“So don’t push me. I don’t care that you weren’t a virgin when you came here, but I don’t want to ever hear about it again. Unless any of them hurt you. In which case, I’ll make them pay.”
I blink up at him.
Is this a good time to tell him that Howey was an asshole in bed? I mean, it wasn’tbadsex, but now that I know how good it can be, I realize Howey was selfish as fuck.
Nah, I shouldn’t say anything.
“No need to go all murdery on me.”
He kisses my forehead. “Are you sure I can’t take you home so I can fuck that sass out of you?”
“I’mhungry,” I repeat. “And it would be rude to leave now. I like those people.”
“I love them, but I’d ditch them right now.”
I snort and boost up on my toes so I can kiss him, but he still has to bend down to meet me.
“Let’s go enjoy dinner, and then you can take me home and fuck me seven ways to Sunday.”
“Christ,” he mutters as he opens the door, and when we get to the kitchen, Aiden’s back downstairs, and Willow has pulled the meat loaf out of the oven.
“Dinner’s ready.”
“I need a favor.”
We’re riding back to the house from working out in the gym. Aiden left for Seattle this morning, and we all met at the farmhouse to have breakfast together before Ryker and Willow took him to the airport. Then Gideon and I went right out to work in the ring.
I’m extra sweaty today. He worked me hard, but I managed to get a punch in that he wasn’t expecting, so I’m taking that as a win.
“Ask away,” he says, reaching over to hold my hand.
The weather has gotten cold enough that we rarely run outside or walk to the workout facilities anymore, so we’re in his truck.
“I need to call Chelsea.”
His gaze whips around to mine, and he scowls. “Fuck no.”
“Just listen to me. Her birthday is in two days, and I want to call to wish her a happy birthday and chat with her for a few minutes. It would be completely out of character for menotto do that, even if I was on a world tour for my mother. I’m shocked she hasn’t been asking about me.”
“She did finally reach out to Richie to ask how much longer you’ll be gone and when you’ll be answering your phone,” he admits, and I stare at the side of his head.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Now he looks over at me with his Secret Service face firmly in place. “Because you didn’t need to know.”
“Gideon.I had the right to know that. I want to call her for her birthday. I have done everything you’ve said, and you know it. I haven’t even asked to call myfamily. You can do this for me.”
He sighs and drags his hand down his face, but finally says, “I’ll figure it out. You’ll use the landline because I can scramble the trace. But you can’t talk for more than ten minutes.”
“I haven’t spoken to her in too long. We never go this long without talking. No limit on the call.”
“This isn’t a negotiation, Rebel. It’s ten minutes or nothing.”
“I don’t like you like this.”
He parks at the house, and I push out of the truck and march to the door.
“Like what? Keeping you safe?”
