Four people climbed into the elevator with us. Affection pulled at my spirit when Zee didn’t pull away or try to put space between us. All this time, he’d seemed terrified someone might look at us and put two and two together—add us up as one.
I’d tried not to allow it to offend me. Struggled with the facts he’d given me and attempted to understand and not take it as a rejection.
But it was hard when the man you wanted to stand beside kept you hidden in the shadows. When that man made you another of his secrets without revealing to you the reason to keep them in the first place.
It hurt and always came like a slap to the face.
A stark reminder that all of this was going to end.
So, when he reached out and framed my face in both his hands, it meant…everything.
“That’s good, gorgeous, because right here is exactly where I want you to be.”
His mouth tugged at the side, and something cocky and sure glided into his features. Leaning down, he murmured in my ear, “Thing about last night, Alexis?”
Chills skated my skin. I could barely nod.
“It was the best damned night I’ve had in a lot of years.”
I stared up at him, my truth sliding out. Because I refused to tiptoe. To make it less. “Last night was the best night I’ve ever had.”
I wanted to ask him what his had been. If he could remember the moment when his life had changed permanently for the better, or if the secrets and shame had overshadowed that second, scratched and scratched and scratched at that sacred space until it was dull and dim.
Zee brushed his thumb along the hollow beneath my eye. His gaze flickered with fondness and fear. “You shouldn’t even be real, Alexis Kensington. You’re a gift. A treasure.”
I wanted to tell him gifts were to be received. Given. Taken without penalty or concern. Somehow, as I stood there, I got the feeling he was terrified I might come at the greatest cost.
I lowered my voice to shield my confession from the other people on the elevator. “You came as an offering to me, Zee. Complete and whole and willing to give up everything. Do you have any idea what that means to me?”
I reached out and tapped my fingers at the roar that drummed in his chest. “I cherish you...I cherish this giving heart…more than you could ever know.”
The words were right there, spinning in the atmosphere, magnified in the tight confines of the elevator.
I adore you.
I am lost to you.
I’m in love with you.
I kept the confessions tamed, devotion on the tip of my tongue.
I thought maybe with him towering over me, staring at me with the potency of his gaze, he knew it anyway.
The elevator dinged. It jumped us back, and I couldn’t stop the giddy sensation from sweeping through me when he sent me a knowing grin. My teeth clamped down on my lip as if it I could keep it contained.
Keep it forever.
“Come on, I think we’re this way.”
We followed the signs that directed us to labor and delivery. The hall opened up to a large waiting room, which was full of people.
Sunder had taken over.
They looked completely out of place, the appearance of these boys so menacing and bad and bold. But there was no chance of missing the excitement that bounded from each of them as they waited on something so precious.
As precious as their children who were gathered around them, the older two, Kallie and Brendon, sharing an iPad where they sat on the chairs, the younger two, Adia and Connor, were on the floor, playing with toys.
Shea, Tamar, and Edie, who was holding Sadie, were engaged in their own eager conversation.
When I’d left Willow and Ash’s house that night, I’d thought I understood the love this stitched up, patchwork family had for each other. The strength of the devotion they had for one another.
But I didn’t think I really got it until that moment.
Not until I literally felt the loyalty pulse through Zee when he stepped into the fray.
Baz shot to his feet. “Zee, man, you’re here. About time.”
They went in for a handshake, both of them clapping each other on the back. “Well, if you would’ve given me a little more heads-up, I would’ve gotten here earlier.”
Baz slanted a knowing glance at me, a wry grin taking to his mouth. “Looks to me like you were otherwise occupied.”
My gaze dropped as I pressed my lips together, trying to hide the flush of embarrassment that made a straight ascent to my cheeks.
And I thought Zee might step away. Put space between us.
Friends.
Instead, he cast me the most tender kind of smile. “Yeah, guess I was.”
Emotion clutched me everywhere. Affection, warmth, and hope.
Shea climbed to her feet. “Oh my God, Alexis, you’re here.” She hugged me tight as she rocked us. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“It’s so good to see you, too.”
It was true. True when I said hello to Austin and Lyrik. True when I hugged Tamar and Edie.
The truth of the matter was, I’d fallen a little bit for all of them.
I caressed my fingertips over Sadie’s tiny fist and her even tinier fingers, this sweet, sweet girl with her pouty pink lips and cherub face.
My hammering heart shot into a frenzy when Zee dropped to a knee beside Adia and Connor, bringing me with him. He ran a loving hand over both of their heads as I whispered my hellos.
Some things were so adorable they physically hurt.
Zee straightened back to standing, keeping hold of my hand. “How’s it going in there? Any news?”
Lyrik shook his head and roughed his palms down his thighs, his tattooed hands pressing into his jeans. “Who knows, man. They’ve been back there for close to five hours now. Only experience I have on the matter is Adia, and she sure didn’t seem to want to give up her hold on my Blue.”
Tamar grinned at him. “Stubborn, just like her daddy.”
His expression was nothing but adoration as they looked at each other. Clearly both of them were right back in the middle of that day.
“Heck yeah, she’s just like her daddy. Look at the little thing…little spitfire isn’t about to let boys push her around, either.”
Adia was rambling incoherent orders to Connor where they played with a pile of wooden bricks on the floor.
Lyrik looked back at Zee. “Think it was something like thirty hours we were in there. Pretty much was about to go straight out of my damned mind with the worry. Can’t even imagine how our boy Ash is handling it right now. Surprised all the nurses on the floor aren’t running for the hills. Be willing to throw down some dollars Ash is back there being an overprotective beast.”
Austin chuckled, his glance a soft caress against his wife where he watched her hugging their daughter. “And my Edie barely made it to the hospital. Thought I was gonna have to pull over and deliver that baby girl in the backseat.”
Edie scoffed, though it was tender. “I’m pretty sure there would have been no delivering where you were concerned. You just about passed out as it was.”
Baz laughed, all tease. “Ahh, baby brother, just couldn’t man up and handle it when things got messy, huh?”