Page 81 of After the Burn

None of it mattered.

My eyes found Taryn, and I saw she was already standing.

Her eyes locked on mine.

Storm clouds.

Steel.

The kind of eyes that promised she’d never belong to anyone but herself.

Good.

Because I never wanted to own her. I wanted her to choose me.

Without looking at Gideon…

Without acknowledging the applause…

Without sparing Mace another glance…

I started walking. Straight toward her.

The crowd parted before me. None of them were stupid enough to get in the way.

I stopped in front of Taryn.

Adrian acknowledged me with a nod but said nothing. He understood this was my moment, and although I had agreed to share her, this one was mine alone.

I’d fucking earned it.

Lucas never even looked at me, keeping his eyes trained on Gage in case he interfered.

Taryn opened her mouth. Probably to ask if I was hurt… maybe to yell at me for not finishing him earlier.

She knew as well as I did that I could have.

But I’d never know, because when I reached for her hand, her mouth closed.

Fifty people watched us, but I didn’t give a single shit.

“Come.”

Taryn searched my face for a long second, then without a single word she followed me.

The cheering of the town slowly faded behind us as I set out to reap my reward for being a brave knight.

This day was about to get a lot better.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

TARYN

People stepped aside without being asked. No one wanted to get in the way of the man who’d just kicked Mace’s ass.

The cheering faded behind us as we cut between buildings, leaving the old field and its celebration behind.

Only when we reached the boarding house where the guys were staying did I realize he still hadn’t let go of my hand.