Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Kati

There was no way I could've heard Easton right.

"You're telling me that it was Alejandro who was behind the mailbox, cookie, and fire incidents?"

"If we can believe what Diego said, then yes."

It was a damn good thing the asshole was dead. I don't think there would've been a force on earth that could've stopped me from ending his life for the bullshit he put Lucien and me through.

"And do you believe him?"

Easton and I were settled on my couch together. Lucien had already gone to bed, and while I wanted my son to know what was happening in our lives, I was glad Easton waited until it was just the two of us before he explained what happened during his prison visit.

"I do, actually. Diego wouldn't have any reason to lie. Alejandro is dead, so it's not like he could punish his cellmate. And Alejandro was enough of an egotistical bastard that he would brag about his plans. Especially if it meant letting rival gangs know the reign wouldn't end with him."

"Like hell it’ll be passed down to my son."

Normally when I got this angry, the need to pace back and forth would be strong. That urge was currently suppressed due to the fact that Easton was rubbing his thumb up and down my leg as I sat curled up facing him.

"I know it won't be because there are dozens of people who will ensure Los Cangris doesn't get within a mile of Lucien. He has a lot of great people in his corner, starting with an amazing mother."

I hadn't felt amazing the night someone tried to burn down my house, which was why Easton was here tonight. He had asked for another evening, but I couldn't be away from Lucien. Not yet. I had even asked a few of the nurses to switch shifts with me so that it would be two or three weeks before I was required to work my mandatory overnight. Fortunately, they had heard what happened and understood why I needed the time. Those I had asked had been more than willing to switch. Twelve years of never asking for a favor had paid off.

"I just can't believe he stooped so low. Smashing my mailbox and sending a threat with cookies. Those don't scream gang behavior."

Trying to burn my house down, now that I expected. The rest just seemed juvenile and more of an inconvenience than anything. Except the cookies. That could've been a massive problem if they had been poisoned. But still, poison was a woman's tactic. Not a gang’s. The attempts were pathetic at best.

"They weren't gang members and I doubt Alejandro told them how to mess with you. He just gave an order and the recruits followed as they saw fit. I'm assuming if Alejandro knew the shit they were doing, he would've been embarrassed for them. Or maybe he was, and that's why he ended up dead. We might never know."

It was true, but I wasn’t okay with that. I didn't like loose ends. I made that mistake once; assuming that because Alejandro had backed off, that was the end of it. I had been wrong. I didn't want to make the same mistake again.

I shuffled around until I was snuggled under Easton's arm. His fingers traced my bare shoulder and I ran mine along the seam of his cargo shorts.

"Do you think it's over now?"

My body moved with the rise and fall of Easton's chest, and it was several moments before he answered. "I'm not sure. We’re trying to find his second-in-command. Talking to him might help. There's no way of knowing what they fought about, but my first guess would be that Manuel wasn't a fan of a fourteen-year-old boy taking over. Not when he was the one running things while Alejandro was behind bars."

"Well, he can have it."

Easton's lips brushed across my temple. "That's exactly the message I plan on passing along when we find him."

We sat in comfortable silence, both of us just enjoying the comfort that the other provided. The TV was on, but neither of us paid attention to the movie we’d picked at random. Tonight was more about just being there for each other than an actual date night.

"Are you sleeping in my bed tonight?"

We hadn't really discussed our plans moving forward. Our one night together had been interrupted, which was great because there was no morning-after weirdness, but it sucked because we hadn't had the chance to figure out what it meant.

"If you let me, I'll sleep with you every night."

I glanced up between my lashes. His green eyes were shining bright with lust. "Every night?"

"I know this is still new, but yeah, every night. I would sleep better knowing that you were in my arms."

This man was quickly knocking down every one of my walls. He was stealing my heart out from under me and I didn't have it in me to protest.

"Then take me to bed now."

We locked up the house together and turned off all the lights. When we entered my bedroom, I noticed a small bag just inside the door. I quirked my brow at Easton. "Very presumptuous of you."

He snagged me around the waist and kissed my nose. I was starting to understand that it was one of his favorite ways to get my attention. "More like hopeful thinking."

I slipped out of his embrace and trudged back to the bathroom. I took my time going through my nightly routine; brushing my teeth and hair, washing my face and putting on my moisturizer. By the time I got back to the bedroom, Easton was sitting on the edge of the bed in just a pair of boxers.

"I'm just going to brush my teeth, and then I'll join you in bed."

I kissed him on the way past. Once he was out of the room, I quickly shed my clothes and climbed into the bed. I didn't normally sleep naked, but with Easton in my bed, I didn't want to waste time putting on jammies when I knew they would just be flying off soon.

A few minutes later, Easton sauntered back in, turning off the light, and I felt the bed shift as he climbed in with me. I was lying on my side of the bed but Easton wasn't having any of that. His arm came around my waist and he yanked me back to him. His hand settled between my legs and a soft chuckle tickled my ear.

"Now who's the presumptuous one?"

"Who's to say I don't sleep naked all the time?"

A burst of laughter fell from my lips when Easton flipped me so that I was lying flat on my back and caged between his strong arms.

"Shhh! We don't want to wake up Lucien. He would never forgive us."

My lips clamped shut. I’d never had to worry about such things in the past. Even my self-induced orgasms took place when my son wasn't home because yeah, I was worried about scarring my child.

Easton shifted to the side and reached over to the nightstand. It wasn't until I heard the sound of the condom wrapper being ripped open that I realized what he was searching for.

When the hell had he put that there?

"Do you think you can be nice and quiet?" He settled himself back between my legs, somehow shedding his boxers like a damn magician. "If not, I'll have to stop."

I knew he was teasing me. There was no way he would stop now, not when just the tip of his cock had me soaked and eager for him.

"I'll be quiet." The words were laced with need.

I had just had him last night, multiple times, but it still wasn't enough. I didn't know if I would ever get enough of him.

Ever so slowly, Easton gave me a little of himself before pulling out again, each time adding just a bit more, but never as much as I wanted.

"Easton, please. I need all of you."

"I know what you need, sweetheart, and I'll always give it to you."

And he did. Unlike our first night together, which was frantic and full of us feeding the insatiable need we both had, tonight was full of unrushed longing.

Tonight Easton made love to me and stole the last bit of my armor. There was no going back now. He owned me heart and soul. I just hoped it was adequate.