Page 43 of The Heart

“Now, as soon as you get out of those cuffs, you can start making it up to me. Key’s on the kitchen counter. Oh, and watch out for the string.” She smiles, walking over to me.

I raise my arm, and she nestles into my side. I turn on the television and tip the bag of chips toward her. She grabs a handful, the two of us crunching, ignoring the two men handcuffed on the floor.

I can feel them glaring at us in disbelief.

We don’t look at them.

We’re busy watching our show.

Okay, that’s a lie, I have no idea what’s on the screen as they work to get themselves out of the little predicament we left them in.

It’s so fucking funny that it takes Leena and I all our effort to not burst out laughing again.

Leena eventually relaxes under my arm, and I’m suddenly finding it… difficult being this close to her. I should be used to it, considering how many times we’ve sat together like this… but something’s changed.

I think about her smile, about how good it feels to hear her laugh.

It’s the best sound in the fucking world.

I glance down at her, my own smile only growing wider as I study hers. I can’t help myself.

I’m aware of every inch where she’s touching me. It feels like fucking fire against my skin, a burning heat that I never want to go away. It’s more than just her touch, her smile, her laughter.

The fact that I’m clearly attracted to her.

It’s everything about her.

This amazing woman, who’s become my best friend, who’s been through hell and still finds joy in building blanket forts, just feels so important to me now. Like she’s supposed to be in my life.

A wave of sorrow suddenly washes over me as I think about that.

I look between her and my two best friends, think about how much they love her. How much they’ve changed since bringing her home. How happy they all are.

At this moment, I finally understand my feelings for her. And at the same time, I realize the heart-wrenching truth.

She will never be mine.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LEENA

Istep out of the shower, then scrunch my wet hair before pulling on one of Sebastian’s shirts. It’s been nearly a week since we got back from the op, and it still feels good to be home.

Even though we’ve been working tirelessly at trying to figure out who attacked us on the way home, we still keep coming up empty-handed.

When I open the door, I’m immediately greeted by the smell coming from the kitchen. I can tell right away that Luke is the one cooking, because, well… it isn’t burnt.

I step into the large kitchen, finding Sebastian sitting on the island, a beer in hand, and picking the cheese out of a little bowl sitting on the counter next to him.

“Would you stop that!” Luke notices, slapping his hand away with a smirk before turning back to the stove. I chuckle, alerting them to my presence.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Sebastian says as I make my way to stand between his legs.

“Where’s Colton?” I ask, because he hasn’t exactlyleftyet since we’ve been back home from the op, so I’m surprised not to see him.

“Probably out with Jace,” he says, tipping my chin up for a kiss.

A kiss that quickly turns into more than the peck I was going for.

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