Naturally, once I’d convinced her she didn't need to avoid me like the plague, I wanted the chance to spoil her.
Assuming I could let her go long enough that she could get downstairs.
“Noah,” she moaned as I kissed my way along her throat to her ear.
“Yes?”
“You promised you would let me enjoy this spa day you arranged.”
Pressing forward, I ensured she felt what she was doing to me. “I’m having trouble letting you go.”
She shivered. “You really make me feel good about myself, you know that?”
“Good.” Moving my mouth to her cheek, I kissed her there and on her mouth. “I want to protect you, hold you, listen to you talk about your day, and let you soothe my overworked brain.”
“All that?” she whispered, running her hands over my back.
“Mm-hm.”
Sailor held me tightly, and I returned the hug. She seemed to like them almost as much as any other affection I gave her, and I was more than happy to oblige her.
There was a knock on the adjoining door, and Sailor lifted her head. “Benito, I assume.”
Without releasing her, I said, “Come in.”
My father grinned like crazy when he saw us hugging. “Ah,giovane amore.”
“Young?” I asked.
“Younger than me,” he replied with a shrug.
Reluctantly, I released Sailor. “Go enjoy yourself while Dad and I work.”
Reaching up to touch my face, she said, “Don’t work too hard. Bye, Benito,” she added over her shoulder as she left.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Dad pounced. “Aren’t you glad I pushed you in her direction? You were too far inside your head until I showed you what was right in front of you.”
Sighing, I aimed a glare at him. “Considering your disgusting ultimatum, I’m lucky that it turns out I have feelings for her.”
“How could you not? She’s delightful.”
“And scared shitless of the talk of family.”
He frowned. “I noticed that the other day.”
“I can’t blame her for worrying about the future, so I’m trying to ease her into the idea that she’s it for me.”
“As I told you, she’s worried about hurting you, but she never mentioned that she thinks you’ll hurt her.”
Even though it was barely past noon, I had an itch to pour a bourbon. “It’s inevitable that I will. She knows what we do, even if it’s the media-coated version. How do I protect her from that?”
“There must be some truths,mio figlio, and you'll have to take care with how you tell her. But we never divulge all our business dealings with the women.”
“You and Mom discussed it when you assigned me to take out our enemies," I reminded him. “There’s no way to explain that to Sailor without her turning on me.”
“I see your conundrum. She’s a life-saver, and you’re a life-taker.”
“The word is murderer.” And it burned a hole in my gut to think she could see me differently once she knew the entire truth. She could leave me, and she’d have every right.
