Page 131 of Seeking Two Lovers

“I’ve fallen hard and fast too, Blaine,” she admitted. “For both of you—so damn fast it scares the shit out of me—and you know why.”

“Understandable.” I lifted our clasped hands and kissed the back of hers. “The last thing either of us wants is to hurt you. If I had it my way, you’d be in our bed every night from here on out for the rest of our lives.”

Lily released a shuddered sigh, and I exited the highway, wondering if she felt the same or if that darkness thanks to her old fiancé would make her draw away from us out of self-preservation.

“Please don’t leave me,” I whispered the thought as it flitted through my mind.

“Never,” Lily vowed, the words fixing like a brand on my heart.

“There’s a lot of shit from my past that I haven’t told you about,” I said, recognizing that if I wanted to move forward with her, she needed to hear everything, just like Grey had.

“You don’t have to tell me anything that will bring that haunted look back to your eyes,” she murmured, squeezing my hand.

“You see the darkness inside me, huh?”

“A bit, but I don’t want you dragging it to the surface right now.”

I glanced over to find a soft smile that soothed the darkness back down.

Do it.

My focus on the road, I took a deep breath and slowly let it leak out. “Quell abused me in every way imaginable.”

Lily didn’t speak right away, and the fear she might find me repulsive started to twist my guts up tight.

“I’m sorry,” she finally whispered, tears in her voice.

My eyes stung.

She lifted our clasped hands and kissed the back of mine. “I’m here and not going anywhere for as long as you’ll have me.”

Forever, I almost blurted but bit my tongue.

“You and Grey are the only two who know,” I whispered, surprised by how much relief swept through me over sharing a few little words.

“Thank you for trusting me, Blaine.”

“Always.” I could at least say that.

“So do you think we have everything Sarah will need?”

I swallowed hard at Lily’s sensitivity in not pushing for details and changing the topic to things ahead rather than behind us.

Signs for the airport led us off the main road, and my focus slipped fully back to my sister at Lily’s request. Sweet anticipation rose when I’d expected anxiety over how much shit would stir up in my brain from finally seeing her after nine years apart.

Ten minutes later, I still clutched Lily’s hand as we walked toward the arrivals area which flooded with people and made my skin itch. We sat on plastic seats and huddled close, waiting and watching the board for Sarah’s flight to land.

Everything had been prepared at home for my sister. After moving my clothing and the few personal items I had into Grey’s room on the first floor, I had stripped down my bed and washed all the linens. I even wiped down the bathroom across the hall, setting out fresh towels for Sarah’s use while Lily and Haley had gone shopping.

My coffee girl had laundered some of the new clothing Grey had paid for, and after everything sat in drawers, atop the dresser, and ready for use, I’d been exhausted.

Emotional weariness weighed heavy on my shoulders, and I bent beneath its weight.

Same with the feelings of thankfulness and gratefulness to both Grey and Lily. They had made the day easier. Brighter.

But it had been a trial regardless of their support—and a few hours lay ahead before I could crash and pass out.

I rubbed my thumb over the back of Lily’s hand. She rested her head against my arm, and we sat in comfortable silence while my mind continued to race over how I would react at seeing Sarah. How she might appear after the beating Quell had “gifted” her with.

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