Page 34 of Xane

My eyes feel heavy and I snuggle closer to Grayer.He wraps his arm around my body and pulls me flush against him.My head is lying on his chest when I fall asleep.We’re still a tangled mess of limbs when I wake up.

There’s no tightness in my chest from the way I’m caged in Grayer’s arms.My body doesn’t panic, neither does my mind.I rub my cheek against his muscled body and inhale his masculine scent.His arms slightly tighten around me and I feel his lips pressing a kiss on the crown of my head.

“Mornin’, darlin’,” he rumbles.“It’s still early, but I need to get dressed.There were some developments yesterday.I have to go and track some leads, pay some people a visit, and get shit going.”

I push off his chest and stare down at him.“Why are you telling me stuff without actually saying anything?”

A deep sigh releases from him.“I know you should hear the details, but it’s killing me to throw that shit at you.Fuck.This is all new for me too.I have no clue how my club brothers keep their sanity when it involves their old lady.Spence and Dion fell first, both women were tied to the case they were working on, so they were actually smack in the middle of it.Then there’s you, and I feel partly responsible for what that fucker did to you.”

I jerk my head back.“Why should you feel responsible while I was the one who accepted a date with that asshole before you were even back in town?If anything, you were the one who truly saw me when I needed help and rescued me.Besides, none of it matters because we’re here now.All of it is in the past and we’re moving forward, right?”

Grayer squeezes his eyes shut and after a deep breath he finally nods.

It’s then I realize, “You can’t put it behind you, can you?Sharing details about the case reminds you of what Ramiro did to me?”

He jabs his fingers through his hair.“No...yes...it’s not...fuck.Last night was fucking amazing, and I don’t want anything causing a setback.Fucking hell, I want to protect you so damn bad and I don’t know how.It’s going to get a lot worse before we can close this case, Z.A lot fucking worse.This cartel isn’t just drugs, and weapons.They also don’t blink twice about putting a bullet into anyone who so much as looks at them the wrong way.I need to keep you safe, know you’re protected at all times so I can take these fuckers down.”

His ramblings make sense.“How can I help?What can I do so you know I’m safe?”

“Complete lockdown.”He snorts.“Insane, I know, because you don’t want to leave the clubhouse anyway.”

I place my hand against his cheek and stare into his loving eyes.“Whatever you need, I’m here.”

He leans in and softly kisses me.“And I’m right here for whatever you need.”

My smile is genuine and shows how this man can warm my heart with a single look.I’ve always loved this man and over time it developed.When he left my senses might have dulled, but what I feel for him is rooted deep and burns hot.It flows through my veins and affects my body in a way no one else is able to.He’s simply ingrained into every cell of my body.

“I love you,” I murmur.

He sucks in a breath and closes his eyes as if the impact from my words just collided with his heart.

When he opens his eyes the words are already there before he voices them, “I’ve always loved you, and will until my dying day.”

I wrinkle my nose.“Let’s not mention your dying day with all the shit you just mentioned, okay?”

He chuckles and places his forehead against mine to touch my nose with his before he echoes, “Okay.”