“Nobody has the right answers, Icer,” Slayer pipes in and says. “Everyone is unique to the couple. We can’t tell you what’s right and what’s wrong, that’s for you and Letti to decide.”
“What we can do is be here when you need an ear to listen,” Riptide inserts. “None of us have had great experiences with women until our old ladies came along. We’re still learning as we go. My best advice is to talk to Letti about things as they arise. Keep that line of communication open and when you’re feeling a certain way, reach out to her and don’t keep her at arm’s length or it could be disastrous. It’ll have you second guessing everything you do and don’t do if you do that.”
They’re all giving me good advice, things that I’m taking under consideration. But that doesn’t mean I won’t mess up. I can guarandamntee that I will because they’re right about one thing, I’ve never had a shining example to live up to. Instead, it was a brochure of things not to do.
Don’t hit your woman.
Don’t degrade her.
Don’t walk her around on a leash.
Don’t hide her from the outside world.
The list seems to be endless. My sperm donor, he all but destroyed my incubator. I can’t even refer to them as my parents without wanting to gag. They were toxic, poisonous, and I’m bound and determined that mine and Letti’s relationship and future is nothing like theirs was. I won’t be detrimental to her health. If anything, I’m going to lift her up as often as I can. With that decision made, I decide it’s time I find the two people that help me feel the sun on my face when my day’s been dreary. “I’m going to see my princess and little man. Are they together?”
“Yeah. They’re at my house,” Riptide informs me. “Why don’t you run and pick up Letti and spend the day there. Van and Zoey could use the break.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” I tell them, pulling my phone out of my inner cut pocket and shooting off a text to Letti, letting her know I made plans for us.
“Uncle Icer!” Elodie squeals when Letti and I walk through the door, running and leaping into my arms. My princess gives the best damn hugs. Little man lifts his head and gives me a gummy-filled smile, releasing a high pitched sound that has my ears ringing as he rocks onto his hands and knees and begins crawling toward me. He’s moving like a torpedo, and it thrills me that I’m the reason for their excitement. It makes me feel like the tallest man in the universe.
I point at Zoey and Van before tossing my thumb over my shoulder saying, “You two get gone. Go have a spa day or something.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Zoey says, bouncing on her feet.
“Me either,” Van says as she rushes over to little G and plants kisses all over his face. “Mama’s going out, sir. You be good for your Uncle Icer.” Then she switches her attention to my woman and asks, “You coming with us, Letti?”
“You know what, I think I will. Is that okay with you, Viking?” she asks, her eyes pleading as she looks up at me.
Not able to deny her anything, I say, “Yeah, Goddess, I’m good with that.” Her eyes widen in shocked surprise when I call her that, but seeing as that’s been what I refer to her in my head and since we’re an us now, I think it’s a good idea to say it out loud instead of holding it inside.
“Goddess,” she whispers, taking it in.
“Am I your Viking?” I ask her, wanting to drive a point home.
“Yes,” she confirms.
“Then you’re my goddess of the sea. You keep me from drowning and in return, I’ll hold you to the esteem you deserve.”
“I think I just swooned,” Zoey says, fanning her face.
“Damn, Icer. You’re good. Wait until I tell Rush that he needs to take lessons from you,” Van teases. “He’s going to lose his shit and try to outdo you.”
“Ooh, yes! Harrison can’t stand it when I rant and rave over other men. He’ll take it as a mission to swoop me off my feet,” Zoey gushes.
I point at them and state, “Y’all leave me out of it. Find a different muse. I don’t want to have to beat the shit out of my club’s president and Sgt. At Arms.”
They laugh and giggle as they lock elbows with Letti and lead her out the door. I overhear them say, “Tell us everything.”
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Letti
When my cousinand her boyfriend freed me from my indentured life, I never thought this is where it would lead me. I dreamed of something like this, but never thought it was something that would come to fruition. I’m now the proud owner of friends that keep me on my toes and never cease to bring a smile to my face, a man that scares the ever-loving bejesus out of everyone around him but is a teddy bear with me, and a group of men who’d bring Hell to earth if I was injured in any way, shape, or form.
My Viking and I may not have a storybook romance, but what we do have fills me full of warmth and I know, without a doubt, that he’ll always be there for me through thick and thin. That’s something I’ll never question.
