Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“Yeah, right.” Her feathers are ruffled. She doesn’t try to get off my lap, though. Not even when I move to settle us further in bed.
“I’ve been an ass, I know that,” I tell her as I turn on the lamp on her nightstand, needing to see her more clearly instead of by the moonlight that was shining through her window when I first saw the proof of how badly I’ve hurt my wife. I continue on, “I’ve allowed my work to control our life. That’s not fair on you. I should have talked to you, told you what was going on. Instead, I thought if I could control this one thing, then once it was over, we’d be fine. You’d still be there, and we could go on with our life.”
“And how did that work out for you?” She isn’t giving me an inch; I grin at her comment, taking her in, noticing the tiredness in her face, body relaxing, hand going to my chest, where my heart is beating for her beneath.
“Clearly, it didn’t, seeing as how I have to creep into my wife’s condo in order to apologize and bring her home.”
“You still haven’t apologized, not that I’ll accept until you tell me the truth, Nico, the whole truth. You asked me to marry you while not even saying I love you, but to protect me and others, I went in dumb and blind, but that’s not working, and I won’t allow it to continue on. If that’s the case, our marriage is as good as over.” Tough as nails. I knew it would come to this, not that I like where it’s going, but if I were to look in a mirror, the problem staring back would still be the same. It’d be me.
“You’re right, and I’m so fucking sorry. The words alone won’t take away the pain or the fact that I don’t deserve your forgiveness. What I will tell you is the reasoning, and maybe it’ll help you understand my need to shield you, why I’ve been working night and day so you can walk around without looking over your shoulder. Today, seeing that look of disdain on your face when all I’ve ever been greeted with is happiness and contentment, knowing I took that away, it sat heavy with me.” Journey allows me to move her again until she’s straddling my lap. I want her eyes instead of the awkward position she was in sitting on me sideways. I kiss her forehead. Her eyes close, eyelashes fanning her cheeks. I hope I’m getting us back to us. “The Russian I told you about, he’s a sneaky little bastard. The last draw was yesterday, when we received another threat, this time on your life.”
“What do you mean he threatened my life?” Journey asks, voice meek, sounding unlike the strong independent woman who captured my heart long ago.
“I’m not going into details. It wasn’t pretty, and I’ll be damned if I allow you to lose even more sleep just thinking about it, okay?” She blows out a puff of air. I’m unsure if it’s in annoyance or what.
“Fine, but tell me the rest.” How I lost the certainty that she’s been a great boss’ wife, I don’t know. The proof is right in front of my eyes.
“Petrov had men running drugs that are so pure even the most seasoned users would drop dead in one of our clubs. We got the fucker, but the memo he left us with, threatening a boss’ wife, is un-fucking-heard of. Everyone knows kids and women are off-limits, but this Russian fucker is a fool. Once I catch him, I’m going to make him pay,” I finish telling her as much as I’m going to.
“On that last part, we agree. He should pay, especially for messing with kids. You do what you have to do, but talk to me. I’d have been fine if you were working, and you let me know what was going on. The shutting me out was what hurt.” My hands cup her cheeks, pulling her closer until our foreheads meet.
“Forgive me, vita mia?” I ask.
“I forgive you, Nico. No more, though. Please, no more closing down.” I hear the plea for what it is.
“I promise I won’t.” My mouth meets hers. One lick along the seam of her lips has her gasping, allowing me entrance, and I’m going to show my wife how much she means to me, starting right now.
TWENTY-FOUR
Journey
This side of Nico, it’s one I’ve never seen before: clothes are being thrown off, sounds of ripping slices through the air, were mouths, tongues, hands, and even feet to help get our combined clothing off. I knew makeup sex was supposed to be the best of the best; I even have friends who fight with their significant others just for the makeup sex. Nico and I, our sex life has been amazing even during this whole process. He always initiated when he got home and never denied me. That’s probably what made it bearable until it wasn’t.