Page 87 of Before and After

Iheld Allie tight. I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to let go.

She yawned and I could tell she was tired. She needed some sleep.

She nuzzled against my shoulder. “I know it’s the middle of the night, but I’mstarving. I need a snack.”

I rose, then grabbed the blanket thrown over the back of the couch. I tucked it around her naked body, then hitched my jeans up.

“Let me make a quick trip to the bathroom, then I’ll feed you.”

“Mmm,” she said sleepily. “I like having you around, Broody.”

My chest filled with warmth. After dealing with the condom and washing my hands, I strode into the kitchen. “What have you got to eat?”

“Not much. But I know there’s a bag of corn chips in there and there’s my Dandelion chocolate.” She smiled. “Courtesy of a scowly hot guy.”

I had no idea how she stayed so slim eating like that. I opened the cupboards and found the snacks. When I came back to the couch, she was wearing my discarded shirt.My shirt.

Damn. I felt a punch of heat to the gut. I liked seeing her in something of mine.

When I settled beside her, she snatched the chips away. Soon she was munching away on them.

“It didn’t end up being such a bad day, after all,” she said.

“Because it ended with orgasms and corn chips?”

She laughed. “No, although those are good things. It ended up with you here. With me.”

I cupped her jaw. “Yes, it did.”

She reached out and grabbed the chocolate. She broke off a piece and popped it in her mouth. Her quiet moan had my gut clenching. “Want some?”

I shook my head. Then she snuggled into me. I slid my arm around her. I had to admit, there was something to be said for cuddling. I pressed my lips to her temple.

That’s when I noticed the framed photo sitting on the shelf. It was of Allie and a man who had to be her brother. They looked so much like.

She followed my gaze. “That’s Sean.”

“You can tell you’re siblings.”

“Yeah. Ollie looks just like Sean did at the same age. God, I miss him.”

“The missing never goes away.”

She stroked a hand over my chest. “Tell me. Tell me who you lost. Not the gory details or the classified details, just… I’m here. I want to listen.”

I was silent for a while. I wanted to open up, but it was so damn hard. “His name was Wells. Maxwell, but he never liked Max for short.”

“Wells is a great name.”

“He was a damn fine soldier. Brave, but so open and friendly.” I shook my head. “Even before the military, I wasn’t the loudest or friendliest person. Wells decided we’d be friendsand wouldn’t be deterred.” I paused, remembering. “He made me laugh.” The pain was a solid ball in my chest. “Our whole team was tight.”

“I guess you have to be when you depend on each other for your lives,” she said quietly.

I pressed my hand to her thigh and gripped. “We were on a mission.” A chill raced over me, and the memory sank sharp teeth deep.

Swallowing, I forged on. I wanted to prove I could…open up to her.

She stroked my arm, not saying anything, just listening.