Page 64 of Heartless
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Shadow.” Mari propped her chin on my chest, sliding her arms around my ribs. “It’s your house too.”
“It is?”
She nodded.
“But.” My chest was tight, my mind going off in all kinds of directions I didn’t dare voice aloud. “I thought it was only for you and your men.”
Mari grinned wider. “It is.” She stretched on her tiptoes, leaning up until her lips came within kissing distance of mine. “You’re mine, Shadow.” Just as quickly, her feet planted on the floor again, the nervousness visible on her face. “That is, if you want to be.”
My body felt it, but my brain seemed slow to catch up. I felt light, almost like I was floating. My pulse hammered and I wanted to laugh to release the sparks building in my chest. But my brain, my stupid brain, wouldn’t let me believe the words she said.
“I’m…yours?”
She nodded. “Yes, I want you to be.”
“Why?”
“Because,” she laughed like it was obvious. “I love…how you make me feel. I admire your creativity, your loyalty, how sweet you are with me and my cat. When I’m not wrapped up in you, I wrap myself in your hoodie.” Her touch slid down my arms, finding both of my hands. “I want to say good morning to youeverymorning.”
I leaned my forehead down to hers. My stubborn brain was finally reconciling with my body’s reactions. This brightness sparking under my skin, the smile I couldn’t stop from spreading on my mouth. She wanted me.
Me.
“I…want to be yours.” I placed her hand over my racing heart. “I still feel clueless about so many things, but I’ll do my best to be a good partner to you. One you deserve.” I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her small palm. “And you can have all my hoodies as long as you watch every sunset with me.”
Her grin reflected mine. “Deal.” She pulled away from me until her hands tugged mine toward the door leading out of the room. “Let’s watch one now, before you leave me.”
I tugged her back to me, catching her against my chest from the force of my pull. “I’ll never leave you.” I pressed a fast kiss to her mouth before releasing her. “Not without a promise that I’ll come back.”
“Hm.” She practically skipped out the door, tossing a playful glance over her shoulder at me. “I’m gonna hold you to that.”
Eighteen
MARIPOSA
“Get some antifreeze and put it in someone’s drink if you need to kill them without being detected.”
Andrea threw her head back and laughed, nearly falling out of her armchair. “How many times have you had to do that, Mari?”
“I plead the fifth,” I snickered. “Oh wait, that doesn’t exist anymore. Damn it!”
“You can always ‘accidentally’ smother a guy to death while you’re sitting on his face,” Noelle suggested. “Although, you’ll need his limbs tied down, so make it like a kinky bondage session first.”
“Better to use a pillow,” I interjected. “You don’t want things getting bitten off down there if he catches on.”
Andrea howled with laughter, and even I couldn’t smother my giggles entirely. The only one we couldn’t seem to drag out from the dumps was Tessa, who barely cracked a smile as she rocked Vivian against her chest.
None of us could blame her. The father of her children and the woman she just rekindled a romance with were leaving on a dangerous mission in a few short hours. The probability was high that neither would come back soon, if ever.
The four of us were in one of the City Hall lounge rooms, usually reserved as sitting rooms for the male dignitaries to drink and smoke cigars. But us girls wanted to chat and get together before sending Andrea off.
And Big G. And Grudge and Shadow.MyShadow,I thought worriedly. We watched last night’s sunset from a City Hall balcony until darkness and cold settled in. Our new house wasn’t entirely furnished yet so we still had to spend another night in separate rooms in the B&B. By the time he returned from the mission, his new home would be moved in and ready.
Ournew home.
“Don’t look so sad, sweet cheeks.” Andrea stood from her armchair, wobbling slightly from the drinks we’d all been consuming, before planting herself next to Tessa on the loveseat and pulling the young mother into a forced cuddle.
