Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(57)

Nothing about her expression told the same story, but I didn’t see pain exactly. I studied her as she shifted her weight back and forth on her feet and tapped out a rhythm against her mug.

I moved in closer, watching for any hint of apprehension, but the nearer I got, the more Shiloh seemed to calm. Wrapping an arm around her, I leaned my forehead against hers. “I’m right here. My feelings didn’t change with a few hours’ sleep.”

Shiloh melted into me at those words. “I’m not going to be good at this.”

“Me, either, but I think we can fumble through it together. Give each other room to mess up and tell one another how to fix it.” Because I couldn’t hold back from Shiloh any longer. I’d fought the pull with everything I had in me, so scared I’d hurt her if I gave in. And the truth was, I would hurt her. I’d inevitably screw something up and cause her pain. But I was hurting us both every damn day by not giving this a shot.

She set her coffee mug on the counter and burrowed into me. “I’ve been scared to want this.”

“You and me both.”

She smiled against my chest. “Why does that make me feel better?”

I chuckled. “Because you know you’re not in this alone. And you never will be.” I might not have the tools to be the best in relationships, but I had patience. I didn’t give up, and I always found a path through.

I brushed the hair away from her face. It hung in loose waves around her face today, curled from that braid she typically wore. She was so damn beautiful it was like claws digging into my heart. My fingers trailed along her cheek, down her neck, and beneath her hair. “This goes at your speed. You have the reins.”

A flash of panic lit her expression. “I don’t know the first thing about leading something like this. I—I’ll screw something up.”

I brushed my lips across hers, a hint of coffee and Shiloh filling my senses. “Just do what feels right. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or tell me what you don’t. That’s how this works.”

She glared at me. Full-on scowled as if I’d stolen the last donut.

I barked out a laugh.

“Don’t laugh. It’s not funny.”

I kissed her again, unable to help myself. “It’s a little funny.”

Shiloh huffed. “Then you have to do the same. Tell me what you want and don’t.”

“That’s simple.”

She arched a brow in question.

“I want you. Always. Whatever you want to give.”

A blush stained her cheeks. “Not scared I’m going to turn into some stage-three clinger?”

I pulled her closer to me. “You can cling all you want.”

She grinned up at me. “Well, I’m not clinging today. I need to go see my parents and then stop by the feed store and the grocery. You need anything?”

Everything in me tensed, the events of last night playing in my mind. “Why don’t I go with you?”

Shiloh shook her head. “I’m not letting what happened last night scare me out of my life. I have to keep living. I’ll be cautious, but I’m not taking up a bodyguard.”

“I don’t think going places alone right now is smart.” A rapid-fire slideshow of all the horrible things that could happen played in my mind.

She pressed a palm to my chest. “It’s broad daylight. I have my cell phone. I’m going to public places. This asshole jumped me from behind in the dark. He’s not going to attack at ten in the morning on a busy street.”

My gut churned, but I forced myself to nod. The more I fell for this woman the greater the pull was to protect her. But I couldn’t clip those wings. I’d take myself out before I did. She’d had it happen too many times before.

“Do me a favor and call or text when you head somewhere new?”

It was a compromise—the best I could do.

Shiloh stretched up onto her tiptoes and brushed her lips against mine. “I can do that.”

I forced myself to let her go as she tugged out of my arms, but it was the hardest thing I’d done in recent memory.





My phone buzzed, and I pulled it from my pocket. Shiloh should just be getting to her parents’, so I didn’t think it was her. The alert for the front gate flashed. I pulled up the camera, and Aidan’s truck came into view. I hit the button to open the gate and shoved my phone back into my pocket.

I turned back towards Onyx, and she eyed me warily. Slowly, I raised my hand to stroke her neck. “I’ll be back. And I promise Shiloh will be, too. I know you like her way better, but we gotta get you used to all sorts. Even ornery bastards like me.”

Onyx huffed and turned her head away as if to say, “Please, don’t make me lower myself to that level.”

I couldn’t help but grin as I headed for the fence and ducked between the rails. We were making progress. It was slow and sometimes awkward, but it would all be worth the hardship in the end.

Gravel crunched as Aidan’s truck approached. He pulled to a stop in front of the round pen and climbed out.

“Hey, wasn’t sure if you were working today.”

He shrugged. “The Millers were taking Elliott to the park with a family across the street. They have a kid who’s in the same grade.”