Page 95 of Bleed the Shadows

I looked into his eyes. “That might have been better than the dog.”

“That might have been better than the cake.”

We both laughed, naked and sticky.

Happy.

57

MAEVE

Bram helpedme clean up the kitchen and we moved to the shower in his bathroom where he took me again, this time from behind after I went down on him. We were at it again by the time we fell into his bed, still damp from the shower, and I lost myself in his body and his singular way of occupying mine.

It was almost dawn when we came up for air, and I lay on his chest, relaxed and satiated as the sunrise cast an orange glow over the room.

I traced his tattoos, a montage of images I only partly understood: shattered glass and a dented tree and a black rose and the grim reaper and the bone mask he wore in the Hunt, all of it seamlessly blended into one image that came alive with each of his breaths.

His eyes were closed when I rested my chin on his chest to look at his face and reached up to trace his scar. “How did this happen?”

He didn’t answer right away and I wondered if he’d fallen asleep.

“In the accident,” he said. “With my parents.”

The truth dawned on me slowly. “You were there?”

He nodded. “We were on our way to pick Cassie up from a friend’s house. She was supposed to be there for a sleepover, but Cassie never liked sleeping away from home. She tried but she always ended up calling my parents to come get her, and if I was home, we’d go together, take Cassie out for ice cream afterwards to make her feel better.”

I stretched to kiss him. “I’m so sorry.”

“The hardest part was wondering why I hadn’t died too, you know?” He seemed to want to talk about it, a rarity for Bram, so I didn’t answer and he kept going. “Like why did they die when Cassie needed them, and I lived when I didn’t feel capable of taking care of myself, let alone Cassie? So that was my big question. Why me? Why am I alive?” He looked down at me. “Tonight’s the first night I feel like I have an answer to that question. I’m alive for this. For you.”

“Bram…” I didn’t know what to say.

He smoothed my hair and lifted his head off the pillow to kiss my head. “You should sleep.” He looked toward the wall of windows leading to the balcony. “It’s Christmas Eve.”

I smiled. “Merry Christmas Eve.”

“Merry Christmas Eve, Maeve.”

I was starting to doze off when Bram’s door flew open.

I sat up, startled, my tits exposed, and saw that Remy was standing in the doorway holding Ray.

“Congratulations, you crazy kids.” He looked at me. “Ray was whining."

I grabbed for the sheet to cover myself. “Could you at least knock?”

“I’ve seen your tits, killer, remember? Although I have to say any day I get to see them again is a good day.”

“Did they do it?” Poe’s voice sounded behind Remy in the moment before he appeared over Remy’s shoulder. “Thank fuck. You owe me a hundred bucks.”

“Oh my god, were you takingbets?”

“Will you get the fuck out of here?” Bram tried to act mad but it sort of looked like he was trying not to laugh.

Ray broke free of Remy’s arms and bounded into the room and onto the bed. I laughed as he jumped on Bram and me and licked my face.

I squealed with laughter and Poe grinned from the doorway. “Is there room in there for me?”