But when she’d grown tired of waiting and practically thrown herself at him, her mortification today at the memory was as strong as it felt a year ago. Crushingly so.
When Seb left Colorado for his engineering degree, their bond was so intense that she fell ill. Unable to leave the bed, so heartsick over missing him, she’d stopped eating and needed an IV of fluids. Though worried, her dad had been the angriest, telling Sunny no boy was worth getting sick over. Her feelings were amplified at fifteen; she’d called Seb ten times a day during that initial week, and he’d responded every time.
She’d never once thought they’d end up as they were today, as detached strangers.
Sighing, she rested her chin on her knee, unable to pull her gaze away from him. Mapping his face with his day-old stubble and full lips, his eyelashes sweeping against his cheeks. Too long for a boy, but on Sebastian, he still looked every inch a man. His arms were ropey and well-defined because he worked out religiously.
She would have assumed maturity would make loving someone easier, but it felt worse.
Knowing she shouldn’t violate his privacy by staring at his sleeping form, Sunny slipped into her boots and jacket and quietly snuck outside. She first went to the diner and picked up sandwiches, chips, and road snacks. She’d only been gone ten minutes at most and engaged in a call outside their motel room, so she didn’t wake Sebastian.
Tanner picked up immediately. “Hey, stranger, are you home yet?”
“Not quite. Your brother is taking a nap. How are things there?”
“How much do you know?”
These bikers and their secrets. She rolled her eyes to the darkening sky.
“I know enough, Tanner.”
“Everything is quiet but tense. Rider, your dad, and a few others are out scouting. Alpha and Hero are following a lead.”
Tanner was her age and still prospecting for the Souls, so he’d only know as much as the brothers told him.
“And what are you doing?”
He grumbled, and she grinned. “Grunt fucking work, as usual.”
“You’re such a good pet.” She giggled when he told her to shut up. She gasped as the door to her right burst open, revealing the man of her dreams and nightmares, battle-ready. With his forehead folded down over his eyes, his hair stood up in tufts, and Seb’s arms bulged when he folded them over his chest. Sunny noted his feet were bare, and she swallowed as she tried vainly to drag her eyes off the gorgeous sight.
“Hang up the phone.” He growled like a soaring threat.
“Is that my brother?” Tanner asked.
“Yes, the sour bear is awake.” And then to Seb, she said. “I’m talking with your brother. I’ll be there in a second.”
“Hang up the fucking phone right now, Sunshine.” He growled again and didn’t wait; he just plucked the phone from her hand, pressed the button to cut the call, and slipped it into his back pocket.
She gaped up at him. “Well, that was rude. I was only talking to Tanner out here, so I didn’t disturb you.”
His eyes scanned her like he thought he might find a bomb on her person. She shivered, and it had nothing to do with the night air.
When he spoke, noticing the bag in her hand, it was low and warning. “Did you go over to the diner?”
“Yes. I grabbed us some dinner and snacks for the road.”
“Inside, right now.” He issued and palmed the top of Sunny’s arm and forcibly marched her into the motel room, slamming the door with them inside.
“Jeez, someone woke up on the wrong side of the motel bed,” she huffed, freeing her arm from his grasp. “What’s your problem?”
“My problem is you. Not fucking listening. Not caring that we’re not out here for Spring Break vacation, Sunny, someone has threatened your life. They could be here for all you know. And you’re prancing your little ass with a target on it without a goddamn care.”
She blinked as her heart battered against the inside of her ribcage. He’d never raised his voice to her before, and Sunny,god… she liked the rough timber of it and the dark fire in his eyes as he glared.
“I wasn’t thinking.” She frowned. “I wanted to pick up some food for when you woke up.”
“No, you weren’t thinking,” he rasped, pacing like a caged tiger, all supple, angry lines. Sunny had her eyes pinned to his back, fascinated by his angry display.
