Page 28 of Breaking the Surface
He really wanted to get his hands on that man.He knew that beating Lou wouldn’t solve anything—if anything, it would make things worse because it would involve Peter, one way or another—but it would be so fucking satisfying.Braden wanted Lou to feel the way he’d made Peter feel.He wanted him to be afraid, to wonder what was going to happen to him.Even then, though, it wouldn’t be the same.Peter had loved Lou.At one point, he’d probably hoped they’d be together for the rest of their lives.He’d trusted Lou.
And Lou had hurt him.
Braden wasn’t sure how long Peter cried, but he waited patiently.By the time Peter looked up, his eyes were red, but he was smiling again, and Braden couldn’t resist the urge to lean down and kiss him.Peter looked startled, but his smile stayed where it was.
“I didn’t mean to start crying.I wanted this evening to be nice,” he croaked.
Braden had to let him go to give him a glass of water, and he didn’t like that, but he knew that Peter could deal with it for a little while.He was so strong.He didn’t need Braden to prop him up, even though he might want him to.
Peter slid into one of the chairs at the kitchen table and wiped his face with his hands.Braden deposited the glass of water in front of him, then sat next to him.He turned his entire body towards Peter, wanting to give him his full attention.He watched as Peter drained the glass and rubbed his face again.His shoulders were still tense, but it was better than it had been since he’d arrived here.Braden suspected it wouldn’t completely fade away until Peter was sure he was safe, and he hoped that would happen sooner rather than later.He didn’t want Lou to continue being a part of Peter’s life.In fact, he’d be grateful if the man disappeared from the surface of the earth.He might even be tempted to talk to Carey.The phoenix shifter really enjoyed setting things on fire.
“I want to stay with the pack,” Peter declared.
Braden blinked at him.“And?”
“That’s all.I know we’ve talked about me permanently moving here, and I want to.I don’t think I want to leave this house.”
“Why should we leave the house we’re renovating together?”
Peter stared.Braden stared back.He had no idea what was happening.
“You’ve always known this would happen, haven’t you?”Peter asked.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.I didn’t know we were mates, so no, until you told me, I had no idea this would happen.”
“But once I told you?”
“That was when I knew we’d be together forever.”
“Even though I told you I didn’t know what I was ready for?”
Braden understood why Peter felt the way he did, so he wasn’t frustrated by his need to hear the words again.He was ready to say them every single day until Peter truly believed him.
He took one of Peter’s hands and linked their fingers together.He squeezed, and Peter squeezed back, still looking at him.“When you told me I was your mate, I knew that was it for both of us.”
“But you’re human.You could move on if you wanted to.”
“I have a beautiful, strong, and brave mate.Why would I want to move on from that?”
“Because I come with baggage, and it’s in the shape of a six-foot-one abusive man.”
Braden raised Peter’s hand to kiss his knuckles.“We all come with baggage, Peter.Some of it is painful, while other parts are infuriating, but we all have a past.I don’t care if I have to deal with yours.In fact, Iwantto deal with it.It’s what mates do, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“I know that telling you to stop worrying about Lou isn’t going to help, but I promise you that we won’t let him hurt you.I’m not leaving your side until we find a way to stop him.I hope you like spending time with me.”
Peter grinned.“I love it.”
“Good.”Because, considering they were going to spend the rest of their lives together, it would’ve been awkward if he didn’t.
Chapter Six
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PETER WOKE UP FEELINGno fear.It was becoming his new normal, but some days, he was still stunned.When he’d spent the night with Lou, he’d barely slept because he’d been afraid that Lou would find something wrong with the way he did it.Lou found something wrong with the way Peter did a lot of things, including breathing sometimes.It had turned Peter into a mouse who was afraid to make noise and move around his own apartment, but that was over.Braden wouldn’t care if Peter got up and made noise.He wouldn’t care if Peter woke him up.
He wouldn’t care because he wasn’t in bed with Peter anymore.
