Page 61 of Fractured Memories

And I have no problem coaxing a yes out of her if she wants to try to resist. It’s my favorite game after all, having her make me work for it.

CHAPTER 21

KIERAN

Present day…

I’m in a surprisingly good mood as we cross the bridge, despite having been dragged into another meeting with Conor and Miles. They wanted to renegotiate resources and guard rotation, which has been coming up more often over the last couple of weeks.

The day Conor canceled one of our rotations, Jude didn’t find anything. Despite sweeping every building himself, there was nothing there, which made it more believable when Conor said he reallocated the resources elsewhere because he thought we were only doing sweeps around the valley. Since then, Jude or Rohan have checked the schedules every morning, but we haven’t had any more issues.

We have seen some rebel activity, only confirming what I suspected: they are still out there. A fact that doesn’t sit well with me. Combining that with the mild rumblings that Miles has reported from the mandatory searches and still no information being offered despite a reward, I feel on edge when it comes to the rebels. They’ve found sympathy somewhere, and I'm determined to rip that rot from my city.

But I won’t let that get to me tonight.

I pull off my gloves and tuck them away as Lochlan pauses, bringing Rohan and I to a stop with him. “You sure you don’t want me to go with you tonight?”

He looks a little hesitant, and even Rohan is eyeing me, despite knowing he has to stay here. I understand their reservations because I felt the same when I first considered the idea. But I know that the crowds will work in my favor, and I trust Jude and me to keep Eden safe. It will be good for people to see us—especially if the rebels hear that their little trick didn’t work—but more than anything I want her to have fun.

Over the last three weeks, we’ve both been making an effort. I’ve avoided bringing up the past unnecessarily, and Eden seems to be trying to get to know me. Given that we are more likely to argue than have a heart-to-heart, it’s been slow going, but it’s progress. I’m getting pieces of my wife back, and she doesn’t even shy away when I call her that.

She’s also spent more time with Rohan and Lochlan, and I like seeing her fierce personality flare to life. She might not remember who she was before, but all of her same traits are still there. I’m just coaxing them out slowly.

The only thing that we haven’t held back on is the sex. I fuck her hard, never going more than a couple of days without pinning her down and giving her an orgasm. She doesn’t share my bed every night, but I’m convincing her to sleep there often enough. It reminds me of what it was like just before she moved in.

But outside of the fucking, we’re still lacking a piece of our connection. We don’t have the simple intimacy of gentle touches. We haven’t even kissed, and I know why I’m holding back—I want it to mean something. I don’t care if that makes me a pathetic fucker; it’s the truth. I can only wonder if she’s been waiting for the same reason—since I’m not going to ask.

It’s why tonight feels important.

It’s so much of who we are, and foolishly, I hope that it changes something between us. I’m greedy as fuck when it comes to Eden, and I want all of her.

“Kier?” Lochlan prompts, and I shake my thoughts off.

“Jude will be with us.”

He still looks unsure. “It wouldn’t hurt to have me there, too, yeah?”

“If you want to come down for a night in the city, you are welcome to Lo.” I knock my shoulder against his as I start toward the house. “But I’m not letting her out of my reach. She’ll be safe.”

Lochlan doesn’t argue as I climb the steps to my front door, pushing it open. I start toward my room before I have to pause, not quite sure where Eden is. Most of her clothes are still in our closet, but she has been clinging to that damn guest room.

I turn as two people come around the corner, one with a wide smile and the other frowning down at her. Ash notices me first, her expression never wavering. “Hey, Kieran.”

“Ash, I need your help.”

Her hazel eyes light up. “Do you need me to escort Lochlan to the city?”

I chuckle. She’s always looking to get into trouble, and Lochlan is the most likely to drag her into it. “If he goes, Till will take him.”

The man next to her doesn’t even blink, even as Ash glares up at him. “I’d be happy to,” he answers in a rigid tone.

“You don’t know the meaning of being happy,” Ash huffs.

Till turns to her, and I see the spark of irritation he doesn’t even try to smother. Normally, Till keeps his composure better than anyone, but Ash somehow gets him to break. “That’s not true.”

“I don’t know if you realize this, Till, but if you’re happy, your face wouldn’t look like that.”

He opens his mouth, and I know this can go all night if I let it. I’m not sure how, but Ash is the only person who seems to get under his skin. Probably because she likes to have a good time—which is why she gets along so well with Mika and Eden—and Till is very uptight. She provokes him on purpose.