Page 110 of Moonlit Thorns

“I don’t know how you’re dealing with it all, Nero,” Anabelle says from my left. “I’m so thankful we had a small ceremony. I can’t imagine having to make all the decisions you guys are making.” Then she turns to me. “Can you pass me the bacon?”

Anabelle is now a regular at the breakfast table of course. I didn’t think I’d get so much joy from watching her relationship with my brothers grow, but I do. They’re about as overprotective of her as I am at this point.

Last week, Anabelle left the manor on her own to visit Oak Haven Estate, and Sid questioned whether I thought that was a good idea or not.

He needn’t have worried. I had one of the security personnel tail her to make sure she wasn’t in any danger. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. I’m still paranoid about someone who hates me wanting to use her as a pawn.

Her mom has been back home for a few months. The facility they put her in, which I had arranged before I sent Anabelle away, did wonders. Things aren’t perfect, but Anabelle’s mom has more good days than bad now, and her bad days are nowhere near as bad as they used to be.

It was nice to see that light in Anabelle’s eyes when she spoke about her mom when she came back from their visit.

“I just want Maude to be happy. Whatever she wants, she can have,” Nero says.

Since Maude accepted Nero’s proposal, it’s been full steam ahead on the wedding planning. They’re having a huge affair this fall. I keep waiting for him to figure out she’s not who she says she is, but so far, he’s a fool in love. Aren’t we all, I suppose? Hell, maybe I’m wrong, and I’m just being overprotective like always. Time will tell.

“Have you settled on the flowers yet?” Anabelle asks.

I think she makes sure to show extra interest because I literally never ask anything.

“Not yet. Still searching for the perfect shade of blush pink, I’m told.” He laughs as though it’s endearing and not at all idiotic.

I sigh, and Anabelle squeezes my knee under the table. I take it for the warning it is.

“I’m sure it will all come together before the big day.” I smile then shove my honey toast in my mouth.

Anabelle squeezes my knee again, and I can tell that this time, it’s for a job well done.

I kiss the corner of her eyebrow and murmur against her skin, “You keep doing that, and I’ll have you back in bed in under five minutes, wife.”

She grins at me when I pull away from her. “Maybe that’s my plan.”

Pushing my seat back, I look at Nero. “If you see Sid or Kol, tell them to come to my office later. I have a few things to discuss with them.”

He nods and doesn’t say anything about the fact that I’m cutting breakfast short to go fuck my wife. I’m sure he’s used to it by now.

I have no idea where my other two brothers are, nor do I care at this moment.

“Bye, Nero. Have a good day,” Anabelle says as I practically drag her from the room.

Once we’re in our bedroom, I waste no time undressing my gorgeous wife. The diamond necklace stays on though. It takes me only minutes to divest myself of my own clothes.

I sit on the edge of the bed, leaning back on my palms. “Get over here and get on my lap, wife.”

It didn’t take long for me to figure out that Anabelle gets off on me calling her wife. It’s just another tool in my arsenal to turn her on, though it doesn’t take much these days. We’re ravenous for each other.

She struts over to the bed and straddles me before sinking down on top of me.

“Fuck, you always feel so good.” I lean forward and wrap my arms around her, tugging on her earlobe with my teeth.

Anabelle moans and moves her slick heat up and down my cock.

Since I was shot, the connection we share has only grown—both physically and emotionally. We share everything. I’ve even opened up to her about specific incidents I had to endure at my father’s hands, and she’s shared with me the trauma Preston and then Galen were for her.

It makes me feel connected to her on a level I didn’t know was even possible. And that connection makes the sex even better than it was to begin with.

Together, we’re healing.

I bring my thumb down to where we’re joined, and she moans.

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