Page 60 of King of the Dawn

I chuckled to myself. “Because I liked seeing you mad.”

I touched her pale cheek, watching that familiar blush coming over.

“It made you blush, and I thought it was cute.”

Her eyelids fluttered, and a hint of a smile came over her lips. I kissed her cheek.

“I first saw you turn red in anger.” Then I kissed her nose. “Then in fear.” Then her lips. “Then in embarrassment.” She laughed at that one, as I traced my lips on her neck. “Then from arousal.”

As if on cue, she let out a deep moan. My cock bobbed against my zipper, ready for his own declaration of love. Down, boy. You’ll get your turn.

There was a cough. I still wasn’t great at deciphering dreams from reality, but when a second cough, followed by a slight knock ocurred, my wife and I looked at the embarrassed flight attendant, hovering near the cockpit.

“Sorry,” she mouthed. “But we’re getting ready to take off. Could you… put on your seatbelts?”

Evie giggled, sliding off of me and into the seat beside me. I wasn’t ready to let her go, holding onto one of her hands as we both buckled her into the seat. I stared at her as the engine started to roar. She looked up at me, leaning her shoulder against mine.

“This will be my last warning,” I whispered into her ear. “You come back with me, and I will never let you go.”

“You’re an idiot.” She playfully bit into my shoulder through my blazer. “I’m the one who wouldn’t let you go.”

As the engine roared, I stared at her, and she stared back at me, our hands clasped together so tight, I thought her nails would dig right through my skin. We waited in transfixed silence until the seatbelt sign turned off.

She moved faster than I did, unbuckling then straddling me under her lithe legs. I wrapped my arms around her waist.

“I have something to tell you,” I finally confessed, placing a kiss on her tender, pink lips.

“Yes, husband?” She wrapped her arms around my neck.

Her eyes were love, and forgiveness. I adored her.

I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose.

There were four people who knew the extent of my secrets: Me. My sister. My daughter. Corbin McClellan.

“I was born Jericho Vasiliev, but most of the world knows me by another name,” I took a deep breath through my nose.

She was a Mafia bride, from a Mafia family. I did not know how she might take my secret. I did not know if there was still some kind of loyalty that she felt towards the Murphy clan, especially as that relationship had thawed.

“I am a government agent, in a company called Paradigm,” I blurted out. “We are in deep cover. Our mission is to stop criminal organizations within the United States that our law enforcement, and others, can’t touch.”

She leaned back, her brows pinching together, putting a small line between her brows.

“I became Pakhan to eliminate the bratva in New York.” She touched my face, her hands shaking at my confession. “I will break it from the inside. Most of the world knows me as Brett Bradley.”

Her brows rose, and her hands left my face, just as I thought they would. I shut my eyes, shielding myself from her inevitable rejection. Then I heard a rather unflattering little snort. My eyes flew open, and saw something that I did not expect.

My wife had her long fingers over her mouth, the apples of her cheeks rounded and pink.

“Brett Bradley may be the worst name I’ve ever heard.” She laughed.

My mouth opened as I leaned back in my seat.

“That’s all you have to say?” I asked.

“My sweet husband.” Her hands came down to my chest, and she leaned forward, placing her forehead against mine. “Your wants are my needs. Your vows become mine.” She grabbed my hand, flipping it over to the scar that lined my palm. “That is what this means.”

She leaned down and kissed the tender spot in the center of my curved hand.

---