Max steps closer to him, linking her fingers through his. It’s a gesture of support and solidarity, and my gaze flicks from her to Aaron and back as he continues.
“That was when I started to question things a bit, I guess. And when Max asked me why I was friends with them, it hit me like a punch in the chest. Why was I? I couldn’t come up with a good answer to that. The shit Cliff did?” He grimaces. “The shit his father did? I can’t believe I ever associated with someone so fucking depraved.”
“I believe him,” Max adds softly. She catches my gaze, her hazel eyes shining with sincerity. “We talked a lot after he helped the cops gather evidence against Cliff. And the thing is, we may have had a bit of a rough start, and neither of us has been perfect, but I believe him. I hope you guys can see him as something other than just a Saint too.”
A small smile pulls at my lips. I know she’s thinking of me and the Sinners, and how inauspicious our beginnings were. There was a point in time where if someone had told me I would end up declaring my love for all three of these men, I would’ve told them they were bat shit crazy.
But here I am, in love with three Sinners.
And here Max is, on her way to falling for one ex-Saint.
I hope like hell she’ll end up as happy as I am.
28
“Are you okay? Watch your step.”
“Sparrow.” Gray stops walking long enough to level me with a deadpan look. “I’m fine.”
I grimace. I’ve never really been the hovering type, but it turns out it’s not that easy to get over almost losing one of the men you love. Gray’s recovery has been mostly smooth, and the doctors felt good enough about his progress to release him from the hospital today. But I can’t stop myself from worrying that every little movement or strain might re-injure him somehow or set his healing back.
“Sorry, sorry. I know.”
I hold up my hands and step back, allowing him to walk across the threshold and into our house without me watching him like some kind of mother hen.
Declan and Elias share a look and chuckle as they step inside after him. When I follow the two of them into the foyer, Gray catches me around the waist, pulling me toward him.
Worry flares inside me again—is he going to pop his stitches? Is he straining himself?—but it fades away quickly as he presses his lips to mine in a possessive kiss. When we break apart, he rests his forehead against mine.
“Don’t ever be sorry. I like that you care,” he murmurs. “I like it a whole hell of a lot. But it’s okay. I’m okay.”
I smile, closing my eyes for a moment and inhaling his spicy, addictive scent. “I know. I’m glad you’re home.”
His chuckle rumbles in his chest. “Me fucking too. I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed again.”
“Speaking of bed.” I pop my eyes open and press one more quick kiss to his lips before pulling my head back. “The doc said you should stay off your feet as much as possible for the next several days. So let’s get you into bed now.”
“I like the sound of that.” He lifts one eyebrow as he slides his hands down over my waist to grope my ass shamelessly, and I bat his hands away even as my skin heats up.
“Not on your life, buddy. The doctor also said you need rest. And whatever you’re thinking of, I’m pretty sure it’s the exact opposite of resting.”
“I dunno.” He gives me a lopsided grin. “There are a few scenarios I can think of where I’m flat on my back the entire time.”
He leans in again, pressing a kiss to my neck this time, just below my ear. I never knew what an erogenous zone that is, but it’s like I can feel the pressure of his lips directly on my clit. I shiver, hoping he hasn’t noticed my body’s reaction t
o his touch.
But, of course, no such luck.
He growls and kisses my neck again, sucking on my skin in a way that makes my core clench.
When he steps back, his gaze slides to Declan and Elias before shifting back to me. There’s something both sweet and devastatingly sexy in his voice as he says, “Come on, Sparrow. I just got home. We’re all together, all still here. I think that calls for a celebration.”
My pulse seems to skyrocket. The look he shared with the two other men was casual, but it’s impossible for me to miss the meaning in it.
We’re all still together.
We should celebrate.