Cataclysm (Four Horsemen #4)(50)

“I didn’t go through ten years of fighting to get you back to make our family whole for nothing,” he said with a low voice, emotion radiating off all the words. “I just want us.”

Apparently, my prodding and insisting Drake open up to me had shifted something inside him. Or maybe it was because we’d shared our feelings finally. Either way, my heart was full seeing him be so willing to declare how he felt and what he wanted.

Drake turned to Francis, putting his hand out to him. As expected, there was no hesitation on Francis’ part to hold Drake’s hand. He looked over at me, his silvery-grey eyes glinting. I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. Something about the way Francis looked at me had my body heating like he was stripping me bare in his mind and imagining all the dirty things he wanted to do to me. Whilst it might not be entirely appropriate given the conversation we were having, I didn’t care. It was layered with love too. The love he felt for me. The unfathomable depths of it weren’t overwhelming. I felt the same way. I did about all of them.

“You complete us, Scar. I don’t have need or want for anything else other than this.”

Francis gave me a wink before putting his hand out to Prescott, who took it, then leant across the table to take mine again. Prescott stared at me with those beautiful blues of his. The smile he gave me had my heart racing.

“You four and Mum are the only people who have never willingly walked out of my life without a backwards glance. My loyalty is here and there’s nothing else I could ask for or need other than this.”

He squeezed my hand tight in his. It made me want him so badly, I was up and out of my chair, letting go of his hand and West’s. I was around the table and gripping his face the next moment.

“I love you,” I whispered before I kissed him.

It wasn’t chaste or restrained. I poured out my love and appreciation into it, showing him my feelings. How I would never abandon him, even when things were tough. Never give up on the two of us, no matter what happened in the future. He deserved my devotion. He loved me in a way I couldn’t describe. Gave me things I never knew I needed or desired. He was my king.

“I love you too,” he told me when I released him.

I walked around him to Francis and sat in his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and nuzzling my nose against his.

“You made me blush with the way you were looking at me,” I whispered.

He ran his hand down my chest, making me wriggle in his grasp before curling his fingers around my waist.

“Can’t blame me, can you?”

I chuckled before kissing him. Admittedly, I adored the way he made me feel beautiful and wanted without words. My safety and my home were with him.

“No,” I replied when I pulled away. “But that wicked mind of yours is clearly running riot. No doubt you won’t tell me what you’re planning.”

He grinned and bit his lip.

“Never.”

I pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“I love you for it.”

“I love you more.”

I stroked his face before extracting myself from his lap and going to Drake. He curled a hand around my waist, pulling me against his side as I leant down towards him. Drake tipped his face up to catch my mouth in a searing kiss that had my toes curling.

“My little wisp,” he murmured against my lips.

“My reaper,” I whispered back.

He smiled, stroked my side, and then released me. We’d already made love declarations earlier, so I wasn’t put out by the fact he didn’t say anything further. I skipped around the table to West instead, who looked up at me with his beautiful amber eyes shining with happiness.

I reached down, tucking my fingers under the collar of his shirt and brushing them over the scars I’d given him. He took my other hand and pressed it to his mouth, giving my palm a series of kisses. I craved the reassurance of his embrace.

West didn’t object when I sat in his lap. No, he wrapped his arms around me and let me rest myself against his chest.

“Can I stay here whilst I finish eating?” I asked.

“As my little Scar wishes.”

It didn’t matter if I’d had soul-destroying sex with him earlier. The way I wanted to be close to West couldn’t be quantified. Being near him made me feel… alive. There was a certain rush to having a man like him be utterly obsessed with you. I feared and desired him at the same time. A heady rush of mixed emotions that set me on fire.

For now, I was content to be held by him. And to remember the way he looked at me as he came apart earlier. How he couldn’t hide the depths of his devotion to me. His love. It was like being suffocated but in a good way. In the very best way. I liked it when West choked me during sex and this feeling was no different. I wanted to be drowned in his abyss of violence and destruction, pulled so deep inside I could never find my way out.

As I leant over to drag my bowl and mug towards me, I heard Drake clearing his throat. I turned to him when I’d got settled, raising my eyebrow.

“I spoke to the others about this before you came down… after what happened yesterday, I think we all agree we don’t want you leaving Fortuity without one of us with you. In fact, I’d prefer it if you stayed here out of harm’s way entirely.”

It took me a second to gather my thoughts and feelings on that little matter.