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We’d gotten married as soon as Grayson was well enough, and even though my mother didn’t know, I couldn’t help but hear her asking me whether I’d rushed into things. I hadn’t. I was so confident in Grayson and my relationship that even if my mom disagreed, I didn’t care. I found the person I wanted to be with. My growling, possessive, protective person. The one I wanted to be with…
Forever.
The voice of the head stewardess filled the cabin, her Irish accent more decipherable now that I’d been listening to the same brogue every day. Whether he was whispering dirty things into my ear as he slid inside me or talking to me as we lay in the bath together—his thick chest propping me up, his voice vibrating through my back—I’d grown to recognize the cadence and rhythm of the language as my home.
Turning my head, I looked out the window to see the ground coming up to meet us. As soon as those wheels touched down, I’d be back in America. A moment later, the wheels let out a high-pitched squeal as they made contact, bouncing once before gravity clung to the rubber.
The energy in the cabin turned frenetic, and I couldn’t help but feel a little swept up in it all. I watched the seatbelt sign like a hawk, waiting for the light to dim. When it finally did, people were out of their seats, kids squawking about wanting to go home, go to the hotel, or go to the beach.
When Grayson stood to get our carry-on luggage, people stepped back to give him the space he needed. Yes, we’d flown in economy for this leg to LA, but it had seemed so… normal. I’d grown up with wealth, but with Grayson’s downgrade to sentinel, it had meant a cut in what he earned, too.
Did I begrudge him for it? Never, because it meant the man I loved would survive.
Plus, he was still the biggest bad-ass around.
He got our luggage down, as well as the luggage for an elderly couple that had been sitting behind us. The trio slipped into Gaelic as we waited, and I listened with a smile on my face. I’d started to learn some words and phrases, although most of them were related to sex at this point, but I did pick up Grayson telling them to enjoy their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
He said he hoped he looked as in love when we reached our fiftieth.
I could hardly believe that less than twenty-four hours ago, Grayson and I had gotten married in a small church with only two witnesses. Fallon, of course, and Caolan, the clan’s Master. The service was quick but filled with no less love than the grand wedding my father would’ve insisted upon.
Grayson held out his hand to me, and I blinked up into his face. “We’re moving, lass.”
I looked around. Sure enough, the people that had been sitting in front of us were all gone. Leaping from my seat, I walked out onto the aerobridge, then into the terminal. I hadn’t told anyone where we were going on our honeymoon—not even my mom, who I’d gotten in contact with via the club Dagger worked at while Grayson was recovering. She’d been worried sick, but after I told her I was safe and well, it seemed to placate her.
My new husband entwined his fingers with mine as we walked through the mass of people. I could feel everyone’s eyes on Grayson. Some wary. Some curious. Some threatened. He either didn’t notice or didn’t give a shit. I was betting it was the latter.
We were almost through the terminal when I drew to an abrupt stop.
“Sloane?” Grayson asked, looking around, trying to find the threat.
But there was none.
My heart was tap dancing with my ribcage as I moved my head to get a better look at a woman waiting just ahead—a woman with the same color hair as mine. She had come, but how did she know we’d be here?
When my mom’s clear gray eyes locked on mine, it didn’t matter how. Grayson released my hand, and I ran to her. Chantelle wrapped me in her arms tightly, the smell of salt tears coming soon after.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” she said against my shoulder, her words muffled.
“Me, too,” I replied.
When she pulled back, she took me by the shoulders and looked at me.Marveledat me.
“How long do you have?”
“I had to travel in on a fake passport, so maybe a month? Aidan has men everywhere.”
She nodded. “I’ll take a month.” Her eyes flickered over my shoulder, and she released me. I spun around to face my mom and my husband. The look she gave him was her ‘cop’ look, I had no doubt.
“Mom, you remember Grayson, right?”
“Yeah, I do,” she replied, her voice tight. “He stole you right out from under our noses. What is he doing here?”
Backtracking, I took him by the hand and showed her our rings.
Her eyes widened.
“We got married,” I said softly, hoping she was okay with this. Needing her to be okay with this. I hadn’t had my mother in my life for eighteen years, so there was some serious ground to make up.
