Page 69 of Thawed Gladiator Thrax

“A secret, hmm?” Thrax’s expression brightens. “Perhaps good news to balance the bad?”

I don’t answer, but wonder if the news is personal.

We’re quiet for a moment. Are we both worrying about Victor? Thrax answers my unspoken question when he says, “I don’t need a visit from Fortuna to know we’ll find Victor,” he adds with quiet conviction. “All my brothers will be here with us soon.Allof them.”

As night falls, Thrax and I settle onto the porch swing,Dominuscurled at our feet. The chorus of crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl are all the background music we need for our quiet conversation.

“What do you think Laura and Varro’s other news will be?” I ask, tracing lazy patterns on Thrax’s palm.

He hums thoughtfully. “Maybe the scientists have quit demanding scrapings from our skin? Or the different governments trying to claim ownership of us have, how do you say it? Fucked off?”

“Hmm.” I snuggle closer, loving the feel of Thrax’s sturdy chest under my cheek. “That will be more of a miracle than you guys surviving two thousand years under the sea.”

Thrax presses a kiss to my temple. “Whatever comes next, we’ll handle it.” He nuzzles another kiss to the top of my head. “It’s still hard to believe sometimes. That I have you—have all of this.”

I understand what he means. Our life here in Missouri, the family we’re building, the future stretching out before us; it all sometimes seems like a dream. A beautiful, impossible dream we never saw coming during our meeting in that Swiss hospital when the big, silent gladiator couldn’t tear his gaze from the sky.

“You know,” I say, a mischievous glint in my eye, “we haven’t christened every room in the house yet. And since Laura and Varro will be taking it over soon…”

Thrax’s low chuckle rumbles through me. “Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, my love?”

In response, I stand, pulling him up with me. “Race you to the kitchen,” I tease, already darting toward the door.

His playful growl follows me as I run, giggling, through the house. When he catches me (as I knew he would), his kiss is tender despite the passion simmering beneath the surface. We haven’t even been together for half a year. Sometimes all he has to do is gaze at me with that predatory look and I get instantly wet at just the thought of his hands grazing my skin.

Although exciting, having him take me on the kitchen island isn’t as erotic as I’d imagined. The hard wood is unpleasant, and a nagging thought at the back of my mind scolds me that it’s incredibly unsanitary.

Still, I think my sexy gladiator could make me come a couple of times even if I were lying on a bed of nails.

“What are you thinking?” Thrax murmurs afterward, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my belly.

I prop myself up on both elbows, gazing up at him. “Just… everything. How far we’ve come, how much we have to look forward to.”

His smile is soft, his eyes filled with a love that still takes my breath away. “We have a lifetime ahead of us,” he says. “A lifetime to build this home, to welcome our brothers, to love each other.”

The enormity of it all—the love, the responsibility, the sheer impossibility of our situation—washes over me. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel… ready. Ready to face whatever challenges come our way, ready to build this beautiful future together.

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