Page 101 of Beautiful Scar

Our relationship has been like this though ever since Seamus attacked me. He dotes on me, obsesses over me. There are more cameras and guards in the house, but none in our rooms, all because I asked him to keep them out of there. The door between our suites is always open, and we don’t even pretend like there’s a separation anymore. My old room is basically one big walk-in closet now, though I do still spend a lot of time in my living area.

His is too manly. I prefer my decorations.

When I get up to clear the dishes, he makes me sit back down. “You rest now. You’re busy growing our baby.” He cleans everything off and loads the dishwasher. I watch him with a little smile on my lips. I bet he hasn’t done anything domestic inyears, and suddenly I come along, and it’s like the guy can’t help himself. If I try to wash a dish, he’s on my case and making me lounge around instead.

I’d pretend like I don’t like it, but the truth is, I love how protective and obsessed he’s become.

We end up in bed together. Most nights go this way. He’s out doing whatever he does, and I want to ask, but I never do. Because whenever a certain Irish name is mentioned, his mood turns black, and I don’t want that energy around the house if I can avoid it.

But after fucking like animals, I can’t help myself. We’re lying together under the sheets, sweat drying on my skin, a happy glow between my legs. I kiss his chest and stare up into his face, and he looks so satisfied it’s almost a shame to mess it up.

“We should talk about it, you know.”

He glances down at me. The smile isn’t completely gone yet. “Talk about what?”

“Seamus. What you’re doing. You know what I mean.”

And there we go. His happy afterglow fades. I’ll make it up to him later.

“It isn’t something you need to worry about.”

“He’s still out there, Tigran. He kept me in a cage?—”

“I know,” he snarls, and I have to stroke his chest lightly to help calm him down.

“I’m not blaming you. I know you’re doing everything you can. But I’m just scared.”

He takes a deep breath and blows it out. Normally, he makes an excuse and changes the subject, but not this time. Instead, he bends down and kisses me.

“I’m working on something,” he says, lips pushed together in a tight line. His face is tense, and I can tell he’s stressed. “But it hasn’t been easy. There’s a war now,pisik. My brother’s fighting on all fronts. The McGraths are smaller and weaker than we are, but they’re also tenacious, and your family hasn’t sent help yet.”

That surprises me. I sit up and ignore the look he gives my bare breasts. I swear, this man just brought himself to heaven between my legs while sucking on my naked breasts, and he still can’t help but look at me. It’s flattering, but right now, he needs to focus.

“Why haven’t they sent any help?” I ask, genuinely curious.

“Because the baby is the last step. Once the baby is born?—”

I cut him off, frustrated. “That’s stupid. I’m pregnant. The alliance is settled. What are they waiting for?”

He waits a long moment before shaking his head. “I don’t know.”

“I’ll talk to them.” I push myself out of bed and start to dress.

He seems amused now. “You’ll convince Valentin Zeitsev to send soldiers and guns personally?”

“If I have to.” I stand at the edge of the bed, seething. “We went through all this hell together. We got married, we had sex?—”

“The sex wasn’t exactlyhell,” he murmurs.

“—Vito died, Seamus is out there, my dad turned out to be a spineless slime, and they still aren’t sending help.” I’m unreasonably pissed. All this is way outside of my control, butI feel like I put in all the work and haven’t gotten anything in return from my supposed family yet.

“Then what will you do about it? You’re fucking sexy when you’re fierce, you know.”

“I’m going to make some calls.” I wilt slightly at the prospect of actually doing something, but I refuse to let my nature get the better of me. I’m not hiding away in my room anymore. “Just tell me what you need.”

“I need what every Bratva leader needs.” He smiles at my blank look. “Guns, drugs, and money. Now, come back to bed, my fierce little kitten, and let me fuck your mouth and pussy until you’re purring and satisfied once again.”

I hesitate, since I really want to ride this sudden wave of anger first—but maybe I could ride something else for a while and save the calls for later.

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