“I didn’t mean it like that, Liam. Please, don’t be upset with me. I just need some time,” I plead and slowly I feel some of the tension leave him—although not completely.
“We’re not talking about never having kids, though. Right, Ice?”
“Right,” I tell him. “I just want time alone with you for now. We need time for us to find our way back to each other in every way, first. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
I’m letting my panic, lead my mouth. Everything I’m saying is the truth, just not all of it. How do I tell him, I’m scared there will come a day when he might not want me? How do I tell him that just the subject of children makes me nervous?
“I guess I can live with that and besides, there’s a bonus,” he says, moving the tray to a nightstand. For a minute, I zone out, staring at the tray, sitting precariously at an angle. It seems to represent how my life feels right now. Like I’m on the edge of a cliff and nearing disaster.
“There is?” I ask, turning my gaze back to Liam, while summoning up a smile, even though smiling is the last thing I really want to do right now.
“We can practice making babies in the meantime,” he says and then he kisses me.
I take his kiss, losing myself in the pleasure of his touch and the magical things he does to my body. I know I promised myself that I would talk to him today, but it can’t hurt to put it off for another day or so. Right now, I just want to remind Liam—remind us both—how good things are when we’re together.FuryOne Week Later* * *I look over at the girls laughing and talking and my heart squeezes seeing Ellie happy and laughing. She’s been back a week now and having her back is better than I imagined. Despite how great it’s been though, I know there’s something going on with her. People change, I get that, but Ellie is reserved in a way she never was before. She’s cautious and there are dark circles under her eyes. Something is going on with her, but I can’t put my finger on it. There’s a chance I’m just looking for something to be wrong because I finally have everything I want, but I don’t think that’s it.
“You look like a man with a lot on your mind,” Connie says, coming up behind me and moving her hand along my back. I take a step away from her.
“Get out of here, Connie. You know you’re barking up the wrong tree. Ellie’s back.”
“Just because she’s back, that doesn’t mean you and I can’t still party.”
“It means that and more.”
“I’m so sick of you guys. You think we’re good to use until you get you a good woman. They aren’t any different than the rest of us you know. They put their pants on one leg at a time and their shit still stinks.”
“The difference is I love her. Are we going to have issues here?” I ask her, narrowing my eyes at her. I don’t need this bullshit.
“No trouble here. She’ll fly the coop again and you’ll be looking for me. Don’t worry, lover, I’ll be here. You, me, Nancy and Scorpion can all play like we used to.”
“You need to go. I’m only going to say this once, Connie. You stay away from Ellie. I trust you understand me.”
I watch as her face twists unhappily, her lips purse. I think she’s about to mouth off. She doesn’t. She walks away, but she’s clearly not happy.
“What was that about?” Ellie asks, coming over.
“No idea,” I grumble, lying through my teeth. “Probably sees you’re back and wants to cause trouble.”
That part at least isn’t a lie.
“Maybe I need to have a word with her,” Ellie says, curling into my side. I wrap my arm around her and kiss the top of her head.
“Just let it go, Ellie. She’ll soon see you’re here to stay and that you’re all I need. Then, she’ll go back to the other brothers.”
“If you say so.” She lets out a sad sigh and I turn her so I can see her face, because I don’t want her worried about Connie, or anyone for that matter. “Torrent is worried,” she finally says. I breathe a little easier with the change of subject.
“I know. Devil’s back down there tonight, isn’t he?”
“Yeah. Will he listen to you, if you try and get him to end all of this?”
“I don’t know, Ice. Diesel is thinking about sending Torrent down and confronting him so that Devil is forced to face everything.”
“Shit,” Ellie hisses.
“Yeah.”
“That won’t be easy for Torrent.”
“I know, but there might not be a way around it.”
“They’ve had so much pain. I mean I wasn’t around to see it, but just hearing about it now breaks my heart. It just seems like such a waste that Devil still has to suffer now that it could all be over.”