Page 86 of Allegiant

SAMSON

After my dance lesson, Rowan and I soak in the tub, his back to my chest, his head tilted back as he rests against me. My hands slide up his thighs, feeling them bunch under my touch.

I’m fucking happy in this moment. But then again, I’m usually happy around Rowan. It’s a weird fucking feeling.

Don’t know what to do with it, so I just let it settle in me. It makes me itch, but in a good way.

I just want him to be as happy as I feel right now. And I’m not sure he is. Sometimes, it’s like he catches himself when he’s too happy. I can almost see the darkness creeping back in, refusing to release him from its claws.

But I’m stronger than the darkness. More patient, too.

I can wait for Rowan. He’s my person.

I’ll wait forever if I need to.

I hate that I have a deadline for how long I can keep him at my side. There are just three more days before he’ll leave. Unless I can convince him to stay here until we can unravel the whole situation surrounding Adam, Adriana, and who the true murderer is.

If Rowan refuses to stay…well, I’ll just have to move in with him.

There’s no fucking way I’m letting anyone eliminate the sunshine brought into my life.

“How are you feeling?” I murmur, my lips hitting the shell of his ear.

“Real nice. Relaxed. This tub is amazing. I’m going to miss this.”

“You’re not missing anything because you’re not leaving.”

He huffs, but doesn’t argue. He knows it’s futile. And it puts me in a bad mood. So he just stops responding. Don’t like that either, but this is still new. I’m still learning.

Suddenly the bathroom door is flung open, and Harley is standing there, his eyes flicking from the two of us to the wall opposite.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I growl, bending my body around Rowan to shield him from Harley’s eyes. “Go away.”

Harley smirks from the doorway. “No can do. Larry Windsor is here. He’s refusing to leave until he sees Rowan. Dotty even sprayed him in the eyes with that concoction she has, but he’s not budging.”

“Larry?” Rowan says, trying to peer around me. “As in, my grumpy next-door neighbor, Larry?”

“One and the same.”

For fuck’s sake. “Just kill him and bury his body in the backyard.”

Rowan gasps, shoving me away. “Do not murder him, oh my god. Don’t make jokes like that. I’ll go see him. Just…tell him to hold on.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I was only half joking. I won’t kill Larry, not when I know how much Rowan cares for him. Plus, he did call me when he knew Rowan needed me. Guess I owe him for that.

Besides, I don’t think Rowan took me seriously when I told him I’m an assassin. Wylder will probably skin me alive when he finds out what I admitted to, but I’m done lying to Rowan.

Well, I’m done lying to him going forward. Not a lot I can do about the ones I’ve already told him.

Except pray he never finds out.

Rowan stands up, suds slipping off his body, and I see Harley take him in. He only looks away when I toss a bar of soap at his head. It knocks some sense into him as he murmurs an apology and steps from the room.

Rowan is pulling on a robe and stuffing his feet into some slippers, a smattering of bubbles sitting against his jaw. “I’ll be back.”

I’m already hauling myself from the tub, water cascading over the sides in my haste. “No. I’ll go with you.”

He rolls his eyes. “What is it about Larry that has you so worried? He’s an old man. Harmless.”