Page 93 of Love and War

“Let’s dry off and then we can talk about it,” I whispered. Aziza nodded her head.

“You’re going to need to put me down.”

Right, fuck.

Setting her down, I quickly dried off before helping her dry off herself. I worked on autopilot, helping dress her in one of my large shirts, before pulling on a pair of sweatpants. Reaching for a shirt myself, Aziza stopped me.

“On the bed, stomach.”

Doing as she said, I pulled a pillow under my head wrapping my arms around it. I waited as Aziza crawled carefully on top of me, straddling my butt.

“When?” she finally asked. I could feel her fingers tracing the outline of the iris.

“The day after I left,” I mumbled into the pillow. “I went to the shop and sat there for hours, crying in the chair while they did it.”

It was silent as she looked over my back, her eyes in the middle of my back, close to my shoulder blade. Two iris flowers along the side of my back, with her nickname, moya Printsessa. My nickname, Popsicle. Everything that was about her, a pair of ballet shoes, wrapped around the middle of my back.

“Did you, did, uh, you, purposely…” I knew what she was trying to ask.

“Yes, because I was coming back to you. I wanted to wear those scratches you gave me when we made love forever.”

“Make love, huh?” She giggled, climbing off me. Rolling onto my side I faced her. My shoulders dropped in relief as I let out a sigh, not realizing I had been holding my breath. Nervous about what she was going to think.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love fucking you like my personal whore.” I smiled, dragging her closer to me. “But you’re mine, mine to fuck, mine to love,mineAziza.”

“Yours,” she agreed. Bending to kiss me again.

“If we start kissing, I’m going to end up fucking you. And you’re still healing.”

As much as I wanted her, she needed to rest. She needed to heal.

“I see no shame in that.” Leaning forward she began sucking on my neck again.

I hated pushing her away, but I couldn’t risk hurting her. I couldn’t. And when Aziza sat back it broke my heart even more. The idea that she felt like I didn’t want her anymore.

“I can see those ideas swarming around, Aziza, get them out.” Sitting up, I grabbed her hand, placing it against my hard cock. “I want you. I want to sink inside you and stay there for days. And that’s exactly what I planned on doing, and for that moya Printsessa, I need you to be healed if not all the way, at least ninety percent of the way.” Pressing my lips against her, I groaned into her mouth when her hand tightened against my shaft.

“Love me?” she asked, breaking away.

“Always.”

“Always.” she murmured. Smiling, we both laid back down, pulling the blanket up over us. It didn’t take either of us long before falling asleep.

***

Aziza kept her hand against my throat, her legs thrown over my legs. Her soft snoring told me she had been asleep for a while. Staring down at her face, my heart warmed. For the first time since I’d left, I felt at peace. She was my home; she was everything I needed and wanted in life. My hand found her stomach, rubbing circles over her bump.

When we were kids, the idea of having a family with her was just a dream. It was something I wanted, but never thought I could have. That I would end up Richard. But now, I knew I could never end up like him. I wouldn’t let myself. Nor would Aziza, she would kick my ass. I was excited to be a father, to have a family with her. I wanted to have more babies with her. I was going to keep her pregnant.

Smiling at the thought of just that, the sound of the back door closing snapped me out of it. I nearly shot up until her hand tightened around my neck again. As quickly and carefully as I could, I entangled my limbs from her grasp. Standing, the wood creaked under my weight. Snapping my head to Aziza, I didn’t breathe as she shifted, lying on her side.

Making my way to the kitchen, I kept my eyes vigilant. Nothing appeared to be out of sorts, but that didn’t mea—

“The girl is safe.”

Jumping about three feet in the air, I spun around. My eyes locked onto a large figure standing in the corner, arms crossed over his chest.

“Jesus fuck, can you just stop being so fucking creepy?” I narrowed my eyes, my heart beating too fast.

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