Page 176 of Under an Endless Moon

“Thank fuck, brother.”

“You made it out.”

Raven edged through the kitchen to the entryway so she could peer out.

All the guys were giving Otto hugs and clapping him on the back, welcoming him home.

Once they all finally pulled away, it left Otto standing in the middle of the room. In an instant, that blue gaze was on her. A sea where she could drown.

So viciously tall and wide where he stood like a fortress.

A pillar of strength and volatility.

Her being trembled. Shivered and shook at the impact of seeing him after all this time. That feeling swept through her like a firestorm, an awareness that flamed to life, scorching her in the truth of what she’dfelt for so long.

He slowly came her way, his big boots thudding on the floor as he came.

Then he wrapped the strength of his arms around her and tugged her close.

She breathed out in release as she hugged him back, his scent all around her.

Patchouli and warm apple pie.

Home.

“I missed you so fuckin’ much,” he murmured.

“I missed you, too. So much. So much,” she whispered back.

Raven flailed before jerking upright to the darkness of her room. She might have been jolted awake, but the nightmare still tormented her mind.

A ravaging that thundered through her veins and pounded through her spirit.

The fear that held her hostage.

Shackles and chains.

The door creaked open, and a small gasp ripped from her, then it was relief that slammed her when she realized he was there.

Otto was there.

An imposing shadow that moved through her room.

In it, she’d never felt so safe.

He came to the side of her bed. “Another bad dream?”

She nodded against the pillow, and he started to slide down the wall to the floor the way he always had.

Only Raven got brave. She reached out and grabbed his hand, and she scooted into the middle of her mattress to make him room.

Otto hesitated, the energy he was emitting so thick she could taste it.

“What are you doin’, Raven?”

“Lay with me.” She didn’t care that it sounded like she was begging.

He warred with his reservations before he roughed a hand overthe top of his head and carefully settled himself on her bed, though he was rigid, trying to keep a foot of space between them.

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