Page 106 of Silent Fire (Sin & Steel #6)

“I do feel safe with you.” A small smile tugged at the corner of Noel’s mouth.

He appreciated Tomas’s willingness to do better, to meet him halfway.

With a featherlight caress of his thumb, he broke the tension.

He stepped closer, into the circle of Tomas’s personal space, and rested his free hand over the steady thud of his heart.

“You also make me feel brave enough to start healing, lobo . I think that’s the most precious gift anyone could give me right now. ”

Tomas made a low, rumbling sound deep in his chest. He lifted Noel’s hand to his lips, brushing a featherlight kiss across his knuckles. “Then I will be your shelter from the storm, mi amor ,” he vowed gruffly. “Your peace in the eye of the hurricane.”

“I don’t know about you, but I could use a ride after all this emotional heavy-lifting.” Noel just let the words hang there like a thread tossed out to reel in something lighter.

Tomas barked out a surprised laugh, the sound rough and real, knocking loose the tension that still clung to them like static. “What kind of ride are you referring to, mi dulce perversión ?”

“You always turn everything dirty?” Noel tilted his head just slightly, enough to catch the gleam in Tomas’s eyes without pulling away from the comfort of his chest.

“With you, it just seems to flow naturally.”

The corners of Noel’s mouth twitched. “You saying I’m special?”

“You’re one of a kind, mi elegido .” Tomas nuzzled his neck, breathing in deeply.

Noel started to ask why Tomas kept calling him that when he saw two men pull up on motorcycles. Men he’d seen at Sin & Steel. One he’d met at the farmhouse the night he’d waved a gun at everyone. Santiago.

They didn’t look like they came to play either.

“Tomas, behind you,” he whispered.

With an irritated groan, Tomas straightened and turned around. “Fuck me,” he muttered.

“Why do they looked pissed enough to rip your head off?” Noel pulled his hand free and stepped in front of Tomas, once again feeling like he’d lost his mind.

But he was hoping like hell those men didn’t believe in hurting someone much smaller than them.

Brave assumption for a man still haunted by the taste of his own blood.

But if Santiago hadn’t broken Noel in half for waving a gun at him, he didn’t think the guy would hurt him now.

“Diablo, Santiago,” Tomas said with a low growl. “Do I need to put my mate on my bike before we begin?” He glanced past them. “I would hand him over to Cesar, but since he’s the one who called you, que se joda.”

Cesar flipped Tomas off.

The biggest one of the two glanced at Noel. Shit. He didn’t want this man’s attention. He looked like something that emerged from shadows in dark alleys. “We doing okay, carino ?”

Tomas gently pulled Noel behind him. “What’re we doing, Diablo? Is my mate heading into the diner, or you gonna hear me out? But what you’re not going to do is intimidate mi elegido .”

“We just want to hear it from him that everything’s cool,” Santiago said.

“ My ex, who’s a pendejo, left something on Tomas’s bike to let me know he’s found me,” Noel said, shoulders back, voice snarky. “Tomas’s wolf didn’t take it well. Would yours? So, yes, everything’s cool. I wasn’t in any danger from Tomas.”

Santiago smirked. “That’s because you kicked Tomas’s ass again, cría de foca . Didn’t you?”

“ That’s the guy who stole your weapon from you?” Diablo frowned at Tomas.

“Are you two done humiliating me, or should I get comfortable?” Tomas shot back. “And he didn’t kick my ass that night. I just didn’t want to hurt him.”

Diablo’s chuckle was as deep as rolling thunder. “Okay, hermono . If you say so.”

Tomas glanced back at Noel, like he wanted confirmation it hadn’t gone down that way.

Noel shrugged. “You want me to lie to them?”

That only made Diablo and Santiago hoot with laughter. Even Cesar was chuckling.

“I vowed to be your peace in the eye of the hurricane, and you tossed me into the hurricane?” Tomas huffed. “I see how it is, hermoso .”

“I’ll make you a deal.” Noel crossed his arms, locking gazes with Tomas. “You forgive Cesar, because he was only looking out for me, and I’ll tell your buddies any story you give me.”

“Oh my god.” Santiago wiped at the tears his eyes. “I needed that good laugh. Now, since I’m at Lizard’s, I’m grabbing some breakfast for me and Percy.”

“You’re evil.” Tomas growled softly at Noel.

“And I can outrun you,” he countered, his lips twitching. “You gonna forgive him, or am I sharing how you couldn’t catch little ole me?”

This was a new experience for Noel. He’d never been able to make fun of Brian. The jackass didn’t have a sense of humor. But with Tomas, Noel felt like he could finally be himself.

Diablo’s brows lifted. “No, say you’re lying.”

Tomas looked at Noel like a man desperate for a lifeboat.

Nope. Noel wasn’t caving. Cesar didn’t deserve Tomas’s wrath.

He deserved a hug and Noel’s appreciation.

Because if things had gone in the opposite direction, Cesar had been ready to take on Tomas.

That was the first time anyone had ever stuck up for him, and Noel wanted to repay the kindness.

“Fine, I’m not pissed at him,” Tomas growled.

Noel gaped at him. “Could you have said it with any more hostility?”

Cesar pushed away from his bike and sauntered over, but he didn’t look smug. He looked genuinely hurt. “Mates come first. You know that, Tomas.”

Somehow Noel knew “mate” meant something deeper than simply a friend. He would deal with that later. The scent from Lizard’s—bacon grease, maple syrup, grilled toast—made Noel’s stomach grumble even though he’d already eaten.

He was seconds away from joining Santiago.

“While I appreciate you ready to go to war for mi elegido , I’m still pissed you’d think I’d hurt him,” Tomas replied.

Noel inched away, eyeing the door of the diner. He’d seen the waitress serve a customer a jumbo cinnamon roll when he’d been eating, and now he wanted one. Since it looked as if Cesar and Tomas were working things out, Noel could stuff his face.

“Where are you slinking off to?” Tomas’s gaze flicked from Cesar to Noel.

“I don’t slink,” Noel scowled. “I was going for seconds, jefe .”

“I’ll take you,” Diablo offered. “It does smell good. I can surprise Brett with breakfast just so I can see him blush.”

Noel had no idea who Brett or Percy were, but he willingly followed the giant, smiling sweetly over his shoulder at Tomas. “You boys work it out. I’ll bring you some cinnamon rolls.” He stopped and cursed under his breath. “I’m a little short on money.”

To his surprise, Tomas pulled out his wallet and handed over his bank card. “Grab me some more sausage.” He winked.

“But…” Noel looked down at the smooth plastic in his hand. “Dude, I could rob you blind with this.”

When Tomas spoke, it was low enough for only Noel to hear. “You’re giving me your trust not to hurt you, carino . I’m giving you my trust that you won’t wipe me out by trying to buy the diner.”

He’d softened the blow. Not wipe him out and run off or rob him blind like Tomas’s finances didn’t matter. Only…food. “A mega cinnamon roll and sausage,” Noel promised. “And, thank you.”

Tomas smiled. “Just as long as you stop confirming the rumor that you kicked my ass.”

Noel chuckled. “Okay, fine. I’ll lie for you.” He wanted to kiss Tomas so badly his lips ached. Instead, Noel stepped back, turned, and hurried after Diablo, who was waiting at the door for him. Before he stepped inside, Noel glanced back and saw the enamored look in Tomas’s eyes.

He was safe with the wolf. Noel knew that in his heart.

And maybe a little in love with him too.

Chapter Seven

Tomas watched Diablo and Noel head into the diner. The mix of emotions was undeniable. Tightness in his chest for what Noel had gone through, guilt for scaring his mate, and a wild rush at seeing him again.

It all pointed to one conclusion. Tomas was in love.

He’d had feelings for others before, but none ever made him feel like he was both losing his mind and unable to breathe until Noel was back in his line of sight.

“We good, or do we need to settle shit aggressively?” Cesar’s asked gruffly, sharp gaze scanning their surroundings. “If you wanna take a swing, you do it while your elegido gone.”

With his hands on his hips, Tomas rolled his shoulders, feeling the tension pop in his back. “There’s only one person I wanna unleash on.”

While apologizing to Noel, he’d slipped the ring into his jeans pocket. Damn thing felt like it was weighing him down.

He’d never ask if Brian was Noel’s husband because he didn’t want to confront that possibility.

Didn’t want to feel that gut punch if the answer was yes. But the question still nagged at him like an incessant itch.

“Was Noel’s ex why he ended up in that empty house?” Cesar asked. “He said the guy left that band as a message, but man...” He scrubbed a hand over his head. “That’s fucked up. Noel’s got too much heart for that kind of crap.”

Tomas’s jaw tightened, his chest in knots. “I want to find the guy. Then I wanna bury him.”

He wanted to do more than that but feared unleashing that side of himself.

“Whatever you want to do, hermoso , I’m down for it.” Cesar leaned against his bike as Tomas took deep breaths. Noel would be back any minute, and he didn’t need to feel Tomas’s rage.

They both noticed the patrol car creeping by. Deputy Gilmore was behind the wheel. He smirked then gave them a lazy two-fingered wave before moving on.

“God, I hate that son of a bitch,” Cesar growled. “The minute Matias lifts his order not to touch the guy, that smug little bitch is mine.”

Tomas chuckled. “If Santiago doesn’t get to him first.”

Cesar let out a grunt. “After that bullshit arrest, he earns the kill.” He glanced around. “We still gotta figure out who tipped off Xavier’s enforcers about Santiago’s place. My gut says the snitch hasn’t left town yet.”