Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“I love him, Aiden,” she finally said, turning in my arms so she could look at her brother.
Aiden stared at us for long moments, but I could see that anger he initially had wavering before finally giving way to acceptance. “What a fucking night,” he mumbled.
I didn’t know how to respond, so instead of saying something that could have things moving in the wrong direction, I just stroked Delilah’s back and held her close.
“I don’t need or want your permission to be with Mal,” she said, breaking up the silence. “But you’re my brother and I love you, and knowing you’re okay with this means a lot to me, Aiden.”
“You love him, D? Like really love him?”
She nodded, and I tightened my hold on her, kissing the top of her head.
Aiden looked over at me. “And you really love her?” The words were spoken slowly and quietly, and all I could do in that moment was swallow and nod.
Aiden finally sighed heavily and said, “It is what it is, and I’m not about to make my sister unhappy by not accepting this.” Aiden pegged me with a hard stare. “But hear me, Mal, best friend or not, you fucking hurt her, I’ll beat your ass so bad you won’t come out of it walking right.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. I had no doubt Aiden would hold up that end of the deal, but I wouldn’t have or want it any other way. “I’d rather hurt myself than ever do anything that would jeopardize what I have with Delilah.”
Aiden grunted and gave a short nod, clearly accepting that. “Good. Hoped you’d say that.” Aiden scrubbed a hand over his face again and exhaled. “I’m going to crash and sleep this off.” Without another word or backward glance, Aiden shuffled into his room and shut the door behind him.
I stood there with my girl in my arms, refusing to let her go. “I would have fought him for you, for the right to keep you as mine,” I said slowly. It would have torn me up to do that with Aiden, but I was in love with Delilah and refused to back down.
She tightened her hold on me, and whispered, “I know, but I’m glad it didn't come down to it. I don’t want your relationship with Aiden to be strained because of ours.”
I kissed the top of her head again, and we made our way back into her room, got undressed once more, not caring that I probably should wipe the blood off my face, and slipped under the covers. I just held her, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair, reveling in the fact that I could actually do this with her… just hold her, call her mine.
Aiden would need time to fully accept this, I knew, but this was the first step that needed to be taken. Of course, I hoped it would’ve been done differently and at a different time, but I was glad he knew. I was glad Delilah finally knew how much I cared for her.
And with that, I closed my eyes and held my girl, knowing from this moment on I’d never let her go.
Epilogue One
Delilah
One year later
I found a picnic table under one of the thick oaks on campus. After setting my bag in the scarred, weathered wood, I sat down. Fall semester had just started, and although the weather caused a chill to lance through the air and scrape over my flesh like a grater, I enjoyed being outside.
I liked people-watching, letting my mind drift, not having to focus on any one thing in particular.
And then I saw him. Mal. Mine.
A little sigh left me, and my heart decided to do a flip in my chest. I swore everything went in slow motion as I watched him come closer. His focus was on me. Only me. Despite there being a shitload of gorgeous girls at the university, Mal only had eyes for me.
I felt a sappy little smile cover my mouth, but I didn’t care. Mal made me feel giddy and beautiful and... happy.
He didn’t even slow as he rounded the picnic table, hauled me up and off the seat, and pulled me in close. He had one hand around the back of my neck, pulling me in and pressing his lips to mine. His other hand curled possessively around my hip, keeping me close to his body.
I melted against him, positively let myself go in everything that was Malachi.
God, he smelled good. He tasted better as he stroked the seam of my lips with his tongue. I opened for him, moving mine along his, not caring if this kind of PDA was lewd.
“God, I can’t get enough of you,” he muttered against my lips, and with a sigh of frustration pulled fully back, breaking the kiss. But his focus was right on my lips, this hungry expression on his face as if he could go for round two.