Page 72 of Ignite

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CAIN

Iused to hate the concept of dating.

Not that I ever did much of it, but Aiden was addicted to the attention we got when we went out together. Rare to see two men of our caliber being affectionate out in public.

But when I wake up wrapped in Ezra, I have the sudden urge to do this right with him. I want to make him fucking lethal, but I also want to pamper him with the affection he deserves.

Carefully, I slide out from under his arm and leg, tucking the sheet back over him, and brew a big pot of coffee. I rest the phone I bought him on the counter next to a plate of strawberry crepes, watermelon, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Then I sneak down to the lower levels to retrieve a heavy black box from the armory.

Rev catches me heading back to the elevator as he steps out of the gun range. His gaze drags over my lounge wear, a smile curling on his lips.

“Shut the fuck up,” I mumble before he can mouth off.

Unfazed, Rev says, “You know I’m happy for you.”

“Didn’t ask.” I cut for the stairs in hopes that he won’t follow me.

Rev keeps stride with me. “That your M9 Beretta? Haven’t seen you take that one out in years.”

A muscle in my jaw ticks as I start the climb up the stairs, eager to get my blood flowing and muscles working. “You can’t keep words inside your body, can you?”

Rev’s a few stairs below me. “Hell no. You’re giving it to Ezra, aren’t you? I know you’re secretly a romantic.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, cause giving a guy a gun is romantic.”

“We’re mercenaries.” Rev flashes a grin. “Guns are our love language.”

I can’t help a little snort at that.

“Hey, I actually wanted to ask you if I could run him through an exercise with my team today. He’s so fucking stealthy, Cain. He’s going to be a mad threat when he’s all trained up.”

It’s exactly what I want, but reality has a prickle of worry creating an itch inside my chest. I peek down at Rev in the middle of the stairs. “Do you think we’re making a mistake?”

“What? Pulling him into our world?” Rev actually takes a moment to think about it. “He was already up in this shit. I think we’re doing the best thing we can for him. No one will ever mess with him again.”

My chest tightens at the thought.

“Anyone tried, I’d fucking gut them,” I mumble.

Rev chuckles. “Sounds like love to me.”

I sigh, then start climbing the stairs once more. “Go ahead and introduce him to your team.”

“Cain?” Rev calls out. “Don’t let anything hold you back from letting him know how much you care, okay? You both deserve this.”

“Again, didn’t ask. I’m sending him your way in an hour. Make him fucking hurt.”

Laughter echoes through the stairwell, and he sings his next words, “Love language.”

Ezra’s still asleep when I return to my apartment. From the edge of the bed, I admire him. I revel in the fact that he finds peace in my bed when it seems like he struggled to do that in the guestroom.

His features are soft. Feminine. Stunning. And his body is becoming strong, cut along his arms and his torso. I’ll have to find a way to thank Rev for that without him gloating about it.

I drag the sheets down his body. Lazily, his head turns to me to give me a peek. He smiles in approval, stretching out his legs. Then he tries to burrow his head under the pillow.

“Oh no. You want to work for me, you need to get up early in the morning,” I say, unable to hide a devilish grin.