Rare and Precious Things (The Blackstone Affair 4)

“I left the flat this morning sans my mobile. Sorry ’bout that.”

“That is not like you, Ethan.” She didn’t look up from her menu when she spoke. Yeah…you’re in the shithouse.

“No, it isn’t. I’m afraid I was distracted when I left.”

“And why was that?” She turned her menu over, studying it as if it were a rare book in the British Library Collection.

I desperately wished I’d had a chance for a smoke before racing over here. “Well, I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure I would be accepted”—she set down her menu and finally looked up at me—“but I had my first consultation with a Dr. Wilson at the Combat Stress Centre this morning.” Brown eyes stared at me from across the table. “Right, well…the centre is all the way out in Surrey, and I was leaving the offices to come meet you for Dr. B’s appointment, and ran into Sarah. She uses the CSC as well. I was hideously late by that point, and had no way to reach you, so I borrowed Sarah’s mobile—”

“—You found someone?” she interrupted, her face now full of the spark and fire I loved to see. I felt instantly better.

I nodded. “I did, baby. I’m giving Dr. Wilson a crack at me.”

She reached her hand across the table. “I’m so glad. So glad to hear you telling me this, Ethan. It’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” she said, pulling my hand up to her cheek.

I sensed something more than my tardiness was worrying my girl. “Why? Did everything go all right at Dr. B’s? Anything I need to know, Brynne?”

She pursed her lips and slowly rocked her head from side to side. “Nothing to report from Dr. B. Twenty-nine-week-old, acorn-squash baby, growing steady. All systems still a go.” She gave me a slow wink.

That’s my sexy girl. “So, you’re saying Dr. B is still my best mate?” She laughed at me silently, loving to tease me about cutting me off. It was funny—and it wasn’t. We’d just have to be more creative when the time came to drop the sex. I could stand it if I had her close by me, to touch, and to smell. Intimacy was so much more than just gettin’ off. I’d learned this lesson well in the short time since I’d found my Brynne.

“Yes, he’s still your friend. But, I want to know about your visit to the Combat Stress Centre.” She smiled at me, completely back to her bright happy self. “Tell me about Dr. Wilson. I want to know everything.”

How can I tell you everything, my beautiful darling? How? How can I ever do that to you?

I wished I could tell her everything, but I doubted I would ever be able to.

CHAPTER 14

24th December

London

“SHE’S beautiful, she’s smart, she’s sexy as hell, and she’s brilliant with the nosh.” I came up behind her and plastered myself against her body as she worked at the countertop from the kitchen. “Treats everywhere,” I said, snagging a sugar biscuit in the shape of a bird and popping it in my mouth. “Sweets, and…you.” I grabbed a handful of her arse and gave a squeeze as the buttery confection melted away in my mouth.

“Thief,” she said.

“You love me in spite of my thievery.” I nuzzled my nose at the back of her ear.

“I do, it’s true. The very first thing you thieved was my heart,” she said, turning to meet my lips for a sweet kiss, “and I don’t ever want it back.”

“Good thing, because it’s all mine,” I muttered before plundering between her lips with my tongue.

“And you say the nicest things to me.”

“But they’re all true,” I said, gathering her to face me, my hands loosely clasped low at her back. “You are beautiful.” Another deep kiss. “Wickedly smart.” I dragged my lips down her jaw and to her neck. “So sexy you make me burn.” I moved my mouth lower to cleavage that was growing by the day. “And a most accomplished kitchen-witch.” I ground my hips forward into hers, giving her a good feel of exactly how much I appreciated all of her talents.

“ONE year ago today we passed each other in an aquarium shop, having no idea we would come to this place in our lives together.” I ran my fingers over Ethan’s arm as we lay sprawled on the sofa on our sides, watching the lights on the tree framed by the city lights of London. “Did you remember?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve remembered very well ever since the day we figured it out. Every time I look at Simba in his tank, I remember.” He rubbed my belly in a circle, his hands touching me anywhere he could comfortably reach in our position. “And especially with my birthday present, which is perfect by the way. I’m sure even Simba agrees.”

“I’m glad you like her, baby. You’re a hard fellow to buy for. Dory is the perfect girlfriend for Simba though, and he definitely needed a good woman to keep him in line.”

He chuckled. “Just like me.”

“That’s right, but you still went way overboard for my birthday. You buy me a luxury car and I get you a new fish.”

“I love my new fish,” he said indignantly, “a blue tang for my birthday was my greatest desire.”