Page 60 of Beyond Rosy Irish Twilight

I held up my hands in acquiescence. “I’m going to check on Jade.”

“About that,” he said, stopping me before I could open the door. “Just keep an eye on her.”

My hackles rose at the tone in his voice. I didn’t like what he was implying. “Do you really think I’d just walk away from her?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?”

His jaw clenched hard as he looked outside again. “Going through something like that…just be sure she’s really okay.”

I didn’t like that he was implying that I wasn’t going to take care of my own goddamn wife. I may not allow myself to get attached to her any further, but I would never let anything happen to her.

“Noted,” I said, shoving the door open and stepping outside. Thankfully, he didn’t follow me. Patrick nodded from his lounger, his eyes constantly roaming the area. “Go get some sleep.”

“I’m good.”

“I’ve got it,” I said in irritation.

Fuck, did everyone think I was incapable of taking care of Jade?

“Hey, no offense, man. I’m just doing my job.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, wincing when I ran across the cut on my head. “That’s the problem. This is my job. I’m her fucking husband. You shouldn’t be the one entertaining her and making sure she’s okay.”

He pushed up from his seat and walked closer to me, keeping his voice low. “We had a plan, one that she was never part of. I’m not trying to step into your shoes. I’m trying to help you shoulder the burden. You didn’t ask for any of this shit, and I’m not about to let you handle all of it on your own. Stop acting like we don’t get it.” His eyes flicked to Jade. “She’s just as much a part of this as us now.”

I nodded and waited for him to walk inside before I made my way over to Jade’s side. She was sleeping peacefully until my shadow crossed over her. Then she gasped, her eyes going wide as she woke up and stared at me like I was about to murder her. There was no mistaking the fear in her eyes, even as she realized it was just me standing beside her.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I said, trying to keep my voice soothing. Under the surface, I was fuming. I hated that she was scared, that I couldn’t comfort her. She never should have been dragged into any of this, and that was her father’s fault for trading her life so easily.

She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the lounger. “Don’t you know you shouldn’t sneak up on people when they’re sleeping?”

“I wasn’t trying to.”

She took several deep breaths, but there was no mistaking how her hands shook. I slowly sat down beside her and took her hand in mine. She squeezed my hand, but it was more like she was trying to stop the shaking of her entire body. I pulled my hand from hers and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her against my body. She felt so right pressed against me that it was difficult to remember the promise I made to myself, that I wouldn’t drag her any further into this.

“How did you sleep?”

She shrugged. “I don’t remember anything.”

“Me neither. I think Lock knocked me out.”

“I woke up scrunched between you and Patrick.”

I chuckled at the thought of what that must have felt like. “He’s protective of you.”

She turned her head to look into my eyes, only to realize her mistake a moment too late. Her lips were just a scant inch from mine. I could feel her breathing increase as she stared into my eyes. The desperation seeping from them drew me in until I was pressing my lips to hers. Fire licked at my spine as I tangled my hand in her hair, pulling her closer to me. I was breaking all my rules, but the feel of her against me was too hard to resist. I wanted her, and by the way she was kissing me back, I knew she felt the same.

When I pulled back, her eyes were hazy with lust and need. She licked her lips and blushed slightly as she pressed her fingers to the very spot I’d just kissed her. I wanted nothing more than to take her up to our bed and show her just how much I wanted more with her. But I wasn’t in any shape for that, and I was pretty sure that fucking her after she’d been traumatized was a dick move.

“That was probably a bad idea,” she whispered.

I nodded. “Terrible idea.”

“We should probably avoid doing anything like that again.”

I nodded, but my eyes were still locked on her bruised lips. I was desperate for another taste, even if that’s all it was.

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