“He’s also the jerk that I have enough on to put him right here with me if I so choose,” Cold reminded him.
“I didn’t hear that,” Christine interjected.
“No, you certainly did not,” Cold confirmed with another smirk.
“How are we pleading?” Jimmy asked earnestly, still holding onto Cold as if someone might come take him away again. “Is the arraignment tomorrow?”
“Let Miss Beccali and me worry about that,” Cold said, his eyes cutting over to her. “You have a phone call to take.”
“Oh, so I do.” Christine closed up the briefcase and tucked it under her arm without question.
Jimmy blinked in confusion. He certainly hadn’t heard Christine’s phone ring and watched her obediently leave with a frown. “What was that about?”
“To get you alone,” Cold purred, his hands dipping inside Jimmy’s jacket and starting to untuck his shirt. “You do look so positively delicious in this suit...”
“Rod!” Jimmy gasped, totally scandalized. Cold’s fingers against his bare skin made him shiver, and he whined in protest, “We should be working on your defense!”
“You once told me you only wanted to represent innocent clients,” Cold chuckled as he worked on Jimmy’s belt next. “Why don’t you let Miss Beccali worry about my defense, hmmm?”
“Because you clearly are not worried enough!” Jimmy growled, hating how his traitorous cock began to get hard.
“Jimmy,” Cold lightly scolded. “You really need to learn to trust me.”
“Do you have any idea what it was like watching Augustus take you away today?” Jimmy snapped. He held his head high and pulled away from Cold defiantly. “How freakin’ scared I was? You could have told me what was going to happen and you didn’t! You kept all of this from me!”
“Do not question my plan,” Cold warned. He sat down at the table, making himself comfortable as if they were lounging back home. “There is a reason behind everything—”
“How about sharing those reasons with me?” Jimmy demanded impatiently. “I get the marriage was to protect me from being subpoenaed against you since you somehow knew you were going to get arrested. But did you ever think you could have just told me that? Or maybe have proposed like a normal person?”
“I couldn’t be sure you would have agreed.”
“I love you!” Jimmy shouted angrily. “In spite of all of your bullshit, I love you!”
“But do you love me enough to stand by me?” Cold narrowed his eyes, a sliver of something almost like vulnerability flickering over his face. “There is always a chance, however small, that my plan may fail.”
“Rod,” Jimmy sighed, dragging his fingers through his hair, “even if you went to prison, I would still be with you. And if you don’t believe me now, then I guess you never will.” He held out his hands defeatedly. “I’m yours. Always. I don’t know what else I can say...”
There was a long moment of silence and then Cold said something Jimmy never thought he’d hear twice:
“I love you.”
“What?” Jimmy didn’t think he’d heard him correctly.
“I love you, Jimmy. And I’m sorry. My very efforts to protect you are hurting you,” Cold said. “That is not my intention. You’re everything to me. Even if you end up hating me for what I’ve done and the things I will do in the future, I know that you’ll be safe.”
“You’re such a fuckin’ dick,” Jimmy griped, despite the warmth flooding his chest to hear such honesty. He let Cold take his hand, aching to feel his touch again. “Like, the biggest asshole ever.”
Cold pulled Jimmy in close between his legs. He kissed Jimmy’s hand, pressing it to his own cheek as he said softly, “I know.”
Jimmy was honestly touched by the sweet sentiments, but he refused to completely give in yet. “I’m still mad at you for keeping this from me, and I’m still not going to marry you.”
“But we’re already—”
“You know what I mean!” Jimmy snorted. “You haven’t even proposed yet, and now you’re in freakin’ jail! And you just had to pick the worst wedding planner ever by the way! That guy is a nightmare!”
“Oh, he’s not so bad,” Cold chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “He’s very passionate about his work.”
“Ugh. We can worry about the stupid wedding later. I should let Christine come back in here so we can actually talk about the case.”
