“Then why don’t you just kill him?”
I released a sarcastic laugh, feeling the pain all the way down to my feet. “I would if I could, Catalina. Trust me, I would…”
When I entered her bedroom, she was sitting on the couch in front of the fire. Instead of watching TV or reading, she was staring into the flames, as if all she could do was sit around and think about our conversation.
I hadn’t spoken to her since our fight because I was so angry. I was afraid I would say things I didn’t mean, push her away when I should be pulling her close. Adding distance between us was the only solution I had at the time.
But now that Catalina had explained what happened, I realized I was being harsh.
When she heard the door shut behind me, she turned her head my way. She was in a baggy white t-shirt and sleeping shorts, her hair pulled over one shoulder with no makeup on her face. She obviously didn’t expect company.
She was beautiful, regardless.
I moved to the couch she was already on, leaving a foot between us.
Her knees were pulled up to her chest, her tanned legs sexy as hell when she wore white. She stared at the side of my face for a while but didn’t make a sound. She held her silence so I could speak first.
“Catalina told me she instigated the whole thing.”
She released a quiet breath.
“I’m sorry I was so harsh with you.”
“It doesn’t matter what she did,” she whispered. “I should have said no, so don’t blame her for everything.”
I let the heat warm my face. It was getting warmer with every passing day, and soon the evening fires wouldn’t make sense anymore. But they were nice to stare at, nice to listen to when making love. “I respect you for not throwing her under the bus.”
“She’s my friend…”
Her loyalty was arousing to me, because I understood the importance of loyalty more than anyone. “Just don’t let it happen again. We have to be smart. I suspect Liam isn’t going to go away. I suspect he’s going to become more aggressive than he was before. We need to be smart.”
“I know.”
I leaned back into the sofa and looked at her, watching the flames light her face with a beautiful glow. I wanted to ask her permission to end this war, but I couldn’t bear to listen to her say no. It hurt every time, and I didn’t want to hurt. I just wanted to be with her…to feel the peace she used to give me.
So, I said nothing.
She moved closer to me and slid her hand into mine.
My fingers gripped hers in return, feeling the warm softness. My thumb brushed over her knuckles, and I felt her distant pulse deep under the skin.
She rested her chin on my shoulder. “I don’t want you to be angry with me.”
“I’m not…anymore.”
“Good. Because I missed you…”
I stared at the flames as I heard her confession. Then I turned her way and felt my lips move on their own. They pressed into her forehead, coming into contact with the skin I hadn’t felt in so long. I closed my eyes as I treasured the touch, barely registering what I was doing. It just felt right, felt natural.
She closed her eyes and sighed quietly, like she enjoyed that kiss as much as I did.
Instead of pulling away, I left my lips there, let us stay connected that way. It erased my pain, erased my stress. It gave me a sense of peace I’d never found anywhere else, not in a stranger’s bed and not in the bottom of a bottle.
Ten
Annabella
“We miss you at the hotel.” Sofia watched me hold her son at the table. “It’s not the same without you.”
“I miss being there too.” I spoke as I looked into Andrew’s face, seeing the same eyes Hades possessed. “Being cooped up here all day is lonely. Richard invited me to play chess with him tomorrow, and I’ll probably take him up on that offer.”
“Make sure you kick his ass.”
Damien sat across from me, and he was engaged in deep conversation with Hades, their voices low. His knuckles rested against his lips as he listened to whatever Hades said, his eyes focused with intensity. In a t-shirt and jeans, Damien was addictive to stare at, a beautiful man in a hard package.
When Andrew started to cry, Sofia took him back into her arms then grabbed a bottle. “I swear, this kid never stops eating.”
“In his defense, I never stop eating either,” I teased.
She chuckled and put the nipple into his mouth.
“How’s the second baby?”
“Good. He’s getting anxious—as am I. Only six weeks left.”
“Wow…that’s exciting.”
“Soon, I’ll have three babies to take care of.” She cast a glance at Hades, who was staring at Damien.