“Hi, Joss,” her sweet voice filters through the phone when she answers and something settles in my chest. “Is the shoot done already?”
“Yeah,” I rasp, my voice warm but with an edge of need I have a feeling will always be there when it comes to my woman, no matter how many times I sink into her tight, wet heat. “We’re just finishing up now. It took less time than I thought it would.”
She makes a humming sound, and I have no doubt she’s splitting her attention between me and whatever it is she’s making. The good thing is that she has downtime when things have to set or as she’s getting the ingredients together for whatever she’s making next.
Fuck, how focused she is and determined to do something with her dream, even if she can’t open a shop yet, is sexy as hell.
“I miss you,” the words slip past my lips without me needing to think about them.
Fuck, I do miss her.
Leaving her this morning was not easy, but I had to run by my place, take a shower, and get changed before the shoot. Next time I’ll pack a bag to make sure I get to spend as much time as possible with my woman.
Before she can say anything, Vallie’s arm snakes around my shoulder and she purrs, “Come on, you know you want to get a drink with me, baby.”
My entire body jerks and I dislodge her hand. Fury like I’ve never felt before has me glaring at Vallie. The sound of my heart pounding in my chest and blood rushing through my veins almost drowns out Syndal’s weak voice murmuring, “It sounds like you’re busy, and I need to go.”
“Wait!” I shout the word and Vallie startles, but Syndal is already gone.
When I look at the woman who thinks far too highly of herself, the satisfied smile on her face has me seeing red. She’s not at all bothered; she simply flips her hair over her shoulder without a care in the world.
“Listen closely,” I growl, “I’m not interested in you. If you were the last woman on the planet, I still wouldn’t touch you.”
She pales slightly, but years of feeling superior has her scoffing, “You can’t be serious.”
I lean closer to her, my voice taking on a menacing edge, “I’m deadly fucking serious. Now, I’m going to go and see my woman. I’ll be telling any photographer I work with that I no longer want to shoot with you. If you’re there, I’ll leave. I might need the money, but not enough to risk losing my woman. Nothing is worth that.”
Something shifts in her eyes and her shoulders drop. “She’s a lucky woman,” she whispers.
There’s a vulnerability in her gaze and I see past her mask for a moment. It gives me pause, but not enough for me to keep this conversation going or change my mind when it comes to being in the same room with her.
It takes me far too long to get to the other side of the city, but eventually I’m banging on my woman’s door. Every second I’m waiting for her to open it feels like a fucking eternity.
When she does, her eyes are wary as she looks me over. It’s not like I can blame her, but it kind of pisses me off as well. I haven’t given her a reason to distrust me, but I understand she’s been hurt in the past.
My hands shoot out to grab her and haul her against my chest. “I don’t know what the fuck that bitch was trying to do, but I’m not going to let her get away with it,” I growl the words while my body vibrates with barely contained rage and pure fucking fear.
“Who was she?” I hate the way her voice wobbles.
“It was the model I was doing the shoot with. She had already asked me to have a drink, and I had already turned her down. Then I couldn’t wait any longer and needed to call you. She only said something to start some drama.”
Her green eyes race between mine, looking, searching. I know she’s looking to see if I’m telling her the truth, but I’m not worried. I know. But I let her search all the same. I’ll wait.
When she blows out a breath and her body sags, I’m right there to hold her up. “I’m sorry,” her apology comes out broken.
I press my lips to her forehead and breathe her in. “It’s okay,” I murmur against her skin even though it’s not entirely okay.
“No, it’s not,” she insists. “You haven’t given me any reason to distrust you. You’ve been upfront and honest with me. My insecurities aren’t your fault, but you keep having to pay for them.”
“That’s how this works between us, Sugar,” I insist. “We hold each other up, we help each other heal, we keep showing up and we keep loving each other.”
Syn freezes in my arms for a heartbeat and then she jerks back so hard I’m not able to hold onto her. “What?” Her voice is high and filled with surprise and disbelief. “Did you just,” she starts and shakes her head before trying again, “what are you saying?”
I smile slowly and close the distance between us until my lips are hovering over hers, “You heard me, Syndal. We keep loving each other,” I repeat and her eyes widen. I could get lost in those green depths so damn easily. “I love you. I knew the moment I saw you that you were going to change my life and give me purpose when I’ve been floundering for so long. I’ve been working to get myself out of the hole I was put in, but it wasn’t like I was moving toward a dream.”
“She stole from you,” she sneers the words since I shared with her what my ex did. “She should be rotting in a jail cell somewhere.”
My hold tightens on my bloodthirsty woman. “I love that you’re willing to defend me, no matter what. I love how soft you are and how much passion you have for your treats. I love how strong you are, and how brave you are.”
