Austen kept going, talking over him. “That way, I can move in with you and not have to worry about things like this.”
“I’m sorry. You—”
Austen didn’t stop speaking over him. “If it means I get to hold you every night for the rest of my life, then I’m good with that.”
Rain held his stare. “I can keep us safe.”
Austen nodded. “I never once doubted you.” In fact, Austen had never been more impressed with anyone. Rain had taken out four men by himself and hadn’t even been winded afterward. That wasn’t the point. “Do you really want to sleep with one eye open forever? I know I don’t want that for you. You have an adorable snore I’d miss.”
Rain snorted. He slowly came back to life. “I don’t snore.”
“You absolutely do.” He kissed the tip of Rain’s nose. “It’s a soft, cute snore.”
Rain shook his head. “You’re just making things up now. All you had to do was say you wanted to move in together. That’s what I want too.” He shifted from foot to foot. “If you still want me, that is.”
Austen shuffled Rain against the wall. “Are you being serious?” Even Austen heard the hope in his voice. He ignored Rain’s insecurity. Rain would be over that soon. “Are you really willing to live together?”
Rain held his stare. “I want this. I want us. Forever.”
He knew Rain had said as much in the past, but this was different. They agreed to mix their lives and make them one. That was huge. It was life changing. He was fully aware he was older, and Rain should choose someone else. Austen was too selfish to point that out, though.
“Okay. Good.” He tried to sound like an adult making an adult decision instead of showing the way he wanted to jump and cheer. His lips skimmed Rain’s. A smile exploded across his face before he could stop it. “You’re really mine. I can’t believe it.”
Rain deepened their kiss, as if he needed to taste Austen’s happiness. Austen vowed, no matter what waited in the other room, nothing would spoil this moment. He just hoped Rain’s brothers didn’t make him regret this decision. That was his only true fear.
Chapter Ten
Manytimesovertheyears, Rain had forgotten what it was like to love dancing. Every time, Kylo had given that back to him. He twirled around the kitchen with Kylo until they were both too dizzy to stand and laughing too hard to breathe. Then he threw Kylo a tea party. While Rain didn’t have any Little tendencies, he didn’t judge anyone who did, and it was nice enjoying something simplistic. Plus, the entire setup of tiny teacups and cookies made Kylo smile, and that meant everything to him.
“Is Austen completely moved in yet? I figured he must be, since Daddy said we can play whenever he does his blood pressure thing every three months. Austen used to come to us, but Daddy feels guilty for taking too much of his time away from you.”
Rain smiled and hung on every word. In Beau’s care, Kylo thrived. He was fully himself at all times, dressed like a schoolgirl and beaming with happiness. Rain might think it odd,considering he loved one of the most dangerous men alive, but so too did Austen. Since Rain knew the terrible things he would do to keep Austen safe and happy, he assumed Beau was the same for Kylo. Even killers loved something.
“Yeah. It’s been a slow process since we needed to convert one of our supply buildings into a surgical center. Austen is still seeing most patients at his house until the new place is finished. Of course, you’ll always be welcome here.” Rain bit his bottom lip. He knew he could talk to Kylo about anything. Always had. Sometimes Rain hated his thoughts. “I feel guilty.”
Kylo’s sweet blue eyes looked so untainted by life as he stared at Rain, giving his full attention. “Why?” He picked up a cookie and nibbled it like a rat while he waited for Rain to respond.
Rain shook his head and fought a smile. God, the precious innocence. He knew exactly what Beau saw in Kylo. Kylo was probably the purest air he had ever breathed. “I’m not sure Austen wanted this. Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s happy to move in together. But I think he had a very different picture in mind for our future. Not giving up everything to live with a gaggle of idiots.” Rain glanced over to tell Edge no offense, but the guy stared so intently at Kylo’s personal guard, Mickey, that Rain doubted he had heard. In fact, Rain didn’t even know why he hung out in the kitchen with them. Kylo wasn’t his friend. He just sat at the table as if he couldn’t trust Kylo or Mickey, which was dumb.
Rain shook his head and focused on Kylo again. “Someone broke into his home and tried to kill us. That forced his hand. I knowhe didn’t want this.” The more Rain talked, the surer he became. This wasn’t the life he would have chosen for them.
Kylo made a dismissive gesture. “Austen and I are a lot alike. We both spent our lives alone. Just like he lived alone before you, I lived completely alone before Beau. Now I live in a house full of guards. They’re not idiots, though. Maybe that’s the difference?” Kylo shook his head and waved his arms, as if wiping away his entire speech. “Anyhow, I won’t lie and say it didn’t take time to get used to someone being around every corner, but—for me—it’s nice. I hated the emptiness. Austen does too. We talked about it once. His career has isolated him in a lot of ways. Plus, he loves you way more than any amount of privacy.”
“Not to mention you have your own space. It’s not like he can’t get away from us.”
At Edge’s interjection, Mickey shot him an irritated look. “You should stay out of it. If Austen ends up having a problem living here, it’ll be because you’re obviously an overbearing person. It’s my job to be here. You’re choosing nosiness.”
Rain looked between them.
Kylo gnawed another cookie, looking unbothered.
Something wasn’t right. As far as he knew, the pair had never met before today. Yet Mickey already had Edge pegged. Granted, he felt responsible for them and that was why he was so overprotective, but Mickey shouldn’t be so sure in the opinion.
Rain motioned between them. “What’s going on here?”
Kylo kicked his feet like a kid whose feet wouldn’t touch the floor. “Mickey is still upset over Edge kidnapping him.” He focused on Edge. “I’m not really happy about it either. He’s my favorite.”
A blinding smile exploded across Mickey’s face.
