as his tongue pried my lips open and he claimed me in ways I hadn’t been touched in years.

Finally breaking the kiss, his forehead came to mine, his whisper coasting across my lips.

“I was hoping you’d be in bed this morning.”

My hands came up, twining through his hair, old places where I’d etched every part of Silas inside my heart ached at the feel of him. “I’m a baker, babe. I’m up before the sun.”

He played with the straps of my apron, and whispered. “You are the sun.”

Just like that, I felt sixteen again, obsessed and head over heels for my broody foster brother.

A smile lifted my lips, as I thought up something more to say, but Killian interjected by yelling across the kitchen from his spot at the bar.

“We ever going to get to hear what happened with Fable? Can you guys press pause and clue us in?”

Silas let out a small sigh and then whispered in my ear, “Is this what having friends is like?”

I smiled and pulled his hand in mine.

“Yes, baby. This is what having friends is like, now let’s go have breakfast with them.”

We ate breakfast without anyone throwing a punch or drawing a gun, which, with Silas, I considered a big win. He didn’t have friends, or anyone in the club that was fond of him in any capacity, so I was unsure how everyone was going to receive him, but it went well.

Once we were finished, Killian was talking to Silas about something when Laura pulled my hand, dragging me toward an empty corner of the kitchen.

Her blonde hair was down, curled, and her property patch, indicating she belonged with Killian, was over her hoodie.

“Nat, are you okay?” Her eyes softened and even watered a little.

I flicked a quick glance across the room, seeing Silas watching us with a quizzical look on his face.

“I’m okay…” I said, pushing back the memory of last night’s breakdown.

Laura’s lips turned down into a frown.

“Killian is going to bring up what happened, and I refuse to let him do that if you’re not ready to talk about it. Fuck their plans and what they want to know. They can wait until you’re ready.”

I watched as her expression became so protective and it just made something in my soul ache. Instead of answering her, I stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.

“I’m not okay yet. But I will be and stopping that asshole will be a step in that direction.”

She squeezed me back. “If at any moment you need to stop, just say the word, okay?”

We separated, both of us swiping at our eyes, and then she surprised me by saying, “Pen forced Silas to hold Connor.”

My eyes rounded. “Oh my god.”

She laughed into her palm. “It was hilarious but so cute.”

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