Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men #9)(131)

He nodded, biting his lip. “I took them off you that first night we hooked up at the wedding.”

I gasped, my gaze flying to him. “But you said you threw them away.”

“Hmm…did I say that?’

“Oh! You…” I smacked his arm and laughed. “You lied to me.”

He chuckled and took them from my hand. “So, will you do me a favor and wear them for me today, and remember that no matter what kind of things have torn us apart, we’ve always found our way back together again. We’ll always find each other, no matter what.”

Tears of love sparkled in my eyes. “It would be my pleasure,” I told him, leaning in to kiss his mouth.

He kissed me back, but only just barely before he pulled away and demanded, “Okay, now open your real gift.”

When he motioned back to the white box on my lap, I looked down to realize there was something else underneath the next layer of tissue paper. So I folded it back to reveal a new dream catcher.

“Oh…holy wow,” I said, gaping at it. It was nicer than any other dream catcher I already owned.

“One more for your collection,” Colton said, watching me trace my fingers over the feathers and leather loom.

“I love it.” Looking up, I stared into his eyes and knew I was blessed. “Almost as much as I love you.”





We walked through campus hand-in-hand, each of us taking turns sipping from our favorite to-go mug. Colton had walked me to my first class and left me at the door with a kiss, only to be there waiting for me when it was over.

Someday, when I felt stronger and less apprehensive, I wouldn’t need that much support, but today I appreciated him being there, always where I needed him most.

I’d had no idea he would turn out to be such a rock when I’d first met him. But something told me he hadn’t known that either. I wasn’t the only one who’d gone through changes in the past few weeks. Something in Colton had matured. He didn’t seem to be all talk anymore. Now you could tell there was something there to back it up. And it only made him that much more appealing.

We didn’t say much as we started toward the history building together for our philosophy class. Up ahead, I spotted a familiar face and began to stop because I didn’t want to deal with Shaun. But as soon as he saw me, he stopped in his tracks as well and took off in the opposite direction.

“Huh,” I said gazing after him, pleasantly surprised but confused as to why he wanted to avoid me.

Colton chuckled. “Yeah, I’d run too if I were him.”

I turned to him, lifting my eyebrows.

“Your dad about ripped him a new * after you went missing, because someone…” he coughed into his hand and said Sasha’s name at the same time, “told him what Shaun had done to you while you were married. So yeah…after Shaun pissed himself, I think we all knew he’d never bother you again.”

“Wait.” I held up a hand. “When you say pissed himself…?”

Colton grinned. “I mean, a big wet spot appeared in his pants and ran down his leg before puddling around his shoe.”

My mouth fell open. “Holy shit.”

“Yeah. It was pretty epic. The only bright spot of that whole day. And I mean, big wet, bright spot.”

When he fell serious and somber, I said, “Well, it’s nice to know one good thing came from all this. Can’t say I’m going to miss Shauny boy.”

“Amen.” He silently handed me the cup, and I took a sip before giving it back. Then I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, content, cuddling my cheek to the cloth of his coat and happier than I could possibly express, glad I was here with him and nowhere else.

This was the kind of relationship I’d always wanted and I hadn’t even known it.

Something about the word relationship popped open a memory into my head, though. And I found myself saying, “You didn’t fail me.”

Colton jolted and looked down at me. “What?”

I smiled up into his eyes. “Once upon a time you told me it was just as well we weren’t in a relationship, otherwise you would fail me.”

Unease darkened his eyes. “But it’s my fault—”

“No.” I tightened my fingers around his. “It’s the monster’s fault I was taken. It’s your fault I’ve been able to recover from that. I wouldn’t have been able to do all this today if it weren’t for you. Your steady, unfailing presence at my side, your patience and understanding, your wit and smile. You’ve healed me more than anyone else. So, no, you’ve never failed me. You saved me. Thank you for that.”

Face filling with emotion, he shook his head trying to deny it, but then he swallowed and leaned in to kiss me. Our lips touched and I smiled against his mouth until someone spoke his name.

Colton tensed against me and muttered, “Dammit.”

“Wha…?” I lifted my head, wondering what was wrong, only to spot his brother with a book bag slung over his shoulder heading our way to intercept us.

“Hey,” Brandt said in guarded greeting, smiling and yet hesitant as if he wasn’t sure if he was welcome among us or not.

Though I was the one he looked at, Colton answered for us. “Hey,” he said stiffly. “How’s the big bad graduate student today?”