Page 43 of Ghost Among Lies

"I'm sorry, Sunshine. I was restless and didn't want to wake you. I figured you needed the sleep after I kept you up long into the night." I nuzzled into her neck at the reminder of why we went to bed so late. Even after multiple releases, my appetite for her wasn't sated. "Are you having any regrets?" I had checked in with her when things first got heated and again after the first time, but everything after that was purely about sating a hunger.

"No." She slipped her hand under my shirt and traced the line of my abs. "I could never regret what we did together. I just wish it hadn't taken us so long to get to this point."

I squeezed her a little bit tighter. I would do just about anything to get that time back. Ten long years wasted because of an asshole I thought was my friend.

"Me too, Sunshine. Me too."

We stayed like that until Sloane's stomach demanded attention. I chuckled at the sound. "I guess I should feed you."

"I did work up quite the appetite last night."

The need to beat my chest like a caveman because of her declaration was strong. Then again, she always had that effect on me. Even as teenagers.

"Come on. Let's see what you have in the fridge."

I slapped her ass as she stood. Causing the cutest yelp to slip from her lips.

This was the Sloane I remembered. The one who was carefree and not weighted down by the horrors of life. With any luck, I would be able to keep her like this for the rest of our lives.

"Damn. I know I've been living the bachelor life all these years, but I never thought a single woman would need this much food."

Despite there being a lot of food, it was obvious things didn't go to waste based on the food in the freezer. Sloane didn't have processed food stocked in there. Nope, it was all stuff that was once in the fridge but now preserved for later use.

"We don't like going into town unless we have to for work, so once a month we stock up on fresh items. Our shopping day was right before I kidnapped you."

Was that really not too long ago? With everything going on it felt like a lifetime since Sloane crashed back into my life.

"Bacon, eggs, and cheese on an English muffin with burnt bacon still your favorite?"

"I don't like my bacon burnt. I just don't understand how people can eat it when it flops around like a dead fish."

The familiar discussion made me smile. Every Saturday when we ate at the diner, I would tease her about how she liked her bacon. "If you say so."

"And to answer your question, yes, it's still my favorite." Sloane suddenly looked embarrassed. "I actually still have one every Saturday morning."

I don't know what it said about me, but that statement made me happier than a pig in shit.

"Well, I know it's not Saturday, but for old time's sake, can I make you one?"

She nodded her head.

I set forth making her favorite meal and relished the fact that I, once again, was able to take care of her. With any luck, I would be able to continue doing it for the rest of our lives.

If she let me. But that was a discussion for another day. I didn't want to overwhelm her, so for the time being, I would cherish every second she was willing to give me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

SLOANE

I wanted to spend the day wrapped up in Hayes' arms now that he was back in my life, but duty called, and we had an organization to put an end to.

"Have we heard from Hawk?" I asked as soon as I entered the common area. My teammates turned to look at me, but it was Nyx who opened her mouth. Or more accurately whistled.

"Hot damn, girl. If the glow on your face is any indication, Hayes knows his way around the female anatomy."

"Fucking A, Nyx," Anita snapped. "Do you have to spout out everything that pops into your head?"

Nyx beamed. "Of course I do. Otherwise our lives would be boring as shit."