34

Tangled in the sheets of their bed, Belle closed her eyes and found their connection instantly. She felt it everywhere, like Layke was a shadow. She couldn’t touch or feel it, but it was there – a part of her. She knew he was genuinely happy they had bonded, knew he was serious when he said he wouldn’t let her leave him no matter what.

When she opened her eyes, Layke framed her face with his hands, brushing his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’d never purposefully hurt you. Never. I’m a man which means I’ll fuck up. Regularly. I’m shit with words, I sprout crap when I’m angry, and I’m about as romantic as a rock. But you’re more important to me than anything else. The future may be messy, fuck it will be messy. But I don’t care. As long as you’re here, I don’t care.”

Belle smiled. “Me too.” Gently, he brought her face to his and ravished her mouth, gliding his tongue against hers and drinking her into him. “Let’s go get breakfast.” He told her.

Strolling through the hallway, hand in h