Page 85 of Sinful King
“Let me have a word with you…” I took Blair’s hand, pulled her from the library and into the bathroom at the end of the hall. “Fuck is your problem?”
She looked up and took a deep breath before responding.
“I don’t have a problem.”
Liar.
I backed her into the door and flipped the lock.
“Tell me why you mad, baby,” I murmured, slipping my hands around her waist. “Tell me what I did.”
She started to take her watch off.
“I don’t want you to think I’m still hiding things from you,” Blair said, twisting her wrist to show me the semicolon tattoo. “This was a random choice in the middle of the day like six months ago. I like what it symbolizes.”
“You were upset because you thought I was.”
Her dark eyes met mine and I couldn’t help but steal a kiss.
“I’m not upset,” I murmured into her lips. “But, I do need you to strip later and let me look at you. Now stop avoiding me. I need you by my side for the rest of the night.”
“I’ll strip right now.”
I chuckled.
“Work first, play later.”
At least that’s what I tried to tell myself but made no attempt to release her. Instead, I brought her wrist to my lips and pressed kisses to the tiny but significant ink.
“You’re upsetting the women in your family today,” she said softly, dropping her forehead to my chest. “I understand protecting everyone is on your shoulders but try not to be so impatient with them. Everyone is adjusting.”
I understood what she was trying to convey, but it was easier said than done.
“I’m exhausted, Amoy.”
It wasn’t about the guns, or fucking Meechie, or even my grandda being back, though I felt myself consciously avoiding him.
But everything else.
That little voice in the back of my head warning me not to let Blair too far out of my reach, even though she was heavily protected.
“I love you, Oisin…” she reached up and brushed her thumbs over my furrowed eyebrows to smooth them out. “Be exhausted and I’ll pick up the slack until you feel up to it.”
I held on to her and we stayed like that for a while, invested in the moment of reprieve. Only she could calm my spirit, make me feel like I’m not failing at this already.
We both sighed when three hard knocks followed by Finn’s voice reminded us staying like this forever wasn’t an option, at least not today.
“Aye, wrap this shit up,” he said, thankfully not yelling for everybody to hear. “There’s still people waiting to see you.”
“Heard you,” I replied hastily to get him away from the door.
I savored my wife for a little longer, kissing her neck, then below the ear and smiling at the little shudder it ignited.
“I love you deep,” I murmured, lips brushing the shell of her ear. “Don’t respond to anything else I’m about to say, just listen and when I’m finished, nod and we’ll get to work…” I pulled back and looked down at her, smiling a little at the curious expression in her dark eyes. “You’re my everything and I need you to know… to understand I’d give all this up forusin a heartbeat. None of it, the money or power, means shit to me without you. But, I’m glad you’re my partner in this fucked up business and I accept you picking up the slack for the rest of the night.”
Her lips, slowly and all for me, spread into a satisfied smiled. She needed this, too.
I think we both did.
