Jimmy nodded numbly, groaning as Cold slid off the bed and carried him into the bathroom. He was exhausted from the intense passions, and the weight of the ring on his finger was heavier than he’d thought it would be.
Cold, gangster and fiend, ruthless killer and monster, was drawing a warm bath for them both to soak in. The mobster king of Strassen Springs was rubbing Jimmy’s raw ass to soothe the sting of a brutal spanking and telling him how beautiful he looked.
The praise made Jimmy’s knees weak, his body turning into jelly as Cold dipped him down into the bathtub. The warm water felt absolutely heavenly against his abused body. Jimmy smiled when Cold stripped down to join him, enjoying the lovely view.
As Cold lowered himself into the water, Jimmy ogled every inch of his powerful body. The scars were always painful to look at, especially knowing the story behind so many of them had been filled with such agony. They stood as a testament to all that Cold had survived.
There was a softness around Cold’s stomach that made him seem vulnerable and betrayed his age, as did the sprinkling of silver through the coarse hair grazing his torso. Jimmy loved how it felt as he leaned back into Cold’s arms, dragging them around his middle to hold him close.
Cold didn’t protest, hugging Jimmy and lightly kissing his shoulder. “There are still things I will not tell you, but I am willing to share with you what I can. Whatever I feel is safe.”
“Safe for who?” Jimmy asked, sniffing back the remnants of his tears. “Me or you?”
“Both,” Cold replied curtly. “For my own safety as a notorious criminal, yours as a morally sound human being, and what will ensure our relationship goes on without incident.”
“You’re right.” Jimmy closed his eyes and let the warmth of the water and Cold’s body relax him. “I can’t know everything. I want to say that it wouldn’t matter, that I would still love you, but I don’t know...”
“You don’t know if you’d still want to be with me,” Cold said gently. “You’d love me, but the moral dilemma of being with a verified monster would be too much for you. Your ignorance protects you and allows you to stay at my side without guilt. I know, Jimmy.”
“Is there anything you don’t know?” Jimmy laughed weakly, stung by how exact Cold’s aim always was.
“I don’t know if you’ll agree to marry me without my interference,” Cold replied honestly.
“Oh?”
“The wedding is critical and your participation is mandatory,” Cold said with a shrug, “but I cannot say if it will be voluntary or not.”
“The wedding,” Jimmy murmured, trying to think over his exhaustion as pieces of the puzzle drifted through his mind. “Why is it so important? What are you going to do?”
“Whatever it takes to keep us safe.”
Jimmy shivered as Cold’s hands began to slide down his thighs. “The Luchesis... this has something to do with why you invited them, doesn’t it?”
“Ever the little detective,” Cold mused. He almost sounded proud, but concern now darkened his voice as he said, “Trust me; that’s a question you don’t want answered.”
“You’re going to kill someone, aren’t you?” Jimmy accused, and he gasped when Cold’s hands tightened around his knees.
“I am going to do whatever it takes to protect myself and you,” Cold growled, full of danger and malicious intent. “They’ve already tried to kill me once, and they will try again. They may even come after you or anyone else I hold dear. They will try to take what is mine.
“I will kill whoever threatens the ones I love without hesitation. I will kill all of them to know that you are safe, and I would burn this fucking city to the ground before I let them take it from me. Do you understand, Jimmy?”
“Yes,” Jimmy whimpered as he grabbed Cold’s wrists. “I understand that you love me very, very much. And I love you, fuck, I love you, too.”
“Do you love me enough to forgive me?” Cold challenged, dragging his fingers up between Jimmy’s legs. “For the things I’m going to do?”
“For what you’ve done, for what you will do... yes. I forgive you.” Jimmy arched back into Cold’s lap with a soft sigh. “I will always forgive you as long as you don’t lie to me again. I need, I need to have a line... something that can’t be crossed.”
“As you wish,” Cold said. “With the exception of truths that I believe would directly harm our relationship, I will tell you whatever you want to know.”
“Mmm...” Jimmy smiled, sliding his hands down the sides of the tub. He caught himself admiring his ring, and he was suddenly struck with another pang of sadness.
“What is it?” Cold asked, ever perceptive.
“I was just thinking,” Jimmy replied thoughtfully, “that somewhere out there the Luchesis are probably having this same conversation with their wives or whoever. Promising them that they’ll do whatever it takes to protect them.”
“Including killing me,” Cold noted.
“Yes.”
