Colters' Gift (Colters' Legacy #5)(52)

The important thing was that she wouldn’t be alone. Noah and Liam would be with her every step of the way.

Chapter 21

LAUREN slept with Liam that night while Noah slept in the living room. She woke the next morning, curled into his embrace, him tightly wrapped around her. She was spooned against him, her back molded to his chest. One of his legs was thrown over hers and his palm was flat against her belly.

She smiled, sighing in utter contentment. It was a nice way to wake up. It was a nice way to sleep. So far they’d alternated nights, but what would happen when they had better sleeping arrangements? If she were in a place that could actually accommodate a king-sized bed, then it would be possible for them both to sleep with her and one wouldn’t always have to take a separate room or bed.

She wiggled slightly, working free of Liam’s embrace so that she could look at him. He was beautiful. Not many would say so. He’d probably always been judged because of the hair and the tattoos. Most people likely cut a wide path around him.

But his heart was gold. He was so loving and so protective. There wasn’t a mean bone in his body. Not when it came to her.

She let her palm glide over the intricate artwork on his arm, taking in the bright colors and the patterns. There wasn’t a set rhythm. It wasn’t a specific scene or even a recognizable symbol. It was quite simply a work of art. Eclectic. Vibrant. It made him stand out in a crowd, but then he was the kind of man who would with or without the colorful tats.

He was a man impossible to overlook.

While she was staring, his eyelids opened and he gave her a sleepy look, his blue eyes cloudy.

“Good morning,” she murmured.

Without a word, he wrapped his arm around her waist and hauled her to him, kissing her lightly on the lips. He didn’t seem to care about issues like morning breath. She could only imagine what hers was like.

“You look . . .” His eyes narrowed as he studied her.

“I look what?”

“Content,” he finally said.

She smiled. “I am. Maybe I’m making peace with things. Finally. Or maybe you and Noah just make me so happy and confident that I don’t care about anything else.”

“I’m glad,” he said softly. “I love you, Lauren. I want you to be happy. I want you to fly. Whatever makes you happy, I want it for you.”

She swallowed, her features frozen. Her heart fluttered in her chest like an injured butterfly.

He loved her.

Oh, she knew he cared about her. But love?

He sounded so very serious that she knew this wasn’t an instance where he got carried away in the moment and tossed out careless words that had no meaning.

And she realized something else too. She loved him. Completely. Without reservation.

She touched his face, wanting the words to be taken as seriously as she’d taken them from him.

“I love you too, Liam.”

The relief in his eyes was crushing. It was as if his entire body had been locked in tension and had suddenly been set free. He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her to him in a fierce embrace.

“Do you mean it?” he asked gruffly against her ear.

She withdrew immediately, propping up on her elbow so they could see eye to eye.

“I love you,” she said. “I mean every word. You aren’t some passing fancy for me. I don’t have the whole damsel-in-distress thing going on where the weak woman falls for her protector. If you want me to explain it, I’m afraid I can’t. I just do.”

“I don’t want you to explain it,” Liam said. “I just want to hear it again and know you mean it. I never thought . . .”

“Never thought what?” she asked gently.

His mouth twisted and discomfort registered in his eyes.

“I never thought a girl like you would give a guy like me a second look.”

She blinked, completely at a loss for words. “Girl like me? Guy like you? What on earth do you mean? Liam, you’re beautiful,” she blurted. “You’re successful. Confident. You have a heart of gold. You’re striking to look at. Any woman would count herself lucky that you’d give her a second glance. On the other hand, I’m a cowardly nitwit. I’ve trusted the wrong people. I’ve made bad decision after bad decision. I’ve lied to you,” she said painfully. “I’m weak. I gave up my identity and all I was to a man I never should have looked at twice. And you actually think that you somehow don’t deserve my love? Good God. I’m the lucky one here. I not only have you but also Noah, and you both care about me. I can’t wrap my head around it, but I’m not questioning it, because I don’t want anything to persuade you differently.”

He smiled and twisted his fingers in her long, dark hair. “Striking to look at, huh.”

“You’re gorgeous,” she murmured as she leaned in to kiss him. “You’re also mine. Any woman looking at you better keep her distance. I’m very possessive with my man.”

His grin broadened. “Your man. I like that. And I am, you know.”

“Yes, I do. Now I really need to get up and brush my teeth before we start kissing again.”

He laughed and rolled out of bed, taking a moment to stretch before relaxing his broad shoulders again.

She was struck by how magnificent his body was. He was standing naked in front of her, and she hadn’t lied. He was simply beautiful. She’d never grow tired of watching him.