Page 136 of Hunter's Revenge

“No one told you, so you wouldn’t have known. My uncle Leif helped her family out a lot. The room we went in is where I keep some of his things. She’d redecorated and wanted to show me what she’d done.” I care enough to explain that.

“I overreacted.”

“You didn’t. I would have done far worse if it were you.”

A little smile pulls at her delicate mouth. “Would you?”

“You already know the answer to that.” I press a soft kiss to her lips. “I’d kill any man who touches you.”

“What if I don’t like people touching you? Even if they are friends you grew up with and are close to?”

I chuckle. “Okay, let’s do this. How about for the next six months, we just touch each other.”

“Really? Are you sure Kelly can keep her hands off you for that long? I’m not exactly buying the friend thing.”

I brush over her nose. “A deal is a deal, and I’m a man of my word.”

“Okay, I’ll hold you to that.”

“You do that. Now, come here.”

She returns to my lips, and we fall into that cycle again where we can’t stop.

The next few days pass by, and each one sees us the same. When I’m away from the house, it’s only for a few hours, and I can’t wait to get back.

The changes in me become more apparent to those around me who know the beast who likes to shut himself down from the world. Gwen has me doing things I don’t normally do that feel natural again. Things I forgot that were a part of me.

On Saturday evening, I have her sitting on top of the piano in the hall while I play Bach and Debussy and teach her Russian. The last time I played the piano was long before I left for the Navy. The one I have is mainly for Jeanne because she always plays.

Today, Gwen has on a pair of short-shorts and a tank top that shows off her breasts. Her hair is down and draped over her shoulder in a sexy side swoop. My wife is fucking gorgeous, and I like looking at her like this—carefree and mine.

Gwen giggles when she gets the pronunciation wrong of the Russian words for good morning. The giggles turn into a hearty laugh. A sound I can’t get enough of.

“It’s dobroye utro.” I said it slower that time so she could pick up the pronunciation a little better.

“Dob bo bo utto.” At first, she looks really serious, then she starts laughing again at her terrible attempt. I do, too. Like really laughing, something I never do.

“My God, woman. You’re gonna need a lot of extra lessons.”

“I know, but I’ll get it with practice.” She sounds determined.

“You’re going to need a lot of that.”

“You won’t stop teaching me, will you? I know I totally suck.”

“I won’t. It turns out I love the way you suck other things on me, so you’re good.” I wink at her and she blushes. “Come here to me.”

I stop playing the piano and pick her up, setting her into my lap, where she slips her arms around me and we fall into a kiss.

It’s only when we hear someone clearing their throat behind us in an exaggerated manner that we pull apart.

I already knew it wouldn’t be any of my staff, and only one of my brothers is jovial enough to do that.

Zakh is leaning against the doorway, watching us with an amused expression on his face.

“Sorry to interrupt you newlyweds.” He straightens, casting me an I-knew-you-wouldn’t-be-able-to-keep-your-hands-off-her smirk.

“It’s okay.” I clench my jaw and try to compose myself. “We were just wrapping things up here.” As in, I planned to take Gwen upstairs and spend the rest of the day buried inside her. That will have to wait, because Zakh wouldn’t be here if he didn’t have anything important to tell me. We’ve already spoken this morning, and he didn’t mention he’d be stopping by.

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