Appreciating her affection, I stroked my hand over her back to instill patience because I struggled to find an answer. Even with Camille’s advice, I found a response difficult to formulate.
“I have a gift for you,” I ended up saying.
“You didn’t need to buy me anything.”
“I know you can buy whatever you want, but you’ll appreciate this.”
As much as she enjoyed presents, Savannah wasn’t afraid to buy them for herself. Flowers included. It wasn’t even a prompt. If she wanted something, she didn’t mess around.
Self-denial wasn’t a trait my wife suffered with.
“I don’t want it if it means you won’t explain what happened.” Frowning, her fingers traced a cut on my cheek. “I don’t want to fight with you, Aidan. There’s bickering and sniping and we’re good at that. But fighting? You froze me out.”
“I overreacted.”
“You don’t say.”
“Information is my currency, Savannah. It’s how I keepyousafe. My family safe. My people safe. But I hadn’t heard anything about an animal-fighting ring. Not a fucking thing.” I gritted my teeth. “Maybe it was ego, maybe it was just fear. I’m not sure which. But your question hit me on the raw.
“That’s not on you. That’s on me. And I’m sorry. You’ve always been able to come to me with questions and that’ll never change. I didn’t mean to freeze you out. That was a negative reaction to me not knowing about something that could impact our family’s security. One small hole in the information I collate means a chasm might be waiting for me and I freaked out.”
She blinked. “And if it happens again?”
“I’ll tell you I can’t answer right now but that I’ll look into it and get back to you, so come and sit on my dick until I can give you the info you need.”
“That sounds like a very good response,” she mused, a smile dancing on her lips. “Especially the last part.”
“I’m trying, little one. You might not have noticed, but I’ve been shutting out work once we’re home?—”
“I noticed. I didn’t question it. Just enjoyed the change.” She pulled a face. “Honestly, I feel bad because I’m not sure when the change happened or what triggered it.” She linked her hands around my waist. “Whydidyou?”
“I missed you and Third.” At her surprised gasp, I shrugged. “It happened at Halloween. I got home one night and you’d decorated the place with all those godawful pumpkins?—”
“Hey! I hand carved each of them?—”
“I know, darling,” I said wryly, dotting a kiss to her temple. “I’m not sure it’s your forte.”
“Charming!”
“I came home and they were up, and then I came back and they were down. Each time, I found you in bed, curled up asleep, Third cuddled into you. I didn’t see you make them, put them up, or take them down. Didn’t see you or Third enjoy them. And what I did see was you asleep. I missed it all. Breakfast and dinner and everything else in between.
“So, I set myself limitations. I can’t always make it back. There are fires that need extinguishing that I’m integral to, but I won’t ever let it go so long again. And when Iamhome, my brothers and crew know to fuck off.” Wryly, I tacked on, “That’s why there’ll be time for you to sit on my dick before I get you the info you requested.”
“You did that because you missed us?” she whispered.
“Baby, I wouldn’t have married you if I didn’t want to be with you. I would have carried on fucking half the city’s socialites if that’s what I wanted. But I didn’t. I wanted to come home to you. I wanted to sleep with you. I wanted to see you in the morning and late at night. It wasn’t enough to just fuckanyonewhen you’re all I want.
“I didn’t tell you I love you because that’s what you do when you get together. I mean it. Every word, every time.”
Her bottom lip trembled. “I love you too. So much.” Her hands gripped my turtleneck sweater at the back. I’d say she wanted to strangle me if love wasn’t shining out of her eyes. “I love being with you too, and I love seeing you last thing at night and first thing in the morning.”
A smile kicked up the corner of my mouth. “You just saying that?”
“No. I wouldn’t have married you either, Aidan, if I didn’t want to be with you. I was fine on my own. You know I’m independent. I don’t need you to be with me 24/7. I’ve never needed that. And not just because of my work, but because I enjoy my own company.
“But everything’s better when I start and finish things with you, too, so I know what you mean. If I just wanted to get laid, I could.” She smirked at my scowl, and I knew that was payback for my earlier comment. “You know what I mean. Why go out for a burger when I can have prime rib at home?”
“Isn’t that my line?” I teased.
