Page 33 of Giving It to the Monster

“Nigel advised that I go and have a chat with your ex.”

Her stomach tightened, twisted, and she put the coffee down on the counter. “What did he say?”

“He talked shit about what it was like being married to you. How you were, what he did.”

“He didn’t rape me, Saint.”

“Did you want it?”

“No, yes, it’s complicated. We were married, and…”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re married or not. If you don’t want to, then no means fucking no, Nat.”

She tensed up. “Life is sometimes different than what we imagine it would be, isn’t it?”

“You’re going to change the subject.”

“I can’t change what happened.” She shrugged. “If I wanted him to stop, I could have stopped him.”

“You really believe that.”

“It’s what I want to believe.”

Saint held his hands up. “Simon’s going to give you a divorce, and you’re not going to have to worry about him fighting you.”

He stood up and made to leave the kitchen. Natasha rushed toward him, grabbing his arm, and stopping him. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For being the Saint I know.” And love. “For being here with me, for me. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

“I have a condition for it though,” he said.

“Anything.”

“You can’t leave here. You can look for work, even take a job at Dirty Deeds. They need someone to help pack, and post orders that come in via the internet.”

“I can do that.”

“Make this your home. Live with me.”

“You’re sure?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t sure.”

“I’d love to.”

He reached out, holding her chin.

She held her breath as he seemed to lean in just a little as if to kiss her. Suddenly, he stopped and pulled back.

“Be ready in an hour. We’ll go then.”

She nodded. “I will be. What is the proper dress for something like this?” she asked. “I left my leathers at home.”

“Speaking of home, I’ve got some of the boys ready to grab your stuff on Monday. You got a problem with that?”

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