Page 245 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

I couldn’t help but be reminded of Theo’s texts I shared with him a few minutes ago.

Theo

Wait until I get you alone tonight. Been thinking about being inside you all day. Fantasizing about all the ways I’m going to fuck you. It’s going to be rough tonight, Little Liar. Making me wait the way you have.

Me

You’re the one who insisted I go out, and you’d hang out with Finn while I’m with the girls.

Theo

Doesn’t mean I’m not over here imagining peeling you out of those clothes and getting to the goodness underneath.

I couldn’t wait.

“Look at you over there, biting your lip and your cheeks flaming red.”

I looked up over my glass at Charleigh who was grinning like mad.

Clearing my throat, I tried to play it off. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about the way you just combusted thinking about Theo waiting at home for you.” Charleigh drew a circle in the air around me like she was offering proof.

“Yes, I do think it’s time you tell us about how that man rocks your world.” Raven set an elbow on the table and propped her chin on her fist like she was waiting for me to tell her the most interesting story in the world.

A mesh of embarrassment and glee worked through my consciousness, and I curled my hands around the wineglass as I warred with what to say. So unaccustomed to having relationships like this. Loving that now I did.

“It’s safe to say, I’ve been rocked,” I said, unable to stop the grin from taking to my face.

A round of shrieks and squeals went up around the table, and Raven stamped her feet on the floor.

“I knew the two of you had been getting naked.” Raven sat back in her chair and pressed her hand over her heart like she was proud of me. “I mean, there was no question that man is completely feral over you. Never in my life did I think that one would fall, and the moment you stepped foot in town, he tripped.Crash. Kaboom.”

She lifted her hands and made a bunch of exploding sounds and gestures. “It was over for him the second he saw you.”

“You should have seen her this last week at the shop. Her feet haven’t touched the ground once.” Emery said it like it was completely scandalous.

“All because that bad boy has been sending her soaring.” Charleigh conspiratorially glanced around the table.

“I’m not sure I’m ever going to come down,” I admitted. “He’s…”

All the teasing drained away, and Charleigh’s head tilted to the side in soft speculation. “You love him?”

I looked down at the swirl of my drink, the old part of me thinking I should keep it hidden. But that era was over. I didn’t want to live concealed any longer.

“So much,” I admitted. “I realize I haven’t known him for all that long, but…” I trailed off.

Emery reached out and set a gentle hand on my arm. “But when it’s right, you know.”

My nod was jerky. “Yeah. It feels impossible. I fought it with everything I had, but I think he was under my skin the first time I saw him, too. And then after everything happened…”

I paused, not sure how I was supposed to put it into words. Or really, if I even should. I understood we needed to be incredibly careful when it came to Sovereign Sanctum.

“It’s a lot to process,” Raven whispered. “This life. I’ve been a part of it for so long, and there are still times when it feels inconceivable. Outside of reality. The fear and worry that comes with it because we love them so much, but what they do is so important. The lives I’ve seen them save…”

Reverence filled her features, and emotion welled around her.

That same kind of awe surged to overflowing inside me, though I still struggled to wrap my head around it. Thinking of Alicia and Lucy. The horrors they’d suffered that Theo had confided in me during the deepest hour of the night. He’d answered more of my questions, holding me as he confessed how truly terrifying and dangerous their lives could be.