"Okay, so what are you saying?" I asked, hoping River could help me see this another way so I could stop feeling like I was prematurely losing my mind.
"Until Talon tells you whatever it is he knows, I don't think you should jump to conclusions. Choyce and Honor have to be around each other because of business, but that doesn't mean Honor is sleeping with her."
"I get that, I swear I do, but he lied to me, River. At the hospital, he lied, thinking I wouldn't know."
"What did he lie about?"
"He claimed he told Kage not to let anyone in his room except for me while he talked to Choyce, but that was a lie. He told Kage not to let anyone in the room, including me."
"I can see why his lying bothered you, but maybe he lied to protect you."
"And that makes it okay?" I spat, slightly annoyed River was taking his side.
"That's not what I said. If he lied, then you have every right to be upset, but let's not act like our men work regular jobs. Whatever Choyce and Honor were talking about could have easily been something that needed to stay between them as a way to keep you safe."
"I guess," I hummed, digging my spoon into half-melted ice cream.
"Listen, all you can go off of is what Honor tells you and your intuition. You know that man better than anyone, so if you feel a way about the shit he's doing, talk to him. Let him know you're feeling a way and take it from there."
"I will." I sighed just as the alarm system sent a notification to my phone about the front door being opened. "River, I gotta go, he's home."
"Okay, and stand your ground, Navy."
"I will," I smiled and hung up.
Taking a deep breath, I cleaned up the small mess I made, then stood in the entrance to our kitchen. I tucked my hands under my chest and poked my hip out, feeling like I needed to do more than just stand there. I didn't want to come off confrontational, but I wanted Honor to know that not communicating with me wasn't going to fly.
Honor's heavy footsteps, even without shoes, were easy to hear. The louder they got, the closer I knew he was. Then his cologne engulfed me, stealing my breath. My heart raced in anticipation. As annoyed as I was, I didn't want to argue or swallow my anger either. What I wanted was answers. They were necessary because my heart craved understanding. Sucking in a deep breath, I rolled my shoulders back, bracing myself for however this was going to go. Honor stepped into my line of sight, caving in my chest and tugging my shoulders forward.
"What happened?" I asked. The man I love stood before me, resembling the young boy I had saved all those years ago.
Choosing not to utter a word, Honor's body collapsed into mine. The weight of him sent us stumbling backward until the edge of our island kissed my back. I winced from the tender pain. Honor caught it, swiping his palms past my waist and settling them on the small of my back, calming the soreness.
"Thank you," I murmured once the pain was gone.
He nodded, then gripped my waist, lifting me onto the marble top. The width of his muscular frame knocked my legs apart, and like a woman in love, my body welcomed him. Honor molded into me. My face rested on his left shoulder; his head nestled into my neck.
"Honor."
Soft exhales painted across my skin as he murmured my name.
"Navy."
Kisses were sewn from my ear to my collarbone. My back arched, chest pushing forward, neck tilting even more, granting Honor access to his favorite spot.
"Honor," I moaned, struggling to stop intimacy from hijacking our conversation.
His head lifted until his vacant eyes hazed over my face.
"I need to hear you say it," he rasped, voice sounding a little more gravelly than normal.
"Honor, we need to talk?—"
"Please," he begged.
The void in his browns held me hostage. His palms breezed past my thigh, slipping beneath my t-shirt. His thumb swiveled against my clit like muscle memory.
"Please," he coaxed, still searching for what he needed in my eyes.
