Man, he loved his job.
Chapter 9
DEX COULDN’T wait for this day to be over.
His head was about ready to explode. After he’d managed to get a hold of himself inside Cael and Rosa’s office, he was ready to go back to work, feeling more like himself than he had in a while. It hadn’t lasted long, what with him being able to feel Sloane on him. He’d wanted desperately to talk to Sloane, but he reminded himself of his promise. Dex was shit at being patient, but he’d have to learn.
Tony had already been aware of Dylan Reynolds’s suicide. He’d been informed the moment Dylan had been discovered. Recon was chasing up information regarding the inconclusive test scores, and Tony was making a trip down to the hospital himself. His dad was not happy, and Dex felt for the poor bastard who had the nerve to try and give Tony the runaround.
It had been a long day, and not even his nice extended shower in the locker room at work had helped. At least he was home. Maybe after he stopped feeling so damned sorry for himself, he’d pick up the phone and call Sloane or text him to let him know he was sorry and that Sloane should take all the time he needed. The moment Dex stepped into the house and heard the soft eighties ballad floating out from the living room, he froze. Sloane was home.
I’m your home.
Sloane was his home. Which was why it tore his heart out every time Sloane walked away from him, and after being marked, there were moments when it felt like that was physically happening. Aside from feeling really shitty, it was also pretty terrifying. He hated not knowing what was going on with his body.
Dex had no idea how much things would change for them after he was marked, but he didn’t regret it. Not for a second. Sloane wasn’t the only one who felt things deeper. Wasn’t there a way Sloane could have time to himself without Dex feeling like his world was falling apart? Last night, sleeping—or attempting to sleep—alone in their bed had been excruciating. His body had hurt almost as much as his heart.
Dex stepped into the dimly lit living room, the numerous lit candles unexpected.
“Hey.”
The sound of Sloane’s soft husky voice sent Dex’s pulse racing, and a wave of intense need washed over Dex. Sloane stood at the bottom of the stairs in faded dark jeans and a white long-sleeved T-shirt that hugged his muscular chest and arms. His feet were bare, and in his hand he held a rose. His hair was wet, so
he’d just gotten out of the shower. Dex could smell the shower gel from where he stood. God, he smelled so good.
Sloane made his way over and held out the rose. “I know it doesn’t make up for what I did, but I’m going to spend however long it takes to show you how sorry I am.”
Dex looked from the rose to Sloane’s face, taken aback by what he saw in Sloane’s amber eyes. Sloane had never look so scared; it almost mirrored Dex’s own fears.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot,” Dex assured him. His insides were in turmoil. A mixture of violent heat and desire. Yet at the same time, he wanted to comfort Sloane, hold him, and make love to him.
“I am. Why else would I do something so stupid?” Sloane cupped Dex’s face, his amber eyes filled with remorse. “I’ve waited my whole life for this. For someone to love me the way you do. For a home. It’s like every time we get settled, I can’t stop myself from messing up. The last thing I want is to drive you away.” Sloane stroked Dex’s cheek with his thumb, his warm breath on Dex’s face, his words quiet. “You are so beautiful. You’re the most amazing thing to happen to me. You always believe in me. Please don’t let that ever change. I can’t keep walking away. I can’t risk you one day not loving me. Not being here. That would kill me. Don’t leave me, Dex. Ever. I… I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Dex slipped his arms around Sloane’s waist and smiled up at him. “That’s never going to happen. Not while I can help it.” Before Sloane, Dex would have never made promises of forever, and maybe they didn’t have forever—life was unpredictable that way—but as long as Dex had a say in it, he’d be at Sloane’s side.
“Promise?”
“I promise. I know when you walk away, it’s just you needing space. I told you I’d understand, and the first time you take me up on my promise, I back out. I’m sorry. I’ll try harder to give you your space when you need it, no matter where it is or how long you need.”
“That’s the thing. I thought it’s what I needed, but I was wrong.”
“Sloane….”
Dex had never heard Sloane talk like this. He had no idea Sloane was beating himself up this badly. Sloane took Dex’s hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss.
“I love you. I love how you drive me crazy, how you make me laugh, the way you touch me, kiss me, the way you make me a better person.”
“We drive each other crazy in good ways and not so good, but what I feel for you”—Dex looked down at his arm, scarred by Sloane’s claws—“will never change. What I said about not being here one day when you got back, I said out of anger.” He looked up at Sloane with a smile, his heart pounding. “I’ll always be here, because with every day that passes, I find new ways to love you.”
Sloane drew in a sharp breath before wrapping his arms around Dex and burying his face against Dex’s hair, murmuring softly, “I know I lose my way sometimes, but if you’re here, I’ll always find my way back.”
Sloane gently swayed with the romantic ballad, and Dex moved with him, holding on tight. Dex closed his eyes, his body relaxing, and the twisted knot he’d had in his stomach since Sloane walked out unraveled. The two of them stayed in each other’s arms, enjoying their embrace, the warmth, the love as several of Dex’s favorite romantic ballads floated through the house, their house.
“I just… I need to know you’re going to be here for me,” Dex said quietly. “I need to know we’re in this together. I know saying that might scare you, and we haven’t been living together very long, but I know my heart. I know that I want you to always be a part of my life.”
Sloane pulled back and met his gaze, his shy smile sending Dex’s pulse racing. “As hard as it may be to believe, that’s what I want. I might not know how to express it at times, but Dex, being here with you, I’ve never been happier. This is it for me. You’re it for me. I can feel it deep down inside. Ash was right.”