Page 215 of Burning Daylight
“Okay,” Alex says. “This was a cute moment and all, but if they start dry humping in front of me, I’m leaving.”
Felicity throws a pillow at him. “You’d cry if they broke up. Don’t pretend.”
“I’d cry,” Lance pipes in.
Everyone turns to look at him, and my mouth pops open.
He shrugs, eyes still on Roman and me. “What? I can be emotional.”
“Wow. Vulnerability? Inthishouse?” Felicity jokes.
Lance smirks. “Don’t get used to it.”
“I think it’s sweet,” I say. “I need the vulnerability, especially since our parents aren’t here, apparently.” My voice pitches up. “Wherearethey?”
Felicity snorts and cuts a look to Paxton. “This guy wouldn’t let them come in with us.”
Paxton shrugs. “I promised you I wouldn’t let them fuck with you anymore, and I meant it.”
I choke on my gratitude, pressing my lips together and giving a sharp nod. If I try to talk, I think I’ll cry.
I’m not sure what the future holds, but I’m positive I’m done with the two people who barely raised me and forgot that love should lead above all.
Lance straightens and my heart sinks as he gets ready to leave. “I’ve gotta go.”
“And do what?” Paxton quirks a brow.
Lance lifts a shoulder. “There’s some people I have to look out for.”
Felicity says something smart back, but I tune them out, watching Lance as he heads for the door. There’s something heavy in the way he carries himself, and I have more questions for him that I’m dying to get the answers to.
“Lance,” I call out.
He stops, turning just enough to meet my eyes.
“Thank you,” I say. “For everything. For being the one who got there.”
His jaw works like he’s trying to find the right words. But in the end, all he does is nod.
Roman kicks everyone else out seconds later, and then he saunters to me with a wicked grin, and I exhale, reaching for him as he climbs into the bed and draws me into his arms.
His thumb brushes along my cheekbone, eyes tracing me with reverence.
“I’ll paint you in the sky, Little Rose,” he promises.
“Then I’ll write you in the stars, Trouble,” I whisper back. “That way we’ll always be together.”
He grins, a playful look in his eye. “That’sexactlywhat a stalker would say.”
I roll my eyes.
“You love me.”
“I do,” I admit.
And I kiss him to prove it.
They weren’t perfect. They were mess, and complication, and arguments that ended with apologies whispered between silk-laden sheets.
