Page 30 of The Rebel King

“Yeah, okay.” Now that he’s leaving, I want to wrap my arms and legs around him and lock the door to keep him with me a little longer. “I love you.”

His expression softens, and he looks at me in a way I’ve never seen him look at anyone else. And I know it’s because I’m the only one he loves in just this way. He leans down to give me a quick, searing kiss and whispers his reply over my lips, “Same, baby. Same.”

I stand there for a moment after he leaves, absorbing the scent of him lingering in the foyer before rejoining Mena at the dining-room table.

“Sorry about that.” I grimace. “About all of it. We clash from time to time.”

“You both have incredibly strong personalities. It’s to be expected, but there’s obviously a lot of passion there.” Mena grins and tilts her head, considering. “And love, if I’m not mistaken.”

“You’re not mistaken.” I toy with my fork and smile. “I love him, yeah.”

“I’m so happy for you, Lennix. You know I’ve wanted someone to get past that guard around your heart for a long time.”

“He got past it all right. I just hope we don’t screw it up. He likes to piss circles around me, and as you can imagine, that doesn’t always go over well.”

“He’s a very dominant man. Many politicians are. I know. I married one.”

“Well, he is dominant, but he’s not a politician. Thank God.”

“Maybe not by trade.” Mena levels a speculative look over her coffee mug, sipping. “But he obviously has aspirations.”

“No, he has convictions. Principles. Goals for the world, no less, and he understands there has to be some intersection with politics to accomplish them, but he’s notintopolitics. I think that’s partly why we work.”

“The two of you also work because he wouldn’t settle for younotworking. When you resisted, he kept coming. That’s a man always looking for the next mountain to climb.”

“I have my own mountains,” I say, pushing around what’s left of my pancakes. “He knows that.”

We share a look, and there’s some knowledge in Mena’s eyes that I don’t want to ask about. After breakfast, we clear the dining-room table and head into the kitchen. Mena leans against the counter and watches me load the dishwasher.

“What?” I ask, glancing up from a row of plates in the rack. “You have thatI’ve got something on my chestlook.”

Mena smiles and nods. “I was thinking of what you said earlier about incorporating some of the old practices into your recovery.”

“Yeah?” I close the dishwasher door and lean beside her against the counter. “And?”

“I do think incorporating some of the ancient practices in your healing process is wise. If running makes you feel connected, do that. Smudging can be incredibly powerful, too.”

I can’t remember the last time I engaged in the practice of smudging. Growing up, Mama’s house always smelled of sage, and the sacred smoke drifted through every room.

“I’ll bring some things over for you to use,” Mena says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “I’ll give you the tools, but you have to do the work.”

At every juncture, she’s there, stepping into so many gaps. I believe Mama sees us and is grateful for how Mena has guided me time and time again. “Thank you for always being there for me, Auntie,” I say with watery eyes.

“Oh, honey, I always will.”

CHAPTER 12

MAXIM

Laughter reaches me even before I step off the elevator to Lennix’s apartment.

So much for another night alone with my girl. I hadn’t planned to be away all day, but we’re at a critical stage in several deals. Jin Lei reminded me, not too gently, about several things that needed my immediate attention. Lennix texted to say her friends were coming over. I don’t begrudge them time with her. They almost lost her, too, and no doubt need to feel assured she’s okay the same way I do, but damn if I didn’t want time alone.

When she mentioned Owen announcing soon, it reminded me that the pace of our lives doesn’t leave much time for each other. In addition to my business interests, I’ll be on the campaign trail for O. With Nixrunningthe campaign, I don’t foresee us slowing down to enjoy each other anytime soon.

I blow out a long breath and step into the hall.

“Everything good?” I ask the plain-suit security guy positioned near the door.

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