Page 64 of The Shadow

“Did she get out?”

I nod my head. “Eventually, yes, but by then, cancer had already started to take her from me.”

Lyra and I sit in the silence of each other’s company, the laughter and merriment of the other customers around us fading into the background. Neither of us need to say anything; it just feels good to sit here in this moment with each other, knowing how strong and resilient we both have been to get here.

By the time I’ve finished my drink and said goodbye to Lyra, Harvey has pulled up out front of the bar, standing beside the passenger door of his Chevelle. He’s resting against the side of the car, his arms crossed over his chest. His brow softens and a slow smile spreads across his face when he sees me emerge from the bar.

“Damn.” I tilt my head, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “You look good enough to eat.” I instantly break into a fit of laughter, my attempt at being more confident in my sexuality still has a long way to go but it feels good to express the little thoughts that pop into my head like that.

“Really?” He grabs me around the waist, his other hand grabbing a handful of my ass. “Because I was thinking the exact same thing when you came walking out here in this little dress.” He holds me out with one arm, twirling me as he whistles. “Fuck me, I want to tear that thing off you.”

“You saw me before I left the apartment.”

“Yes, I did”—he nibbles my neck—“and you kept smacking my hands away, telling me you were off-limits till you got back.”

“And are we back yet?” I pretend to scold him, a fun little role-play I like to pull out when I’m wanting him to turn into that alpha, possessive caveman. My finger presses firmly against his chest, his eyes dropping down to look at it before he grabs my hand and tugs me forward.

“You know I’ve really come to like when you pretend to deny me.” He lifts my hand that he’s still holding, bringing the finger I pointed into his chest to his mouth and biting it. His teeth graze the pad of my finger gently, followed by a swipe of his tongue. “But as your soon-to-be husband, maybe you should learn to enjoy obeying me.”

“And I’ve really come to like when you pretend to be angry with me… and try to tell me what to do.” His eyes get that dark, hooded look, the one I’ve come to realize means I have about thirty seconds before this man is going to devour me.

“Does my girl like to be punished?” His hands are wrapped delicately around my jaw, holding my head still as he towers over me. He leans in, his tongue lazily dipping between my lips for a brief second.

A year ago, I couldn’t imagine being the girl outside the bar getting pressed up against her fiancé’s car while he tells her in vivid detail all the ways he plans to please her. I know I’ve come a long way in my confidence and self-assuredness, but I also know I couldn’t have done it without Harvey.

“Yes.”

“Mmm, that’s my good girl.” He releases me, spinning me around and smacking my ass before helping me into the passenger side seat.

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. and Mrs. America!” Marcus’ smile is so wide it almost reaches his ears. After noticing Harvey and me coming and going together a lot, Marcus started to secretly pull me aside, trying to get the gossip on if we were together or not. It was cute and I would tease him, giving him little breadcrumbs here and there until one day, we were just together and it wasn’t even a question anymore. That’s when the nickname started, Marcus telling us that we were too good-looking to just be an ordinary couple.

But when I came down the morning after getting engaged, you would have thought that he won the lottery. He cried and hugged me, truly sharing in my joy in a way that melted my heart.

“That man is in love with you,” Marcus whispered to me after only the third or fourth time seeing us together. I remember hushing him, telling him that he was imagining it, but secretly I was hoping it was true, that I wasn’t the only one who was falling.

“Evening, boss.” Harvey shakes his hand, grabbing his bicep. “Hey, easy with those weights, man. You’re gonna outdo me pretty soon.”

Marcus falls into a fit of laughter. “You’re too much, man. I might be an old man”—he gets into a fighter stance, throwing a few pretend jabs—“but I still got it.” Harvey mimics his stance, tossing a few punches and an uppercut his way which Marcus deflects.

“We should get in the ring together. I haven’t sparred since I enlisted. I could use a refresher from a pro like yourself.”

“Get in the ring with a beast like you?” He laughs. “It might be a fight for my life!” Their laughter echoes through the lobby of our building. Harvey assures Marcus he would go easy on him and both men agree to meet after Marcus’ shift this Thursday to hit up the boxing gym he’s been a member of since the seventies.

“Oh wait, Miss Aspen.” Marcus holds up his hand once we’ve said good night and start making our way toward the elevator. “I almost forgot.” He pulls an envelope from the lapel of his uniform. “Someone dropped this for you.”

“Thank you,” I say, taking the unmarked envelope from his hand. I glance down at it briefly but there’s no return address or any sort of writing on it at all.

“And one more thing.” He smiles. “I got a new riddle for you. What costs nothing, but is worth everything. Weighs nothing but lasts a lifetime, and cannot be owned but can be shared between two people?”

He’s like a kid with a giant secret, glancing between the two of us. I already know the answer, but I glance over at Harvey to see if he’s going to attempt a guess. He slides his arm around my shoulders, planting a kiss against my temple.

“Love,” he whispers.

“Good night, you two.” Marcus winks at us, turning to walk back to his post as the elevator doors close.

“I’ve got a riddle for you.” Harvey’s hands are on me, his lips nipping my neck as he walks us down the hallway to the apartment we now share.

“Oh yeah?” I’m lost in a haze of lust already as he pulls his keys from his pocket and unlocks the door, his tongue and lips still teasing me.

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