Page 75 of Faron (The Golden Team #8)

Faron

I heard her voice before I saw her.

“You came.”

Aponi stood on the sidewalk outside the rec center, her arms folded tight like a shield. She hadn’t slept—same as me. Same as always when ghosts didn’t stay where you buried them.

I stepped out of the truck and closed the door gently. “You said it couldn’t wait.”

She didn’t move, didn’t meet my eyes. Just handed me a folded piece of paper. Her handwriting. Sharp. Slanted.

There was a girl. Hiding behind the crates. She saw me. I saw her.

“You remember something,” I said.

“I think I failed her, Faron,” she whispered. “I think I walked into that warehouse with a badge and a gun, thinking I was saving the day. But someone else was already fighting to survive.”

“Then we find her.”

She looked up at that—really looked at me—and something fragile cracked in her expression. “I didn’t want to involve you. But I can’t do this alone.”

“You’re not alone,” I said, my voice steady. “Not anymore.”

And I meant it.

Later that night, I found Blue on the back deck of our house, barefoot in my hoodie, her legs tucked up under her like she belonged there.

She did.

She looked up from her mug. “How’s Aponi?”

“She’s remembering more. Things she didn’t know she knew.”

Blue nodded slowly. “That’s how trauma works. It locks things away until you’re strong enough to handle them.”

I sat beside her, close enough to feel her warmth. “What if remembering only makes it worse?”

“Then you don’t do it alone.” She slid her hand into mine. “You fight through it. With the people who love you.”

I turned to her. Really turned. Let me see her.

The woman who stitched herself back together with fire and grit. The woman who made space for me, even when I didn’t know I needed it.

“I never believed in fate,” I said. “But if there’s such a thing… it led me to you.”

Her eyes shimmered. “You didn’t need fate. You just needed a reason.”

“I needed you ,” I said. And then, quieter, “And I think… I always did.”

She set her mug down and leaned into me, her head leaning on my shoulder. “Then don’t waste another minute.”

So I didn’t.

I pulled her into my arms, and the world got quiet. Just her heartbeat and mine, syncing up like they were always meant to.

She kissed me.

Soft. Slow. Like, there was no rush.

But when I pulled her onto my lap, the kiss changed.

My hands slid into her hair, drawing her closer. Her lips parted, and everything in me unraveled—every defense, every scar, every part I kept buried. She kissed me like I was hers. Like she’d waited her whole damn life to bring me home.

I lifted her into my arms and carried her inside. The back door creaked shut behind us, and the world faded until there was nothing left but her.

I set her down in our room, the one I’d built with her in mind even before I knew it. Her hoodie slipped from her shoulders, revealing bare skin beneath. I scooted Bear off the bed.

“You’re not wearing anything under this,” I rasped.

She smiled, slow and wicked. “Didn’t plan on needing it.”

My pulse kicked hard. I reached for her, but she caught my wrist and pulled me to the bed.

“Let me,” she whispered.

And she did.

She undressed me like she was learning me all over again.

Her fingers brushed every scar, every line of muscle, every part of me that had been hardened by war and softened by her.

She wasn’t in a rush. I had to slow my body down and let her control our making love this time.

For now, anyway. She kissed my collarbone, my chest, the hollow of my throat—everywhere she could reach.

By the time I got her beneath me, I was shaking with restraint.

“You okay?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

“I’m ready ,” she whispered.

I sank into her slowly, watching her eyes, feeling every inch of her welcome me home. She gasped, wrapping her legs around me, anchoring me to this moment. To her. To us.

We moved together like we’d been made for this. No barriers. No masks. Just the two of us, skin to skin, soul to soul. Her hands gripped my back, nails digging in. My mouth found her neck, her shoulder, her jaw. She arched beneath me, her moans turning to my name.

“Faron,” she cried out, her voice breaking as pleasure overtook her.

I followed her seconds later, losing myself in her, collapsing with my forehead pressed to hers, both of us trembling.

Minutes passed before either of us could breathe.

Her fingers slid through my hair, her touch softer now. I rolled to the side, pulling her with me so we stayed tangled.

She rested her head on my chest, right over my heart.

“I want forever with you,” she whispered.

“You’ve got it,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “Every last breath.”

Outside, the waves crashed. Inside, the storm had finally passed. “Blue, will you marry me? I want to be with you forever.

“ Are you sure? You know I can be a pain in the ass. I get grumpy when I’m hungry. Cry over sad silly movies. But I want to be with you for the rest of my life. So I’m going to say yes before you can change your mind.

I laughed out loud and pulled her back under me. We made love until we were both exhausted.