Wild and Free (The Three #3)(76)

He moved as if he was going to bring us both to our feet, but I curled my fingers around his biceps where they were resting and he stopped.

“If Dad wants me, let him come to me, will you?”

“Absolutely.”

I smiled at him.

He dipped to me again and touched his lips to my smile.

He brought us both to our feet and I watched him saunter to his tee and pull it on, followed by his socks and boots. Then he came back to me.

I got another lip brush before he left the room to get me breakfast, break the news to our family that he and I (with Lucien and Leah, Callum and Sonia) were fated to save the world or die trying, and give me space—all this taking care of me.

I’d had that from Dad all my life, part-time close, part-time distant, until he changed that last.

And if I’d made a list of what I wanted in a man, I’d have wanted to keep that. Having someone to take care of and love who gave the same back to me.

But I was glad I’d never made a list because it felt unbelievably cool whenever Abel ticked off an item on the nonexistent one, surprising me at the same time showing me what I needed that I didn’t know I needed until he gave it to me.

It felt good.

No, it felt great.

Actually, it felt like falling in love.

*

“Dad, sit.”

“Can’t.”

“Dad, please. For me?”

Dad didn’t look from where he was standing, his gaze aimed out the window at the sea.

I was back in the armchair. I’d had a bath. A light breakfast. A shitload of coffee. I’d done myself up and got my head together.

I’d had exactly what I needed but didn’t know I needed until Abel gave it to me.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t sad. Snake was gone and his loss weighed heavily on me. Chen and Jabber were hurt. Yesterday was extreme.

But I wasn’t freaked.

Given the opportunity to think, none of this surprised me. What I’d felt my whole life was not natural. The bond I was building with Abel wasn’t either, but it was strong and it was beautiful. The fact it was fate made sense.

And with who they were and what they could do, not to mention the fact that life was life, people were people, and evil existed, I could see some of the supernaturals thinking they should rule the world.

I didn’t like it. I didn’t particularly want to play a part in stopping them.

But I had no choice.

I’d gone to therapy when I had no choice, and I’d gotten through. I’d lived with Mom when I had no choice, and I’d gotten through. I’d existed with a hole in my soul until I met Abel, and I’d gotten through.

Now I had him and we faced this.

And we’d make it through.

“Will rest when Snake’s at rest,” Dad said, taking my thoughts back to him.

“Okay, Daddy,” I said gently.

“After that, I’ll worry about my little girl saving the world.”

I sighed.

Abel had told him and we could just say Dad was not all fired up about that particular adventure.

I heard the door open.

I shifted to peer around the side of the chair and saw Abel walking in.

He looked to me, then to Dad, and back to me.

I shook my head.

An expression of sweet understanding moved over his features and I gave him a small smile.

Then I watched him walk to me, also taking in the room around him as I watched him move.

It wasn’t very vampiric, which was kind of a letdown. No blood-red walls or black satin sheets or anything.

Actually, it looked like what I would guess a room in a mansion on the northwest coast would look like. Hunter-green walls. Lots of exposed wood. Accents of muted gold and burnished rust. Kickass paintings of seascapes. A headboard on the king-sized bed made of wood and scrolled iron. Attractive bed linens in greens, golds, and rusts. Lots of pillows. Furniture that was exceptionally attractive but bought and positioned around the room for ease and comfort.

I really didn’t take in much of anything last night, including this room. But right then, I liked it a whole lot.

That said, I kinda missed Abel’s dungeon, but only because that was the place where he and me became a we.

He stopped at the side of my chair and bent deep. Even though my head was tipped back for his kiss, he didn’t give it to me. He rubbed his temple against mine, then lifted away.

I liked it when he did that so I didn’t mind not getting a kiss.

He settled in, leaning against the side of my chair, his eyes moving to Dad.

“Hook, how you doin’?” he asked quietly.

I looked to Dad to see Dad taking Abel and I in.

Finally, he focused on Abel. “Be better once I put my man to rest.”

“Gregor said they’d do whatever you wanted. Just tell me what you want and I’ll get them to arrange it,” Abel told him.

Dad held his eyes and stated, “Viking funeral.”

“Come again?” Abel asked.

“Snake had shit parents, four shit wives, and mostly a shit life, unless he was with his brothers. Didn’t get much of what he wanted outta life, that’s just the way life rolled out for him. It sucked watching, but respect, Snake never let it get him down. Man always talked about wanting a Viking funeral. Thought he was nuts, picking the wrong women, not havin’ great luck, and wanting an end he couldn’t have, seein’ as we lived landlocked and no one lets you do that shit. Reckon the vampires could do that shit though, so I like the idea of Snake gettin’ one thing he wanted, even if he gets it after he’s gone.”