Into the Flames (Out of the Ashes #2) by S. M. Lynn

going to tell you anyway.  Other than catching up, she spent all of her time telling me about her fiancé and going over the new projects that I would be worki ng on with her and her father.  I spent all my time telling her about you.  There was never a moment that I was away from you that you were not the first thing on my mind.  I can’t live without you.  I don’t know how to make you understand other than to never leave you again.  I need you to trust me; to know that I know this is as much my mistake as it is yours.  But to answer your question, no, I spent my birthday alone in my hotel room with a bottle of scotch.  Not my finest moment but damn it, I love you so much and needed to be with you but this has all been very confusing.”
    The kiss that followed was one of love and passion.  If our time apart taught me nothing else it was that I would never go another day without Ian, without everyone in my life, knowing how important they are to me.  “Well, belatedly, happy birthday.”  I hand him the open box.  “Sorry I never got the chance to wrap it and now I’ve spoiled the surprise anyway.”
    “Sweetheart, I love it.”  He said taking the watch from the box.  As he turned it over to put it on, the back of the watch caught his eye.  “To Ian, my love, my life.  I give you all the time I have.”  He read the inscription aloud.  “Sweetheart, I love you so much.”  His kiss turned feverish and I knew if we didn’t stop soon there would be no stopping us. 
    “Ian?”
    “What is it , Lauren?”
    “I love you saying my name.  I love that we have this together and that you still love me.  But if we continue like this we are going to end up in that bed or maybe even right here on the floor.”  I try to smile and make my comment sound light hearted but in truth all want to do is strip us both and take him right now.  I have never known a need like this; never known that desire could course this deeply in me.  Being separated from him is making me ache and I wonder if he feels the same. 
    As if reading my mind, he pulls me to him.  The hardness of his chest under my fingertips doing nothing to help the desire that’s building in me.  “Lauren, I have been without for too long and the wait is killing me but right now, I need to feed you and we need to talk.  There is so much we need to talk about and not all of it has to do with what you need to tell me.  Now come on, I made us some omelets and a fresh fruit salad.  Let’s sit and eat.”
    Making our way to the kitchen counter we sit in the stools, Ian’s hand never leaving mine.  As we eat, Ian looks over at me.  “I think I need to go first.”  The words are ominous and I spin them around and around in my head.  “I already talked to Gavin about it but if it’s alright with you, I’m going to move in here for a while.”
    Surprise and happiness radiate from my smile.  God, after everything , he’s going to move in with me.  My brow furrows in confusion, “Ian, why don’t we just go back to the house?  I loved it there and we barely got settled before Dean showed up.”
    “Sweetheart, that’s the other thing I wanted to talk with you about.   I know I wasn’t there for you after the attack but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t still looking out for you.  I purchased this building and have been working on additional security since the day after Dean barged in.  I couldn’t leave you unprotected.  I had to know that you were safe.”  My mind spins; he could have kept me safe if he just stayed.  But I understand his need to protect me.  That was always something I loved about him and I would never want to change.
    “Well thank you.  But I still don’t understand why we can’t go to the house or stay at the penthouse?”  I allow his words to rattle around in my head and before he can respond , my brain makes full sense of what he said.  “Holy shit!  You bought the building?”
    “Lauren, calm