Page 66 of Devoted

He didn’t respond. His hand slipped from mine, and I noticed his fingers jumping repetitively off each other. He twitched his head from side to side, almost like he was trying to shake water out of his ears.

I cupped his face, forcing his eyes to meet mine. “I’m here, baby. Tell me what to do.”

He focused on me and cleared his throat. It took him a couple of attempts, but finally he was able to get the words out. “Can you…can you check the glass? If there’s even a fragment in there, I’ll have to scrub the whole place and throw away my clothes. Yours too, if you’ll let me.”

“Of course.” I led him to the sofa, encouraging him to sit down. I had to stop myself from planting a kiss on his forehead.

“Wait.” He grabbed my forearm. “What if you step on glass?”

“I’ll be really careful,” I promised him. “I’ll watch where I’m going.”

“I can’t let you do it,” Sam said, misery painted over his face. “I’ve asked you to go in there, so it’ll be my fault if you get hurt. I need to do it myself.”

I tried to sort through to find the logic. “So it’s okay for you to get hurt, but not me?”

“Yep.”

“Nope.” There was no way that was happening. I put my hand on his shoulder, gently but firmly holding him in place. “You didn’t ask me, I’ve decided that’s what I want to do. In fact, I’m gasping for a cup of tea, so I’m going to go in the kitchen and make one. Okay?”

Sam’s lips twitched. “I know you’re humouring me.”

“Is it helping?” He grunted, which I took as a yes. “Great. How do you take your tea?”

“Zeke, it’s past nine p.m. and we’re in our mid-thirties.”

Technically I hadn’t been in my mid-thirties in averylong time. “And?”

“And if I have caffeine now, I won’t be able to sleep.”

I gave him a pointed look. “Are you really going to be able to sleep tonight anyway?”

“Eurgh, that’s true.” He flopped his head back on the sofa and shot me a mock glare. “I should be mad at you for knowing me so well.”

I winked at him. “You should be, but you secretly like it.”

“I do.” His eyes lingered on my chest again and I had to fight the urge to flex for him. “I like all sorts of things about you.”

Tempting as it was to flirt with him some more, I really needed to check the kitchen. Plus, tea was well known to cure all sorts of ailments.

At least, that’s what the British seem to believe.

After learning how Sam took his tea, I ventured into the kitchen. As I’d expected, the Seraphim had cleaned up all the glass and boarded up the window. There was a note pinned to it in Rami’s messy sprawl.

Double glazer booked for 10 a.m. tomorrow. Ez, check your phone.

I wondered what he’d told me that he couldn’t put in the note. When I checked, it quickly became obvious.

Rami

Property has been warded by myself, Micah, Benji and Nox. Make sure to add your own, especially over this window.

The reminder wasn’t necessary. I’d be adding my wards all over the fucking place. But it was good to know that, once again, the unit had my back. With that many wards, no one with ill intentions would be able to get within one hundred feet of Sam’s house.

Even so, the thought of him staying here…it didn’t sit well with me. Not that I’d be leaving him alone. His roof would become my home whenever he expected me to leave.

I couldn’t help but wish I could persuade him to come and stay at the compound. Ideally forever, but I wouldn’t rush him. I knew we were meant to be together, but Sam didn’t.

He needed to reach that conclusion on his own.

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