Page 85 of BounBound By Scars

“I…” she tried again. “We could have had this the whole time.”

She ended on a wail before adding. “I was so fucking sex-deprived!”

I sagged with relief.

Wait…

Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh. Don’t—

I failed.

“We haven’t had sex yet, though.” I said unhelpfully as I tried to mask my laugh behind a cough.

She slapped my chest. Hard.

“Moron.” She mumbled and sniffled before nestling closer to me. Her face was fully buried in my neck.

A chuckle rumbled in my chest involuntarily.

Another slap.

I held her tighter this time.

TWENTY-ONE

Kabir

That night she was curled against me like she belonged there.

Not in some poetic, meant-to-be way. I meant physically. Like her body had always known how to fit against mine. Her leg was tangled with mine, arm slung over my chest, her face buried under my jaw. It was the most peaceful l’d ever felt, and we hadn’t even had sex.

Didn’t need to. That could wait.

I’d waited years already.

Earlier, when I’d gone back to the Command Center after our explosive session, Zane had been waiting for me. Laptop open, smug smile in place.

“You’ve got a little…” he had gestured vaguely at his own lip, like I missed some remnants of Amelia on me.

I didn’t even blink. “She wears a sheer gloss. Has for years.”

He’d laughed, but I’d already tuned out. My body was at work, but my mind was still with her.

After weeks without her—without us—I couldn’t not be with her now that the wall between us had finally crumbled. But I forced myself to stay focused.

We had work to do. Zane, Delara, and Ronan were prepping a VR sim for the upcoming White House mission. Amelia had wanted to watch but I wasn’t sure if she participated. I hoped not. Not because I didn’t trust her, but because wewere benched. Alpha Team—formerly Squad Six—was officially grounded at the Blackthorn compound. No missions. No field work. Definitely no D.C.

Still, she’d looked so excited when Zane indulged her, I hadn’t stopped it.

When I finally wrapped up for the day, I paused outside her room—not sure if I’d see her again tonight.

But when I opened the door tomyroom, there she was.

Sitting on my floor, legs crossed, eyes lit up as she played with the deadly machine I’d built for her. The look on her face made something deep in my chest squeeze tight.

She kept calling the drone her bouquet. I didn’t get the reference, but I didn’t care. Because she looked at that drone the way I’d always wanted her to look at me—like it meant something. Like it was hers.

LikeIwas hers.

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