Page 276 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

He curled those muscled arms around me, and he burrowed his nose in my hair.

“Good, because that’s exactly where you’re always goin’ to be. With me.”

I glanced at the duffel that was also on the floor. The one that had held my darkest secrets.

I had talked with Colt Astersen about our situation. Gave him the whole truth since Theo said he could be trusted. He urged that the best course of action was my coming back out into the light.

Telling the world what had happened so we wouldn’t have to get new identities and forever be worried about being discovered.

Apparently, Justin had already been wanted for the murders of the man and my family, and with all the information I was able to give him, he believed I wouldn’t be charged as an accessory, something I’d been terrified of, terrified of what would happen to Finn if I were to go to prison.

He believed I was a victim myself.

Though as long as Finn was cared for, I told him I would face that consequence if it was required.

I’d made that fateful mistake, and I would no longer run in fear from my responsibility.

Colt had told me not to be afraid of that happening. Not after the atrocities Justin had committed were exposed. How I’d been running from him for all this time.

The jewelry and the rest of the money had been returned to the man’s family.

Now, the only thing that remained in the duffel was my sketchbook. The fragments of the dreams I’d carried with me, though they’d been skewed with sorrow.

But now.

Now I would stand.

Theo swayed me in the middle of the confined space. “Gotta say, I love your things hanging in this closet. Smells like you.”

I leaned back, holding onto his shoulders as I grinned up at him. “And here I thought you were going to have a heart attack with all my pastels up against that row of black.”

I gestured to the entire rod of black tees on the opposite side of my shirts.

He chuckled, and his hands spread wider around my sides. “Nah, like having your light written on all my dark.”

Moonlit eyes gleamed.

My fingertips dragged down his chest. “You’re the light, Theo. A beacon when I was lost.”

“And now that I’ve found you, the ways I’m going to have you.”

I yelped when he suddenly picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder. “Theo, put me down. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

“Nah, Pipes. I could run a fuckin’ marathon, and I plan on running one with you.” He grabbed a handful of my ass, making it clear exactly what type of marathon this was going to be.

Exhilaration rushed through my senses.

Glee and need and this unending joy.

I clung to him as he carried me out into the lapping shadows of his room.

Strike that.

Ourroom.

The only light came from the flames that danced in the fireplace, glinting against the giant panes of glass that overlooked the lake.

Silvered rays of moonlight spilled from above, shimmering over the placid lake, striking like black diamonds over the surface.