Page 126 of The Storm Boys Series Collection

We stood there, his arm around me, his chin on my shoulder, sipping our beers, and we watched as the intracloud light show lit up the skies above, as the wind whipped around us, the smell of rain filled the air. But when some negative charge bolts hit the ocean closer to us, he pulled me inside. “I’m not risking you today, sorry,” he said.

A furious downpour of rain battered the balcony the second he closed the door behind us. “Ooh, that was close,” he said with a laugh.

But then his eyes cut to the television behind me. “Look, it’s you!”

I turned, and sure enough, there I was on some daily news update show, where the hosts talked about daily current affairs. I understood the cyclone was an important news update, and I was interested to hear what they said after my segment.

Did they take me seriously?

Had people started evacuation plans? Were they heading south already?

I sure hoped so. I wanted them to talk about it. I wanted them to push the importance of listening to emergency services and to evacuate if possible.

I took a swig of my beer and waited to see what they discussed.

“All seriousness aside, and we will get to the crux of the report in a moment,” one host said. “How blue are his eyes?”

“I know!” the other host said, almost coming out of her seat. “Like sooo blue.”

“Freakishly blue.”

Jesus fucking Christ.

My heart sank, and shame washed over me.

Tully turned the TV off, tossing the remote onto the couch and pulling me against the kitchen counter. He took my beer and sat them both on the sink, then cupped his hands to my face, his nose touching mine.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “It’s just a stupid talk show. Don’t pay any attention to them. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”

“I’ve heard it all my life,” I mumbled. “I’m used to it. I should get contacts. Brown, like yours.”

“No, baby,” he whispered. “I love your eyes. They’re beautiful, and they’re part of you. People can fuck right off. You don’t change a single thing, ’kay?”

I couldn’t look at him. “I’ll never be taken seriously. Not ever. I deliberately didn’t give my full name, because you know what comes next.” I pressed my forehead to his chest, to his neck. “I’m sure all the guys at my old job think it’s hilarious.”

Tully wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight, so tight it was a little hard to breathe.

It felt so good.

“Fuck them,” he said. “Fuck all of them. When they come knockin’ next time for information or updates, tell them to fuck off.”

“I already stopped taking calls,” I mumbled into his neck. “I just want to do my job.”

He somehow held me tighter, and we stayed like that in his kitchen for a long while, just holding each other in the dark while the storm raged on outside. Rain pelted the windows, lightning strobed the room, flashes of light in the dark.

So very fitting.

He kept our hips flush but pulled back so he could see my face. He traced his finger down my cheekbone, then thumbed my bottom lip. “You’re perfect,” he whispered before he kissed me.

Soft and deep. God, the way he kissed me... perfect, plump lips and a tangle of tongues, he showed me what perhaps he thought his words couldn’t convey.

He kissed me like maybe he loved me.

Then taking my hand, he took me to bed.

CHAPTER FIVE

TULLY

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