Page 55 of Fighting Salvation

He heard the sliding door open and turned to see Val walking towards him with a soft look on her face. “Hey, you.” She turned to Rykov and gave him a beaming smile. “Good morning, Rykov.”

“Good morning, Valentina.” He dipped his head to them both and walked away as Val watched him.

“Is he okay?”

Bás held up his arm and she moved into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him, as he kissed her head. “Yes, he’s fine.”

Her head lifted and she searched his eyes before nodding and letting it go. “Any news?”

“I haven’t spoken to anyone yet. Let’s wait for the others to wake and we’ll call Lopez then. If he finds anything time sensitive, he’ll call us.”

She raised on tiptoes and kissed him and he got lost in the feel of her. The emotions she evoked were so close to the surface all the time. Her smile lit the world around him stronger than the sun ever could. She was his light, his reason, and he just hoped like fuck he could be deserving of her and give her everything she should have in life.

“How about I whip us up a full English?”

“Want some help?”

She hooked her arm through his and grinned. “I never say no to help in the kitchen from a handsome man.”

He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. “Is that so? Then I guess I’d better fire the rest of the men on my team.”

Val grabbed a pan from the cupboard as he gathered everything they would need from the fridge. “Are you saying you think the boys on the team are hot, Niall? Because that’s plain weird.”

“I’m saying I’ve got eyes. They ain’t ugly, but maybe I should fuck them up a bit and change that.”

“Are you jealous?”

“No.” He was totally jealous. No, that wasn’t right. He was possessive.

Hooking her around the waist he kissed her neck as she laughed and whisked eggs with milk. “Can I help it if I don’t want any other man looking at you?”

“Well as sweet as that is, it’s a fact of life. As long as you’re the only man I look at like that, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

He grumbled as she stepped away to place the bacon in the pan.

“Oh my God, Val is cooking. Thank the lord.” Hurricane was scratching his belly as he walked into the room followed by Titan and Lotus.

“Can you not put some clothes on?”

Titan stopped mid-yawn before bursting out laughing. “What’s the matter, boss man, feeling a little threatened by all this goodness?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I just think we should be respectful of the ladies in the room.”

Lotus walked to the fridge and poured herself some orange juice. “Don’t wear clothes on my account. I like the eye candy.”

“See, she’s fine with it.”

Bás glared but he knew when he was beaten so he went silent, as they all began to muck in finishing breakfast. Duchess appeared with Rykov and Novem in toe, the little girl dressed in new clothes he knew Duchess had bought for her.

“Good morning, Novem.”

“Hi, Bás.”

He sat down at the table as the platters of food were passed around and the chatter felt muted but upbeat. A pang of regret filled him that he’d never truly appreciated this until now. Not seeing what they had built together was a mistake he’d never make again.

A hand on his arm made him look up to see Val leaning down over him. She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “The only goodness I want is yours, Niall. I love you.”

He placed his hand over hers and turned to pull her onto his lap before kissing her breathless.