Chapter Thirty-Five

Angel felt so much better getting the story out. Thorne was the only other person she’d told the details of that night. Even then, she’d kept it short, and didn’t tell him how terrified she’d been.

In the comfort of Colton’s arms, she felt safe to let it all out.

“I’m so sorry about your parents,” he whispered.

“Thanks.”

He reached over and turned off the light, then flipped the covers up over her. A silent invitation for her to stay, thank God.

She let out a breath and closed her eyes, wanting desperately to be with him. She was suddenly dead tired, and thought she might actually be able to sleep for once.

“Thank you for coming back,” he said.

“Thank you for letting me.”

“You always have a home with me.”

The word struck her with the force of a bullet…but one filled with good things instead of pain and death.

A home.

She hadn’t thought of anywhere as home since that night her life had been destroyed by her brother. But being with Colton did feel like home. Even better, it was a home where she finally felt safe.

She’d never had that before.

A few minutes later, his breathing steadied into a comforting rhythm, and she felt herself being pulled under with him.

When she awoke, the sun was coming in through the curtains and Colton was gone. Pudge was still snuggled up against her back, his hot doggy breath stirring her hair.

Given a choice, she would have picked the other male to have stayed. Although Pudge wouldn’t have been able to make her breakfast, if she was right about the sounds and smells coming from the kitchen.

Starving, she went to investigate, and found Colton at the stove, shirtless.

She wanted nothing more than to walk up behind him, wrap her arms around his waist, and rest her cheek on the bare skin of his strong back. But she didn’t.

Last night she’d slept with him, but it had been very different than before. He’d offered her support. He hadn’t suggested anything more.

To touch him would start something they wouldn’t be able to finish. It had taken all her strength to leave him a year ago. She didn’t know if she could do it again.

Even if there was no other choice.