“We need to have a talk,” Sinner mutters as I roll over the next morning, sunshine warming the bedroom along with the body heat radiating from Saint and Sinner. It’s the last thing I’m expecting from him this early and has my heartrate spiking.
A yawn escapes as I agree. “Okay. Just us or...” I point over my shoulder in Saint’s general direction. I know he’s back there somewhere; I feel his presence next to me.
“I’ve already discussed it with him, but you can wake him if you want to.”
“Ermmm,” Saint grumbles. “I’m here, just sleeping.”
A quiet giggle escapes as I smile at Sinner. He returns it with a sleepy grin.
“Have you been up a while?”
He shakes his head. “Not too long, just enough to do some thinking.”
My stomach starts to sink. I have a feeling this is the talk I don’t want to have. I thought I was becoming closer to them, but in doing so, perhaps they’ve finally grown tired of having me here.
“You know I care about you, right?” he continues, and I swallow.
This isn’t sounding so promising. “I like to think you do.”
“And Saint, too.”
“Mmhmm,” is groaned in agreement. Saint’s not a morning person even when it comes to talks between us about feelings apparently.
My smile dims even though I fight against it. I don’t want him to know our talk is going to upset me. It will though. Going home away from them will break my heart. I’ll put on a strong face for them though because I can’t let them see me crumble.
“You love Saint?”
“I do,” I admit and I’m proud that my voice doesn’t crack with the admission.
“Good.” He takes a deep breath, his charcoal irises meeting mine, full of so much, but I don’t know what exactly. “You love me too?”
My throat grows dry as my heart beats faster and faster, just from thinking of how much I love this man beside me. “Yes.”
He nods, his gaze skirting over every inch of my face, eventually coming back to my anxious stare.
“I love you, too, Jude,” he confesses softly and leans in to kiss me tenderly.
Tears crest and break free, emotions bubbling up even stronger than a moment ago. I could’ve handled them telling me to leave without wearing my heart on my sleeve, but to hear him acknowledge his feelings outright...I just can’t. They mean so much, fulfilling something I’ve so desperately craved to hear him say.
Pulling free from the kiss, he says, “Saint?”
A strong grip lands on my shoulder, pulling me to face the man behind me. Meeting his ashy gaze, he’s not as out of it as I’d believed as he peers down at me, clarity in his irises.
The pad of his thumb trails gently over my bottom lip, his voice a bit gruff. “I love you, too, baby.”
More tears...but they’re happy. My eyes shine with warmth as I look at him, and he pulls me in for a soft kiss as well. It’s perfect, the way they both break their feelings to me at once. It’s like having Boston Cream Pie Yogurt whenever I want it, only so much better.
Eventually, he pulls away, and they both show me with their bodies just how much they really do love me.
“So, this is your home now?” Princess asks and takes a sip from her margarita.
“Yep, they admitted they don’t want me to go home—ever.”
“Wow.” She giggles. “I know what happens next, but the question is when?”
“What do you mean?”
“You have to be claimed by them. It happens to all the ol’ ladies around here when a brother gets serious about his woman. “