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“Get a room!” Someone—Reid, I think—calls from behind us. I pull away, but Ez holds me tighter, kissing me longer, probably in spite. I give him one last long kiss, and pull away. He steadies me until I don’t feel dizzy with lust, then grabs my hand.
“Are we good?” he murmurs, tucking my hair behind my ear. I kiss his palm and he sighs.
“We’re good,” I say. He steals another kiss, then stands at his full height.
“You’re not sitting in the car alone,” he says. “You’re going to sit your pretty little ass on a towel and watch Reid and I teach your boy how to stand on a fucking board.” I roll my eyes at the authority he puts into his voice. “And if she bothers you, just tell her to fuck off.”
“I’ve always liked her,” I admit as we turn toward the small group. Heather is rubbing oil on her skin and I nearly groan. I need to get my crazy under control. If Ezra can do it, so can I. “I just don’t like that you two have—” I wave my hand dismissively. “Whatever. It is what it is. I’ll play nice.”
“I like when your claws come out,” he says, dipping his head toward me. His lips brush against my ear, and goosebumps ripple over my body. “It’s hot when you get jealous.”
“I wasn’t jealous,” I say. He kisses my cheek before we start walking toward them.
“You were totally jealous.”
“Not even.”
“Possessive,” he says. “Possessive and jealous.”
“Ez,” I warn. He suddenly stops, his mouth open as he stares down at me.
“You’re just as fucking crazy as I am, aren’t you?”
“Fuck off.” I shove his shoulder, making him laugh. He starts walking again, but I grip his shirt and haul him toward me. “I’m crazier, Kiwi. Don’t forget that.” His eyes spark as he slowly grins.
Kennedy
Igroan as I recline on the pillows. Ezra winces for me, his hand a steady pressure on my back as he helps me slowly lower myself.
“Sore?” he asks, and I nod. I’m not hurting as much as I thought I would be after a beating like that, but my muscles ache. He strokes my hair away from my forehead, his eyes soft. “Sorry, love.”
“It’s okay.” I sigh at his gentle touch, my eyes slowly shutting.
“Let me check the locks and Ian, then I’ll come to bed, okay?” I nod, my eyes still closed. His lips brush against my forehead and I listen to his steady footsteps as he makes his way through the apartment.
With a small sigh, I roll onto my side and stare at the door, anticipating him. I try to push the panic that builds in my chest away and remind myself that I am safe. But being alone makes me spiral.
“Goodnight, kid,” Ezra’s deep, accented voice slices through my haze, and I open my eyes.
I’m home.
I’m with Ezra.
I’m safe.
He kicks the door shut as he slips his shirt off over his head. The few hours we were at the beach gave him a tan that seems to be getting darker by the minute. His hair is somehow more blond, and his smile…it’s more genuine. Like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. I don’t know if it’s from being in the ocean, or if it’s because we’re in a good place, or if it’s something else entirely. But he looks happy. His eyes are happy.
He flicks the lamp off as he slides into bed beside me, still smelling like the salty ocean water and sunscreen. He showered when we got home, but it seems like that scent is embedded into his soul.
“What are you thinking about?” he whispers into the dark room.
This is becoming my favorite thing, our nighttime talks in the dark. It’s somehow easier to open up to him, to be more vulnerable when he can’t see me.
“I was thinking that you still smell like the beach,” I say softly, and he huffs out a laugh.
“Hopefully that’s not a nice way of telling me I smell,” he teases. I slide my hand across the sheets, searching for him. He immediately finds me and laces our fingers together.
“No,” I sigh. “It’s just you. I like it.” I hear him smile, and I can’t help mimicking him. “What are you thinking about?” His thumb mindlessly strokes the back of my hand.
