Page 109 of Ronan

He stares at the green hue of the sunlight as it shines through the leaves curtaining the windows, and for the first time, there’s peace in his eyes. We gather a blanket and some food for him, then leave him and Boomerang to settle in for the night.

Cameron collects a change of clothes and a couple of blankets for us as well. I grab snacks and a few water bottles to tide us over until tomorrow, and we head to our house.

Our home.

The hinges groan in protest as he pushes open the door. “It’s so weird being back here.” His gaze sweeps over the dusty furniture and cobwebs that drape in the corners of the silent, still room. In the kitchen, a pot sits on the stove with a stack of glass jars beside it.

“Canning, then,” he mumbles, with a small, sad curl of his lips.

My chest aches.

Has a monster ever died from a broken heart? The emotional whiplash of the day has me reeling, and I’m not sure mine can take much more.

“You’re okay staying here?”

“Yeah,” he says, turning to me with a smile. “It’s strange… after all this time, it’s familiar. It’s still home.” He leads me towards the hallway, giving me a tour even though we’ve already walked through the house.

It makes him happy, so I give him my full attention.

“Bathroom is here, which will be better once we get the well working. My bedroom was the smaller one, but we’ll take the bigger.” We step inside, the faint sunlight bright enough for him to stare at the large bed and wooden dresser with a fond smile.

Cameron slides open a drawer, letting his fingers run over the stack of clothing. “I bet some of my mom’s stuff will fit Nyx.” He closes the drawer and turns to the bed. “Come on, let’s get these dusty old sheets off and wash away the day.”

Chapter 34

Cameron

A smile spreads across my face as I squeeze Ronan’s hand, leading him towards the babble of rushing water. “The creek gets deep in the middle, and during the summer we swam out here almost every day. Even this late in the evening, the water should be warm.”

We’re working against the clock, trying to use the last bit of daylight to clean ourselves before it’s too dark. I sit our towels on the rocks and strip my sweaty shirt off before pushing my shorts to the ground. Ronan does the same, the dim sunlight bouncing off every bulge in his naked body.

The gods have given him his own personal spotlight.

His cock hangs heavy as he turns and walks towards me, shifting with his steps. Blood rushes between my legs in an instant, and Ronan’s smirk grows as he gazes down, his eyes moving seductively up myframe.

“Don’t get cocky,” I threaten as he chuckles, snatching me around the waist and capturing my lips in a slow, patient kiss.

“We made it.” Voice low and full of emotion, he nips my lips with his fangs before slipping his tongue into my mouth and rolling it with mine. He takes his time, sliding in and out, dipping further and tasting every inch before giving my tongue a gentle suck. His lips curve against mine, and my worries vanish with that smile.

“Come on,” I rasp as his hands wrap around my back, cupping my ass and digging his fingers into the muscles. “Let’s get in the water.”

“Just waiting for you.” He rocks me forward, dragging my cock against his thigh. I groan as I separate myself from him, realizing that we need to get clean before things go any further. We spent the past two days in the car, after all, and slept in a literal barn last night.

The water is lukewarm against my foot as I wade in—cool enough to offer relief from the heat without being too chilly. Once we’re knee-deep, I step lightly, toeing along the sandy bottom as I search for the drop-off.

We both dive under, and I come up first, treading water as I wait for Ronan. Droplets cascade over his face as he breaks through the surface, dewy pearls stuck to his thick lashes. A giant, carefree grin forms on his mouth, tiny fangs glinting in the sun. His long hair clings to his skin, the ends floating in an inky pool around his shoulders.

He splashes me and tosses his head back in a booming laugh when I chase after him, slinging water. It’s playful, and relaxed, and everything I never expected to get from this life. Everything I never thought I deserved. Theorange in the sky fades to a cobalt blue as the sun sets, and Ronan drags me to the edge.

“Until we figure out what roams in this forest, it’s best we stay inside during the dark hours.” He lathers himself up before handing the soap to me. Lavender and pine mix with the earthy scent of the water, moss, and soil, and I take a deep breath.

Home.

It smells like home.

“Leave the clothes,” I say as he reaches for them. “Something tells me we’ll be doing a lot of scrubbing out here tomorrow.” He wraps his towel around his waist, the terrycloth barely hanging on with its loose knot, and I can’t stop staring at the bulge that presses against the fabric.

We make it to the house and wind through the hallway, closing ourselves into the bedroom and dropping onto the blanket-covered mattress. Ronan rolls onto his side and skims a feather-light fingertip across my chest, swirling in a circle around my navel.

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