One in a Million (Book 3 in the Four of Us Trilogy)

38 | Restless Dreams

Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I was sleeping

And the vision that was planted in my brain still remains

Within the sound of silence.

-Disturbed, "The Sound of Silence"

Three Days Later

Tallahassee, Florida

Rachel

The days since Miles' return to the States have been a whirlwind of emotions. Relief and joy at his safety, worry over his emotional state, , sadness and anger as he recounted the horrendous experience he'd had while being held captive.

Brooke and Luke had stayed with us in D.C. until it was time for Miles to go home, and they went back to Panama City Beach with Adam and Jane while we flew back to Tallahassee.

Miles slept in the car the entire way from the airport to our apartment, and when I gently nudged him awake, his eyelids fluttered open and the elation in his eyes at being home filled my heart with warmth.

"Don't move," I ordered as I shut off the ignition to the Jeep.

He looked at me curiously as I jumped out and ran around to his side, holding my hand out to help him down.

He smirked. "You've been waiting for years to do that, haven't you?" he joked as he stepped carefully down to the pavement.

Giggling, I teased, "How the tables have turned." I looped my arm through his as we walked through the parking lot to our apartment.

I unlocked the door and swung it open wide, leading Miles inside. A smile spread over his face as he took in our modest living room. "Oh my God, how I missed this place," he murmured, walking around behind the sofa and running his fingers along the top.

"It's missed you too, believe me," I responded as I watched him reacclimate to his surroundings.

He looked around and asked, "Where are Parker and Jess?"

Biting my lip, I took a step toward him. "They're in Tampa for the weekend at Busch Gardens."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are they, now?"

I nodded slowly and closed the little space that was left between us. "Mmmhmm," I hummed, taking my index finger and dragging it down the center of his chest over his thin black t-shirt.

He sucked a breath in through his teeth and raised his hands to my face, brushing his thumbs along my cheekbones. "Well, that's exactly what I wanted to hear you say, my precious girl," he breathed, leaning into capture my lips with his.

I gasped as his mouth closed over mine, and I immediately melted against him. "God, Miles, I've missed you so much," I whispered against his lips, pulling him closer to me by the hem of his shirt, entreating him to remove it.

He reached back and gripped his collar, pulling his shirt off to reveal not only the new muscles he'd gained during his time in the Army, but the bruises and cuts I hadn't yet seen.