Only Mine (Honey Mountain #5)(76)

I know that we belong together.

We’d set up all these fucking rules, and I didn’t want to follow a single one of them anymore.

I wasn’t an easy man. I was moody and grumpy most of the time. I focused on work, and I’d never had to make room for anyone. I’d kind of always been a bit of a loner, and the military enhanced that even more. It’s how you stayed alive. Never trust anyone except your immediate team.

Dylan was part of my team now, and I didn’t want to fuck that up.

Everyone wanted to know if we were dating. Of course, we were fucking dating. We spent the majority of our days together—every single day.

Every single night.

Now, I didn’t know how to sleep without Dylan Thomas in my bed.

The sex was out of this world, and I fucking loved her.

That crazy, possessive, I-can’t-live-without-you kind of love I’d always thought was foolish.

It was dangerous. And reckless.

Not something I ever craved or wanted.

So, I needed to think this through.

She and I never stopped reminding one another about the rules of this arrangement, and I wasn’t sure how she really felt.

“Take a right at the corner,” she said, pulling the mirrored visor down and applying some lipstick. “So, Jaqueline said she still hasn’t heard from Bullet. Are you worried?”

“I don’t know. No word doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. He could just be unable to reach out.” I cleared my throat because I was fucking worried. My gut told me something wasn’t right. I’d reached out to a few of my contacts at the Navy but hadn’t heard anything back yet.

“That has to be hard, not hearing from her husband on the holidays,” she said, as I pulled into the long, circular driveway and put the car into park.

“It’s not an easy career path for families. It’s why I kept my attachments light. Aside from my family, of which my mother and sister lost sleep when I was gone for weeks at a time, I didn’t have anyone else.”

She turned to face me. “Do you like it that way, Wolf?”

“I used to, for a long time.”

“But now?” she asked, a wicked little grin on her pretty face.

“Things are—a little different now.”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “You’re so stubborn. Come on. Let’s get inside.”

I held her hand but let her walk a little ahead of me so I could check out her ass in this dress. She looked fucking gorgeous.

I wanted to buy things for Dylan. Spoil her. Pamper her.

Take care of her.

But she was a strong woman, and I didn’t want to scare her away.

Or maybe I was protecting myself, using that as an excuse not to go all in.

“I know you’re watching my ass, you perv.” She pushed open the door, and it was like walking into something straight out of a movie.

It was loud as conversation and laughter floated around the house. Ashlan came running over and lunged at her sister, while Jace extended his hand.

“Glad you could be here, Wolf. I think her sisters would have lost it if she wasn’t here.” He clapped a hand around my shoulder as his daughters raced toward Dylan, and she bent down to give them each a hug.

“You’re handsome, and I’m Paisley. Are you Aunt Dilly’s boyfriend?”

I glanced over at Dylan, and she smirked before leaning down. “Remember? I told you that no man was going to steal my heart. Wolf is my friend. But he is handsome.”

Ouch.

Well, this was exactly why I needed to tread lightly.

“Pick me up, please,” the smaller one said to me, holding her little arms up.

Jace chuckled. “That’s Hadley. She’d have you carry her all around if you were willing.”

She was freaking adorable. Her pudgy little hand landed on my cheek, and then she leaned her head on my shoulder.

We walked into the crowd and made our rounds, saying hello to everyone. This was normally not my thing. But I didn’t mind it here.

There was so much love in the room, you couldn’t miss it.

And everyone treated me like I was part of the family, whether we were dating or not.

I sipped my beer and settled beside Jack Thomas on the couch. The man had finally made a full recovery and was back to work full time, but that didn’t stop Dylan from worrying about her dad. Ledger sat on the other side of him, and Niko sat in the chair across from me while Hawk stood, screaming at the TV as we watched the football game. Jace kept sneaking away to the kitchen to help Ashlan, but then he’d run back in to see what the score was.

My stomach rumbled because it smelled the turkey and pumpkin pie.

“Thanks for bringing her home in time for dinner,” Jack said, turning to face me.

“Of course. Happy to be here.”

“Spending the holidays together seems like a… thing… Am I right?” he asked, looking completely awkward, and I felt the way he looked.

“Shit. Are you trying to give him the birds and the bees talk?” Niko barked out a laugh. “He’s here. She’s here. They’ll figure their shit out. Don’t worry about it.”

“This is my poetic son-in-law.” Jack chuckled.

“I’ll tell you what. As soon as we figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.” I felt like I should give him something more. He was her father. He loved her, and he was just looking out for her. “But—er—it’s new for me, and I’m trying.”