Today, I finished setting up the kitchen, and though neither of us cooks, I feel good about how quaint it is. I got sweaty as shit and dirty, though, so I headed for the shower well before time for her to get back from work.
When I come out of the bathroom, she’s leaning against the wall waiting for me. In her hand is a brand-new thigh blade, and she’s spinning it without looking. I sense she’s trying to work through the feel and heft of the new weapon, practicing so she knows it like she knows her palm.
“Afternoon, wife. Did you get a new toy?” I drop the towel in the bin and head over to our bed to sprawl out. It’s big and comfy, but much smaller than I’ve ever slept in since I left the Company. I didn’t mention it, though, because I’ve decided this is her bubble—a refuge from all the things she hasn’t dealt with.
I don’t want to ruin that by sticking my foot in my mouth.
She gives me a nod, her expression guilty. “After Del—after she... well, you know. I couldn’t even look at Precious anymore.” Flipping the blade, she lets it fly at the bedpost where it thuds in—about a millimeter off-center. Her growl makes me smile, and I watch her stalk over and yank it out, flipping it again. “I have to get used to this one, though, so I named it Baby. I used to be able to castrate a housefly at fifty paces. Now I’m afraid I’d behead the fly and half of his family. My aim is off.”
Grimacing, I shrug as I watch. “She didn’t mean for that complete mess to happen the way it did. Who the fuck expects a weapon to get consecrated by a bloody archbishop nowadays? It’s not the Crusades.”
“I know. Hell, I didn’t know that Arturo was having them blessed when he made them. I told him to knock it off with my orders because I don’t want them hurting any of us. It seemed prudent given how much blood we all share.” She shakes her head and murmurs, “I’m good with what happened until I think about her blood on my blade and the scar. It should have left me with a scar.”
“Some scars aren’t on the outside, love. I think you know that.”
I sure as hell do, and so does the cat, but right now, this conversation is about Talia.
“Yeah, I do.” She sighs and raises an eyebrow. “You smell good, long hair. That woman sure knows how to mix a potion to fit what appeals to people. She could sell those damned products and make a small fortune.”
I grin. “She dropped off a new batch this morning before breezing out on some mission. I think she said Russia. She clarified that whatever she put in here would make you happy.”
Talia ignores what I said about my primary, stalking over to the bed with a naughty grin. “Big yeah on liking it. You smell tasty as hell, baby. I bet when your skin heats, it will make you downright edible.”
She will not address this any further; that much is clear.
“Why don’t you come and find out?” I say as I give her a lazy smile that I don’t quite feel. I’ll never say ‘no’ to getting naked with my wife, and if I keep thinking about how she’s glancing over the work that needs to be done, I’ll be downright gloomy. Best to let this move to another topic where neither of us has to think so much.
The blade flies across the room, this time hitting the knob on the post dead center. “Challenge accepted.”
Holdingher close after a few rounds of very flexible sex, I sigh.
This is more bloody like it. Content and calm, soft and warm—none of that painful emotional shit. We need this kind of time,and maybe that was why everything went to shit earlier in the week. The ‘massage incident’ happened before we had time to get ourselves settled; she might be right. Lying here together, it feels a lot like it did after the first night we were together.
~I love you. ~I murmur.
I meant what I said about working hard to make sure I say things out loud so she truly understands how I feel about her. It’s different from my usual style ofshowingsomeone that I love them through actions, but from what I’ve seen in movies, compromise is the best way to keep a relationship on the right path. Talia said she needed words, and I’m going to give them to her as often as I can.
She grins, looking up at me from my chest. “I love you too, husband. You’re my world.”
“This was a bloody brilliant way to spend an evening.”
“Definitely no complaints here.”
Smiling, I tilt my head. “I missed you, you know. I know you were only with her for a day or two, but I did.”
Oddly, a pinkish tint crawls up her neck to her face. “You did? I always miss you, but I didn’t think...”
I swat her rear. “I did. Why wouldn’t I?”
Laughing, she shrugs. “I always hope you do; it’s that much more special when...” She stops and wrinkles her nose.
“When I say it out loud?”
She looks mortified, but she nods. “Yeah.”
Suddenly, a wave of magic strikes me, and I fall back, panting. Everything in my body tightens, and I look over at my mate with yellow eyes.
She hisses through her fangs. “What thefuck...is going on?”
