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Wey rolled off me, and I whimpered, reaching blindly for him. I couldn’t lose him, too. Not right now. Not ever.
But he didn’t go far. He lay beside me and gathered me in his arms, saying, “Shh. Come here, my sweet tiger.” He pulled me into his chest, so I buried my face there and clung to his sides like I was afraid he’d be ripped away from beneath my hands. “I’m right here, baby. I promise I’m not going anywhere.”
I nodded against him. I knew that. Deep down, I knew he wouldn’t leave me. Weylyn was many things, but a liar wasn’t one of them. He wouldn’t make that promise lightly.
Not that knowing helped keep the nightmares at bay. I wasn’t sure a night had passed where I hadn’t woken from a nightmare where not only were Theon and Braz taken from me, but Weylyn, too.
Wey held me for a long time, rubbing my back, kissing my hair, being my strength when I had none, and eventually, I calmed enough to have coherent thoughts again.
“Thank you,” I whispered to him.
“No need to thank me.”
“I’m sorry I’m not strong enough to—”
“Hey.” He cut me off. “You’re strong. You’re one of the strongest men I know, Nica.”
I rolled my eyes, knowing there was no way that was true.
“Hey, stop.” He squeezed me, somehow knowing I didn’t believe him even though he couldn’t see my face. “You were dealt a shit deal growing up. You lived in that horrible place your entire life, yet you were the one who always had a smile on his face, always knew how to make me and Braz laugh, always knew how to bring light into our lives when we were surrounded by all that darkness. If it hadn’t been for you, I’m not sure I would’ve survived that hellhole, Nica. You’re strong, but you’re allowed to break every now and then. You were my strength when I needed you, and now, I get to be yours.”
My heart was caught in my throat for an entirely different reason now. Wey… really thought all that? Aboutme? I’d always thought I’d just annoyed him enough that he’d finally given in to my flirting and ridiculous behavior. For a long time, I hadn’t even thought helikedme very much, more like I was just a convenient guy to get off with.
To hear what he thought of me was… not only shocking, considering the gargoyle hated sharing his feelings, but also amazing, surprising, and heartwarming. So fucking heartwarming.
I leaned back to meet Wey’s eyes and opened my mouth, but no words came out.
A slow smile spread across Wey’s face. “Shocked you into silence, huh? Maybe I should share my feelings more often, then.”
“Wey,” I finally whispered, searching his eyes. I wanted to tell him. I wanted him to know how much I loved him. I needed him to know.
He sent me one of his soft smiles that he never shared with anyone outside of this tent, leaned in a little so we were sharing the same breath, and whispered, “I love you, Nica.”
A gasp of surprise came out of me as my eyes widened and then started to water. Never in a million years did I imagine he’d say those words to me. A tear rolled down my cheek again, but this time it was a happy tear. “I love you, too, Wey. I love you, too.”
His smile was full and lit up his dark eyes with silver, proving how strongly he was feeling. He nudged my nose with his and captured my mouth in a bruising kiss. I hummed into him, a shiver running down my spine.
Wey broke the kiss and murmured, “This is cause for celebration, don’t you think? Let me have your ass again, baby.”
A laugh bubbled out of me, and I pushed Wey’s shoulder. “You just had me. It’s my turn.”
He groaned. “We’re not going back to keeping track, Nica. I quite like what we’ve been—”
Another laugh burst free, and I smacked a kiss to his lips to cut him off. “I’m only joking.” I rolled over and pressed my ass back into him. “You better make it good.”
He made a disbelieving sound in his throat and snaked his arm around me and up my chest so he could wrap his hand around my throat, lightly squeezing. “You were saying.”
Something unintelligible came out of my mouth, and Wey chuckled as he pressed himself back inside me. Excitement rushed through me, knowing this wasn’t going to be the sweet lovemaking we’d done earlier.
Wey had said he loved me, and now he was going to show me with his own love language—rough and hard and fast. I couldn’t wait.
14
Theon
Even with Braz’s cloak wrapped tight around me and the half-orc himself on one side of me, offering heat, I was freezing. It didn’t even help when Florin sat on the other side, blocking the slight breeze. It was as if a cold chill had taken root inside of me when I’d left Nica and Wey behind, and now, that chill was growing in my bones and blood vessels with every step I took away from them.
I didn’t think there was any way to warm my body, my bruised heart wouldn’t allow it, but I appreciated Braz and Florin trying to keep me comfortable.
