Page 67 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“Will you go with me to the party tomorrow? I know it’s stupid and something you really don’t want to do, but I’d like you to go. If not, it’s totally fine. I’ll ask Tyler and Gavin.”

“I’d love to go.” I won’t tell her that it was already decided because her rambling was too fucking adorable. She smiles but shuffles from foot to foot, showing her nervousness. “Was there something else?”

“Yeah,” she breathes, and her next move shocks the shit out of me. She wraps her arms around my waist and tilts her head up. She licks her lips, and I don’t even have to ask what she wants.

I set the bottle of water on the counter, cup her face, and lay my lips against hers. I peck her lips a few times, giving her a chance to back out. When she doesn’t, I lick the seam of her lips, and she opens for me with a sigh. I kiss her slowly, taking my time feeling my lips on hers. Kira goes up on her tiptoes and wraps her arms around my neck. I could pump my fist for fucking joy that her looks weren’t all in my head. I’ve been pushing her little by little, and it finally paid off. I refused to make her uncomfortable, and I’m damn glad she made the first move.

She pulls back and gives me a small smile. “Wow.”

“Wow is right.”

Kira pecks my lips and takes a step back. “Goodnight, Keon.”

“Night, Mama.”

I watch her walk into the hallway and have to refrain from dancing in victory when her door shuts. I feel like a boy who just got his first kiss. Now that Kira has given me the go ahead, I’m going to make sure she knows she made the right decision.

Every day if she’ll let me.

22

KIRA

Something wakes me from a dead sleep, and I sit up fast in the bed. I have no idea what it was so I strain to listen. When I don’t hear it again, I go to lie back down. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I hear it again. It’s a whimper like someone is in pain.

I grab my beanie from the nightstand, slide it on, and pull my robe on before tiptoeing out of my room. I go into the living room to find Keon sleeping peacefully on the couch. Hearing it coming from one of the bedrooms, I head that way and stop outside one of the rooms. What if it isn’t pain? What if I bust in here, and they’re fucking? That thought gives me pause until I hear it again, and it’s definitely not sexual. I twist the knob quietly and peek inside.

Tyler is passed out cold on the bed beside a thrashing Gavin. He’s pouring sweat and repeating something over and over, letting me know he’s having a nightmare. I know the signs since I lived through them and still occasionally do.

I walk over to the bed and gently shake his shoulder. “Gavin,” I say softly. “Wake up.”

“Breathe. He has to breathe,” he says, tears pouring down his face.

“Gavin,” I say louder. “You’re having a nightmare. Wake up.” He starts thrashing again, making that whimpering noise that’s tearing my heart out. “Gavin.”

Gavin gasps and sits up in the bed, looking wildly around. His eyes land on me, and I see his brain trying to catch up. “Kira?”

“You were having a nightmare.”

He roughly wipes the tears from his face. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.” I know a dismissal when I hear one, so I nod and head for the door. “Kira?” I turn around to face him, and he gives me a small smile. “Thank you.”

“I know what those nightmares can do to you. I’m glad I was here to help.”

Gavin chuckles and looks over at Tyler. “His drunk ass is normally there.”

“I think he may have had one too many.”

“That’s an understatement. I’ll let you get back to bed.” Gavin slides to sit against the headboard, and I know he won’t be getting any more sleep.

I chew on my bottom lip, trying to decide if I want to be vulnerable with him. But if it helps, I have to do something. “Come with me.”

Gavin’s brows furrow in confusion. “What?”

“Meet me in my room. You aren’t going back to sleep, and I’ll lay awake all night worried about you. We’ll watch Netflix and eat ice cream.”