Page 37 of Patch's Bride
Her softly spoken question is so bizarre that I worry, for a brief moment that I’ve broken her brain with too many orgasms.
“Fuck no,” I tell her vehemently. “No brother in his right mind would fuck a club girl if he has a beautiful wife at home.”
She nods and lets out a breath that shakes at the end. “I ran into one who told me you always come back to her.”
“They like messing with everyone. I’ve never had any real attachment to any of them.”
She tilts her face up. “I appreciate you clearing that up for me.”
“I am greedy for you,” I say, “and that’s the real truth. Since you showed up at my parents’ house and I agreed to marry and protect you, I’ve never even thought of another woman.”
Her smile is slow and more reassured. She kisses me again, softer now, and tucks her leg over mine. I stroke her hair untilher breathing evens. When she starts to drift to sleep, my phone buzzes once on the nightstand. I reach for it without moving her. There’s a couple of new messages.
Serena: Mediator confirmed. Two days. 9 a.m. My office at eight for prep.
Zen: Found a new number on stepfather’s phone records. Verified Grave Diggers contact.
I set the phone face aside and look down at Beth. She’s watching me through her lashes, still half awake.
“Two days,” I say. “We prep tomorrow. Zen’s verified contact with the Diggers. It’s all coming together like we planned.”
She nods and slides closer until her forehead rests against my neck. I hold her there, enjoying her scent.
Chapter 12
Beth
The first thing I hear when I wake is Patch’s steady breathing against my shoulder. Sunlight edges in through the curtains. For a moment, I don’t move. I’m too warm and comfortable. Closing my eyes, I relax and think back on what happened last night.
We chose each other. No more arranged marriage on paper. It’s an arranged forever marriage, just like I always dreamed about with Patch. And I couldn’t be happier.
My muscles ache in a way that feels good. Going from no sex to sex three times in a night was a complete body workout for me.
Patch shifts behind me, one arm slipping over my waist, pulling me closer to his big, tatted-up body. The scrape of his beard stubble brushes the back of my neck. “What are you thinking so hard about?” he murmurs.
I smile without meaning to. “I’m worried that I’ll wake up one day some place I don’t want to be and this time with you will be nothing but a wonderful dream.”
“Don’t worry about shit like that, ‘cause it’s never going to happen.” He kisses my shoulder, a soft press that makes my chest tighten.
“I’ll try to think about something else then. Maybe how amazing things are gonna be when we’re able to put this whole mess behind us.”
We just stay that way, cuddling together for a long moment. Then he speaks, his voice filled with amusement. “You might have shifted gears, but our future happiness was not what you were thinking. I heard you in my mind going on and on about how great I am at doling out orgasms to virgins, and it was making me blush.”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes from my lips. “You are pretty amazing at the most important husbandly responsibility. I’ll have to give you that.”
He pulls me closer and slides his hand up to cup one breast. “I love that you joke back with me.”
I turn over and smile up at him. “I happen to like your sense of humor. I got myself a pretty damn good husband.”
He studies me for a long moment before answering. “Thanks, wife. I fuckin’ love the way that sounds.”
I’m glad we chose each other. “Was it good for you? I mean, we both know it was good for me because you’re so great at giving orgasms.”
His mouth curves in that slow, quiet way of his. “You already know it was, darlin’.”
He rolls out of bed and stands, reaching for his jeans at the foot of the bed. All the amazing tattoos on his back are on full display. Underneath the tats, he’s got a strong, athletic build. He pulls the jeans on and glances back at me.
“You want coffee?”
