Page 79 of Savage Queen (Blood Empire 3)

I stand up and look at Sam. “When we were locked up together, we talked about everything we wish we could have had as a child.” I sniff, wiping my nose with the back of my hand. “One thing I always wanted was to build a blanket fort and never come out. To watch movies and eat snacks and... just forget about the world.”

I huff out a laugh as I look into the eyes of the woman who saved my soul from being lost to the madness of the world we had to endure. I grab her hand and squeeze. “Sometimes, when we had really bad days while in captivity, we would take the sheets from our bunk and hang it up to cover hers because she was on the bottom one. Triver’s men would always tear it down when they came to get us the next day, but just for that small amount of time, it was an escape for us.” Tears are streaming down my eyes now. What she did for me... this, it means more than she will ever know.

“I wanted you to have a real one just like you always wanted. I’m just sorry it took me so long to do it. Forgive me for being so blind?” She gives me a smile, her eyes glassy.

Launching myself at her, I bury my face into her chest and let out a little sob. “I love you so fucking much, Harlow,” I murmur.

Her arms wrap around me in a tight embrace. “I love you too, E. So fucking much. Never forget it.”

“I won't.”

“And, I’d have to say, this reaction is better than I could’ve expected,” she says, her hand sliding into my hair as she pushes my face down into her boobs.

I burst out into giggles, kissing each one before pulling back and giving her a goofy smile.

“Thank you,” I say, pulling her to me. I cup the back of her head and pull her down for a kiss. She comes willingly, her tongue slipping into my mouth. We moan as we kiss slowly for a few moments before pulling back. If Sam wasn’t here, I’d be asking her to do more than just watch a movie in that fort. But I know Sam needs this just as much as I do.

Looking at Sam, his face is bright red as he tries to avoid eye contact.

“I’d do anything for you, Evie. You want the world? Just say the word,” she says, kissing me again quickly before looking at Sam. “You too.”

“I don’t need anything but you and Axel,” he smiles shyly.

Harlow gives him a smile, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek, but he turns at the last second and captures her lips. They don’t deepen the kiss, but there's heat there.

When they pull away, Sam has this dreamy look in his eyes. He clears his throat before trying to secretly adjust himself.

The movement has me automatically looking down to the bulge in his pants. My eyes snap up to his, and I bite my lip as I try to hold back the giggle at his horrified look.

“Babe,” Harlow says. “Don’t ever feel embarrassed about how you react to Axel and me. Hell, Neo sometimes cums in his fucking pants just looking at me,” she says with a grin that tells me she loves it.

“I’ll try,” he says.

“It’s all new, I get it,” she says, kneeling down and holding open the sheet. “Get in. We're watchingThe Bad Guys,” she announces.

It’s tall enough inside that we can sit up, and I cross my legs, waiting with giddy excitement.

“Isn’t that the movie that Rosie’s been wanting to see?” Sam says as we all get comfortable.

“Shhh,” Harlow says, lifting her finger to her lips. “She can watch it later. I wanted to watch it without being interrupted every five seconds,” she laughs.

We talk and laugh as we get everything set up. Once the movie starts, we munch on our snacks, and I don’t think the smile leaves my face once throughout the whole night.

Halfway through the movie we're all snuggled up together, and I look over to see Harlow’s eyes fighting to stay open. Sam notices too and pulls her into his arms. She sighs, cuddling up into him. Sam starts to play with her hair as I rub her back, completely forgetting about the movie.

He watches her sleep, looking at her like she’s his whole world. “Thank you,” he whispers to me.

“For what?”

“For sharing her with me. What you two have is special, unbreakable, and I’m grateful to even have a small portion of that.”

“There's no need to thank me. You're my best friend, and you make her happy. That’s all I want for her. And for you. We all lived fucked up lives, Sam. If we can find comfort and happiness in each other, why not take it?”

He smiles and nods before looking back down at Harlow. Leaning over, he kisses her on the top of the head before going back to watching the movie. I cuddle into her back and do the same.

Our lives will never be normal, I don’t think it’s possible, but moments like these make all the crazy okay. It’s the little things in life that count the most. And as long as all of them involve this woman right here, I’ll forever be in heaven.

Harlow

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