Cleo
"God, I swear you're more overprotective than Cruz!" I exclaim. "I didn't think that was even possible, you know?"
Ryker glances up at me, though his amusement doesn't fade. "I'm better than a lot of things than Cruz."
From the devilish glint in his eyes I know exactly what he's talking about. My cheeks heat in spite of myself. It wasn't exactly if I had any opportunity to verify the truth of that claim for myself. But I've been very impressed by his performance.
"I think Holly would say those were fighting words."
"She's seven months pregnant," he points out. "I don't think she's going to win many boxing matches."
Holly is undergoing similar treatment as me, as friction grows between the Spades and the Hellions. We're being boxed in. The Kings on one side, and the Hellions coming at us from another. They test our commitment to our ethics every day, gaining more ground. Soon there will have to be large-scale fighting to keep them from advancing further, hurting more people.
"But house arrest? Come on!"
"It's just until the baby is born."
I huff, though I have a feeling he's probably right. Just like their former leader, this new group doesn't have a problem attacking women or children to get to their real targets. It's safest for Bryan and me to stay home for the time being. It doesn't mean I like it.
I flop onto the couch next to him and cross my arms across my chest, unwilling to admit defeat. This whole situation is incredibly unfair.
Ryker places a gentle kiss to my shoulder then, when I don't immediately shove his face away, he places another on my clavicle, placing soft nips and kisses on the sensitive skin of my throat. Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones, but every time he touches me these days I feel like a livewire, desire coursing through me the second he's near.
He skims his hand over my breasts and down to the small bump that juts from my abdomen.
"I care about keeping you, Bryan, and Maria safe."
I smile just a little. We'd picked the name out together when the sonogram told us we were having a girl. Soon she'd be kicking the crap out of him too.
My irritation with him finally melts away. He's right. I can't dangle myself out there as bait. I have a family to consider now. Who will take care of Bryan and Maria if we're both gone?
"Fine. I'll stay. Butonlyuntil the baby is born. This time you're taking paternity leave to watch the kids. I'm getting out there and finding myself a job."
He nods, agreeing to my demands. I'm a little disappointed actually. I am itching for a fight. The sex after is always amazing. I blow out a breath and snuggle in closer. We tune the TV to the news, and I snatch the remote and flick through channels until I find a soap opera. Serves him right for trapping me in the house for the next five months.
"This again?"
"Serves you right." I grumble the thought aloud this time.
My cell phone rings in the other room, and I climb to my feet to get it. Ryker beats me to the punch, springing to his feet with the speed of any professional athlete. I glare at him, though it's envy that fuels most of my anger. I miss being nimble. Stupid, sexy biker with his sculpted abs and perfect toned body. I feel like a manatee next to him.
When he returns with my phone, he's squinting at the number. I glance at the screen, bemused when it only reads "private number."
"Should I answer it?"
He shrugs. "Why not? If it's a telemarketer just hang up."
I press the green button and lift the phone to my ear. "Hello?"
"Hello, Miss Sutton," A familiar, gravelly voice says. Though I've only heard its timbre once, there's no way I could forget this man's voice. "Or shall I say, Mrs. Fenton now? Congratulations on your nuptials."
There's more to this phone call than a simple congratulations. He could have done that months ago when Ryker and I tied the knot. I'm under no illusions that his call is purely social.
My voice is thin when I finally answer. "What do you want, Gardel?"
Ryker stiffens beside me and gestures for me to put the call on speakerphone. I do it quickly and Calamity Gardel's laugh peals out of the speakers. It's a dark, rich sound. I'm a happily married woman, but even so, that voice still does things to a woman.
"You know what this call is about, Mrs. Fenton. I trust you've allowed your brutish husband listen in on our correspondence."
