Page 38 of Frank's Felon
“That’s just it. I don’t belong anywhere. Not even with Tess. She’s moved on. She no longer needs me, Frank.”
“I don’t believe that for one minute. I saw how she cried and mourned for you since she got here. But even if it were true, I need you, Delilah. I know I’m just a simple guard, but I need you.”
Was he saying he loved her? No. He was quite clear. He needed someone to love, and she was here and available. That was enough for Frank. Even if he’d never love her as she loved him, he’d be good to her, she was certain of that. After all, she had told him all her secrets, things she had never shared with anyone else, and he hadn’t fled.
“I’m confused,” she said, restraining herself from reaching out to him. Touching him, putting her hand on him, would calm her, but she didn’t dare, not until they’d settled this between them.
“About what?”
Please don’t hate me.“I don’t know what you’re saying, or what I should do. Whether I should stay or leave, or––”
He kissed her. The kiss was scorching hot, mind blowing. Utter perfection, but distracting as hell. She didn’t need to think. Even as he cupped the back of her head and drew her tight into his embrace, a calmness settled over her. There had always been something about Frank. He embodied a peace she hadn’t known for a long time, and here he was offering to share it with her.
“One step at a time, Delilah.”
“I guess I’m not so alone anymore, huh?”
He laughed, a rare sight she truly loved. Frank quickly kissed her forehead. “You have your sister and a whole pack if you want it. And me. You just have to say yes.”
Delilah released a long-held breath and remembered the younger version of her, the woman who relied on her instincts. This felt like one of those times. There really wasn’t a risk here. If things didn’t work out, she could always leave. It’s not like they were blood-bonding.
“Yes,” she said, with a genuine smile she didn’t realize she had in her.
Frank gave her a slight nod, but those amber eyes of his were dancing. As he leaned in to kiss her, someone coughed. Delilah spun around, her fists up and ready.
Frank wrapped his hand around one of her fists and gently pushed it down. “What is it, Ethan?”
“Damien’s returned. He sent me to find you. You’re to report to his house, right away.”
“Thank you. Have you thought about what I said the other day?”
Ethan’s eyes darted to Delilah and back before the shifter nodded. “Extra training,” he said.
Frank’s face remained stoic, but he nodded. “I’ll see you at four then.”
Delilah waited for the shifter to leave. “What was that about?”
“I asked if he was willing to go through additional training or if he’d prefer another job. He’s not well suited for the border.”
“Then why not reassign him? Why waste the time training him?”
“If I reassign him, he’ll see himself as a failure because he never fully committed to his job. That will weigh him down as if I tie stones to his tail. Now he’ll be more committed, and if he fails, it will not be for lack of trying and he can walk away with his pride intact.”
Delilah fell silent as Frank clasped her hand and they began walking toward Tess and Damien’s house. Her Frank really did care about all the shifters in his pack and not just their physical safety.
As they stood on the steps to Tess’s house, Delilah reached for the door handle until Frank gently caught her hand and knocked. She was about to ask what the problem was, considering she had been entering at will since she had arrived here, but Frank’s expression was more guarded than usual.
“Enter,” boomed a deep voice from inside.
As they entered, Tess practically bounced where she stood, all smiles and bright eyes. Thinking of her sister happy like this had always brought a smile to Delilah’s face.
“You must be, Lily,” Damien said, offering a hand.
“It’s Delilah,” Frank corrected, with a definite growl surfacing.
Delilah threw Frank a sideways glance as Damien shook her hand before swinging a possessive arm around Tess’s waist.
The alpha was intense and intimidating. He reminded Delilah of the warden at her prison, except larger and better looking. Her Tessie was clearly enamored with her mate. Delilah still couldn’t believe Tess had blood-bonded, with an alpha no less! After what had happened to their dad, the last thing Delilah had expected was to see Tess blood-bond anyone.
