Flock

“That’s the point.”

“Why won’t you let people know you?”

“You know me.”

I melt into that statement, the tone giving me life, his words giving me life. “And I’m lucky.”

“You are anything but,” he mutters dryly.

“Please just stop that…you don’t have low self-esteem. What’s with this glib shit?”

“There is so much you don’t know.”

“I want to, Dom. I want to know all sides of you.”

“You don’t, Cecelia, you think you do, but you don’t.”

“You think I won’t care for you like I do?”

“Things will change.”

“I don’t care,” I place my hands on his chest. “I want in. Please let me in.”

He remains quiet and I blow out a frustrated breath. Lately, I’m becoming more and more frustrated with the militant restraint they show, but it’s not changing. It’s the price I have to pay to be with them both, so I backpedal.

“Okay, okay.” I roll back and let my head rest on his windshield and silently berate myself for pushing so hard. “Sorry.” I lift and press a kiss to his jaw. “It’s hard being with you. It’s just hard sometimes.”

I reclaim my place back in his hold and run my hand underneath his shirt palming his chest, he grips my bare shoulder, pulling me tighter to him.

“You are in.”

Every word hits the i

When he pulls away, I feel everything at once. I know I’m in love with him. I just don’t know how much of him I know.

My computer geek/keyboard warrior, my book nerd who lives like a peasant despite his place in the ranks. A silent hero with a flip switch temper. A passionate lover, who reserves his subtle kindness, a warmth close to imperceptible unless you get close enough to see it. Yet with him I can see it, I can feel it, in his touch, in his eyes, inside him dwells a gentle soul capable of much more than he lets on. I’m so greedy for him that I want him to have everything. I want him to embrace it. I want to see him showered with the love he deserves. And selfishly, I want to be the only one ever to do it.

I open my mouth to do just that when he covers it.

“Don’t waste good words on me.”

He muffles my objection.

“It’s okay, Cecelia. I’m as close to happy as a man like me deserves.”

It’s his secrets that keep him humble, keep him from letting himself want anything more than what he has. Only a good man would question whether or not he deserves anything more. A part of me breaks at the idea he thinks he deserves nothing more from his future.

“Have you hurt people?”

Silence. But it’s not a stupid question. It’s just a question he won’t answer. It’s probable he’s used the gun in his car and will do it again. He’s a man with too many secrets and no one to share them with.

“Do I make you happy? Even a little?”

I can’t help my smile at his silence before he kisses me breathless.

Dominic pulls up to the garage and I grin when I see Sean’s Nova. I rush through the lobby, stopping short when I see the look on his face. He meets Dominic’s eyes behind me, his expression grave before he gives me his attention, a quick flash of teeth when I reach him.

“You’ve been up to no good?”

“Always.”

“That’s my girl.”

“Where is everyone?” I ask, looking around the garage. Sean ignores my question and runs his fingers through my hair.

“Cecelia, I’m going to take you home, okay?”

I turn to see Dominic’s eyes have gone cold; his jaw set in a firm line.

“But—”

“Not tonight, okay?” Sean says softly. “Me and Dom have to talk.”

I know asking what’s wrong is pointless, but the tension rolling off him has me on high alert.

“Are you…safe?”

He runs his finger along my nose and peers down at me with pure adoration.

“Safety is an illusion, baby.”

“God, Sean, just for once, can you lie to me?”

“I hate the ground you walk on.” He deadpans before glancing over my shoulder at Dominic who speaks up behind me.

“When?”

“Now.”

“Fuck,” he says, his eyes trail over me and then back to Sean. “Get her home.”

Sean nods and grips my hand, and I shake my head walking toward Dominic. Just once, I hope he’ll make an exception and let his temper take a backseat, and he does. I rise up on my toes as he pulls me to him and kisses me for long seconds, practically lifting me off my feet with the sweep of his tongue. When he pulls away, I’m dazed.

“You gotta go, baby.” The term of endearment from his lips instills dread into me. I glance back at Sean as emotions take over and I see it, the worry I’ve gotten glimpses of since the moment we met.

They’re scared.

It’s written in the rigidity of their posture as well as their expressions.

“It’s okay,” Sean says softly, pulling me to him, uncertainty in his tone. “But we have to go, Pup. Right now.”

“Okay,” we move past Dominic, and our fingers brush. He doesn’t look back. He just stands in the middle of the garage, his eyes cast down, and I watch him just seconds before he erupts, the jarring sound of metal hitting the bay doors as Sean rips me from the building and pulls me into the car.

All the color drains from my face as Sean ushers me inside.

“I don’t care, do you hear me, I don’t care what it is, give me something.”

He tears out of the parking lot and I wait, knowing he can feel the anxiety pouring from me.

“Sean, plea—”

“Somebody couldn’t keep a secret.”