Burning Truth (Lost and Found Columbus #3)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

A ddie slept for an entire day. With Severn by her side.

She didn’t even remember him bringing her home. She didn’t even really remember what she’d said in that last segment, but it must have been fine because Ron sent her an ‘amazing work’ message, which he’d never done before. She did remember typing out ‘thanks,’ then telling him she was taking a week off.

You deserve it, kiddo .

That had almost been enough to make her cry. Ron never talked to her like that, and the response had been enough to shock Addie into clarity for a moment. Then she’d let Severn walk her upstairs to bed.

He’d lovingly stripped her down, slipped one of her sleep shirts over her head, and tucked her into bed. Within seconds, she’d been out.

And when she woke hours later in the early morning, crying from the nightmare, he’d held her in his arms and whispered to her that everything was all right. They’d caught the bad guy, and he was going to die in prison.

Addie made herself get up and out of bed the next morning. The shower helped to wake her up, and when Severn stepped in behind her, she lifted a brow at him. “Good morning.”

She leaned up for a kiss, and he met her halfway. For some reason, it felt different today. Better, sweeter. Probably because they didn’t have danger hanging over their heads.

Wrapping his arms around her, they swayed in the hot water. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, trying to keep her face out of the splashing water. “I’m fine. Better than fine. Are you okay? That had to be emotional for you yesterday.”

He cocked his head a little. “You know, in the midst of the action, I didn’t really think about it. I had a job to do, and I had to keep you safe. So, I didn’t really have time to worry about my fears or emotions.”

Addie nodded. “I get it. We have some time to decompress, now, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

She snugged her hips into his, and loved the rush of heat that centered into her groin. He was already semi-hard. His hands brushed over her breasts. “Do you need a scrub?” He circled his hands on her flesh, weighing and pressing, making her ache.

Stepping away, she rinsed quickly, slicking her hair back and giving him a saucy, come-hither wink. Then she stepped out and let Severn rinse off. By the time she’d made it to the bed, he was on her heels. He took her to the mattress with a pounce, and she laughed. Then she just stared up at his grinning face, her heart so open. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think you’re so freaking handsome. And you have a great dick that makes me very happy. I know the bad guy has been caught, but I don’t want you to move out. I feel like we have something special here.”

His expression softened, and he propped himself on an elbow. “That’s a pretty big step, Addie. I haven’t even been in a long-term relationship, let alone lived with someone.”

Her brows popped. “Seriously? Never? Have you ever been tempted?”

Severn frowned. “There was a woman before I was deployed. We maybe could have had something. But she was in another relationship by the time I got back home and recovered. When women see me, they may be curious enough to fuck me once, but not to stick around.”

Addie went up on an elbow to face him. “Are you serious? You’re one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. I love talking to you, and I’ve never been so attracted to someone,” she laughed, running her hand down the rough skin of his chest. “The scars don’t matter to me. But you do. And to be honest, I’ve never lived with anyone before either, but I’m invested in you enough to do it. And I love you enough to make it work.”

Severn looked down at the mattress for a moment, and when he looked up, his eyes were a little glassy. “You tie me in knots, woman, but I’m more comfortable with you than I’ve ever been with anyone else. You know,” he said, giving her a bashful grin, “when Johnson and Rodrigo came to me to confront me about stalking you, I felt kind of guilty for a minute. I thought they knew my secret. I did listen to your segments every night, sometimes several times. I have recordings of your voice. You calm me. Make me feel less lonely. And since I’ve been with you, I haven’t had any of those feelings. Yes, I want to live with you, Addie, because I can’t imagine leaving you. You make me feel complete, and I believe I’ve totally fallen for you.”

Tears were already dripping down her cheeks, and she leaned forward to press her mouth against his. He kissed her like a drowning man, and when she rocked onto her back and opened her thighs, he slid home as if he’d been built for her. They made love sweetly, desperately, finding a glorious release together. It was sublime, and she couldn’t imagine a more perfect feeling than being connected to him.

“What the fuck is going on with Sev,” Brodie asked, hunching over Parker’s desk. “He told me he liked my shirt, and that I did a good job on the Pattinson case. Where is our glowering second?”

Parker laughed, rocking back in his chair. “A lot went on last week while you were gone. And he hasn’t told me for sure, but I believe he’s in love.”

Brodie’s mouth dropped open, and his muscular shoulders dropped. “No way,” he breathed. “I thought the man was a monk because I’ve never seen him with a woman.”

Parker smiled sadly. “It takes a special kind of woman to accept men that look like us.”

Brody frowned. Yeah, that was very true. It took a special kind of love to love a vet.

Addie could have wept when she walked in the door of her house. Something smelled amazing.

Severn came into the kitchen, closing the garage door behind her. Leaning down, he took her mouth in a scorching kiss. Addie didn’t even realize she’d dropped her bags until he pulled away to pick them up.

“How was your night?” he asked, setting her bags on the island.

“Busy,” she sighed. “Kids are going back to school soon, and it’s like everyone is out wreaking havoc. Had a kid wreck his car through the doors of Tuttle mall, and a fight downtown between about thirty kids over concert tickets. Then three cattle got out at the fairgrounds and a guy on a horse was chasing them. It was a madhouse first night back. Jake came back tonight, too, though, so that was good.”

Severn wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked her into the living room. They dropped onto the couch together, and he pulled her against his chest. Addie dropped her head gratefully. The man smelled so good…

“I missed you today,” he admitted.

She rolled her head against his shoulder to look up at him. “I know. I did too. We’ve been together twenty-four seven for the past week, and then nothing. I had withdrawal,” she laughed.

He dropped a kiss to her lips. “I missed the fuck out of you, Addie Kingston. I had to settle for watching you on TV. And undressing you with my mind. I know what’s underneath those short little dresses now.”

Addie laughed, heat swirling through her as she ran her hand down his chest to the erection growing in his pants. “Well, maybe you should take me upstairs and undress me for real. It has been at least twelve hours since we last made love.”

She gasped and giggled as he lunged up from the couch and swung her up into his arms. He barely slowed for the steps, then powered down the hallway. He dropped her to the mattress and immediately started stripping her. Addie laughed as she got tangled in her clothes.

“All day today, I thought about you,” he said. “Was distracted by you, even though you weren’t with me. I read your text over and over again, and waited for new ones.”

She’d sent him a little message about how much she’d enjoyed the week, and that every hour, her love for him grew. “I meant what I said. The longer I’m with you, the more I love you.”

“And it’s the same for me,” he said, voice bemused. “People eventually wear me out, but I’ve never gotten bored with you or wanted to get away. I know I don’t talk as much as you do, but don’t think I’m uninterested or bored. I hang on every your every word. I used to make fun of the guys in the office that proclaim they’re in love, but I can’t do that anymore, because I am one of those guys.”

She cupped his face in her hands. “I love you, Severn.”

“I love you more, Addie. Now, why can’t I get this bra off?”

Giggling, she twisted until she could throw the garment to the side, and opened her arms to him again.