He points toward the far side of the room. "Over there."
A black velvet box wrapped in a crimson bow sits on my entryway table.
How did I miss it?
My breath catches. "What is it?"
His lips twitch. "Open it."
Excitement fills me more than I want to acknowledge. I pick it up and look at him.
He grins, urging, "Go on."
I untie the bow, lift the lid, pull out a scarlet eye mask, and gape.
It's stunning, crafted in deep, lacquered red and onyx black. Sharp, sensual lines on the mask command attention while they seduce and threaten in equal measure. The ornate filigree crown along the top glitters with crimson gems that catch the light like drops of fresh blood. Roses in lush shades of scarlet and wine spiral along the edges, their petals so vivid they could be real. The darker leaves curve through them, layered with black pearls and onyx stones. The entire thing looks painted and alive. It's beauty shaped into armor.
A whisper escapes me. "Brax… It's beautiful."
His voice drops low. "You haven't looked at the best part." He steps closer, hooks a finger under the central crest, and tugs.
A narrow steel blade slides free.
"Holy shit," I mutter.
"I'm not letting my wife go anywhere unarmed again," he declares, pinning me with his heated stare.
My throat tightens unexpectedly. A sharp sting I can't swallow down builds behind my eyes. I blink fast, but it doesn't stop the warmth rising through me like a tide.
He watches me closely, expression shifting from smug to concerned. "Don't cry."
"I'm not crying."
"You are absolutely crying."
I swipe a tear quickly. "No, I'm not. Something got in my eye."
"Sure, Minx. Whatever you say."
I study the mask and the knife, then toss my arms around him. "Thank you."
He hugs me hard and mumbles, "No one's fucking around with my wife."
I softly laugh.
His hand slides to the back of my neck, fingers threading through my hair, and he lowers his forehead to mine. "One more thing."
"What?"
"I trust you. Even when I'm an idiot who forgets how to show it," he proclaims.
My breath catches.
He brushes his thumb across my cheek. "And I don't want distance between us anymore."
My voice barely rises. "Me either."
He kisses me, stealing my air and anger alike. His hands grip my waist, pulling me closer, and anchoring me in a way that unravels everything inside me.
