Trusted Bond

because I was thinking about
    it and worrying.
    ―What are you talking about?‖
    ―I mean, are you gonna leave as soon as we get home or a couple
    days after that or—‖
    ―Jin,‖ he soothed me, ―take a breath, okay. Just relax; I won‘t go
    anywhere until you‘re ready.‖
    ―Oh no, that‘s not fair. I—‖
    ―Stop,‖ he ordered me. ―Go back to sleep already.‖
    And I rolled over and did.

    WHEN I woke up again, Crane was still there, keeping his vigil.
    ―What‘re you reading?‖ I yawned, smelling something good. ―And
    what is that?‖
    ―I‘m reading one of Delphine‘s romance novels, and I think Justin‘s
    sheseru, I think he‘s making gumbo or something.‖
    ―Really?‖
    ―I think so, yeah.‖
    I looked at him. ―You‘re not pissed at me?‖
    ―No. Close your eyes.‖
    ―I want Logan.‖
    ―Okay, I‘ll go get him. Don‘t move.‖
    Logan climbed onto the bed a few minutes later. He lay down close
    to me, crossing his arms under him to prop himself up. ―You should go
    back to sleep.‖
    234

    Mary Calmes

    ―What time is it?‖
    ―I dunno, like one in the morning or something.‖
    ―Shit,‖ I said, looking at him, into the dark-gold eyes. ―I‘m so sorry.‖
    He shook his head. ―It‘s okay.‖
    ―I just… I couldn‘t… I had to leave.‖
    ―And you didn‘t see me‖—he smiled at me—―or you wouldn‘t have
    left.‖
    I thought about that a second. ―No, I wouldn‘t have.‖
    He nodded.
    ―Why aren‘t you yelling at me?‖
    ―Because that‘s exactly what you don‘t need,‖ he said softly. ―I love
    you, and you scared me, and I‘m so pissed at myself for….‖ He took a
    deep breath. ―You need me and Crane and your family, and that‘s it. I
    think of you as so strong, and you are—you really are—but, love, you
    need rest. You need time to work through everything, and if you need to
    talk to someone else besides me, we can—‖
    ―No.‖ I shook my head. ―I don‘t want to do that.‖
    ―Okay. You lemme know if you change your mind.‖
    I felt my eyes fill, and he reached out and smoothed his thumb over
    my cheek.
    ―Don‘t cry, baby.‖
    ―You think I‘m crazy.‖
    ―No, baby, you‘re just pushing yourself like you always do, and you
    need to realize that your body needs rest and so does your mind.‖
    ―You‘re worried I‘m gonna flip out.‖
    He chuckled, leaning forward, brushing his lips over mine. ―No,
    honey.‖
    ―Did I scare you?‖
    ―Yes, you did.‖
    ―Did that freak you out?‖
    ―Little bit,‖ he confessed.
    ―But you‘re not gonna lock me up or something?‖
    ―No.‖
    ―I‘m sorry.‖
    ―You need more rest, and I‘m sorry I missed that.‖
    Trusted Bond

    235

    I stared up into his dark-gold eyes. ―Crane thinks I had a panic
    attack.‖
    ―Me too.‖
    ―Are you mad at me?‖
    ―No. Why don‘t you try and sleep some more?‖
    ―I should go out there and see everybody.‖
    ―When you wake up.‖
    ―I don‘t need your permission,‖ I said, trying to lift myself up.
    ―Yeah, good luck with that,‖ he teased me, leaning forward to give
    me a quick kiss.
    I caught his bottom lip, sucking it inside my mouth.
    ―Jin,‖ he groaned, getting closer to me so I could reach him better. I
    ran my tongue over his, sliding it back and forth, sucking, licking his lips,
    biting gently, deepening the kiss until he pulled back. ―Go to sleep. Stop
    trying to get me in trouble.‖
    I smiled at him. ―Get you in trouble?‖
    ―Yeah. How insensitive do I look to everyone if they come in here
    and I‘m all over you?‖
    ―Be all over me, please.‖
    ―God, you sound good, all hoarse and sexy.‖
    I reached for him, but he was off the bed really fast. I motioned him
    back.
    ―Knock it off. Go to sleep.‖
    ―I slept enough.‖
    I saw his jaw clench.
    ―You didn‘t sign on for all this,‖ I told him. ―Are you sure you
    wanna keep—‖
    ―You‘re mine,‖ he said, his brows furrowing. ―Just stop talking.
    Christ, you love to talk.‖
    I just looked at him. ―Come kiss me again. I promise not to shove
    my tongue down your throat.‖
    He got back on the bed and moved over to me. I reached out and got
    my hand behind his neck, pulling him closer to me, my mouth opening
    under his, drawing him down, deep inside. He chuckled against my mouth
    before he pulled back to look down at me. ―You‘re such a liar.‖
    ―It‘s ‘cause I missed you. I just want you all the time.‖
    236

    Mary