“And not the kind meant for babies,” Thumper says, distaste clear in his voice. “I mean, get your kink on, but maybe don’t use slaves to do it.”
“Right?” I say, going back to getting the serial number on the whipping bench.
“Listen,” he begins, and my back stiffens immediately. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to avoid him forever. “I want to talk to you about April.”
“My wife,” I remind him, dropping the notebook on the table in front of me and turning to face him.
“Yes, Apollo, your wife.”
“Go on.” I cross my arms over my chest defensively. I don’t feel like I need to justify anything to him, but I will defend what April and I are building even with it being so new.
“I don’t want you to take advantage of the situation you’re in.”
“Do you really think I’m that type of man?”
“Do you forget I’ve seen you fuck a handful of different women in a single night?”
“That’s fair,” I grumble.
What wouldn’t be fair is reminding him he’s more familiar with houses like the one we’re standing in right now more than any of us. It may not be fair, but I may not be able to hold it back depending on how far he tries to push me.
“I know you’re a good man, and I’ve told Cara as much, but I also know you’re a horny bastard.”
“Okay.” What does he want me to say to that? “I don’t plan on taking advantage of her.”
“I saw the way you were looking at her at the party.”
“And now I’m not even allowed to be attracted to the woman I married.”
“Don’t be foolish, dickhead. I’m just saying that she’s vulnerable.”
“And I’ve only kissed her.”
Technically, I’ve touched her breast also, but she said not to worry about it, so he doesn’t need to know that little tidbit of information.
“But you hope for more?”
“Would you marry a woman without considering the possibility of making love to her?”
“Love? You’re saying you love her?”
“I mean, fuck, man.” I grip the back of my neck, knowing that the honesty game I play with April wouldn’t be the same right now. I know he’s worried because if I hurt April, it will hurt Cara, and he’d do anything to protect that woman. “I’m completely obsessed with her. And before you remind me just how much of a horny piece of shit I am, I’m obsessed with more than her body, more than the way she kisses me back like I’m the last breath of air she’ll ever take into her lungs. I’m also obsessed with her happiness, her safety, and that baby we’re going to raise together. And fuck. It hasn’t even been a week, and I know it’s only going to get worse.”
I start pacing, my hands shaking at my sides.
“A week, man. A fucking week. How am I ever going to leave for work after a month? A year? After the baby is born? How do the guys do it? I need my head checked. That’s for sure. Is it normal?”
“Is what normal?”
“This burn on my skin. This itching desire to call her every second. To feel incomplete when I’m here and she’s there.”
He smiles then. “Yep. Completely normal.”
“Is he freaking out now?” Kid asks as he walks in, a wide smile on his stupid face.
“Yep,” Thumper confirms.
“Well, shit. That happened quicker than I thought it would have.” Kid is laughing as he walks right back out, no doubt to run and gossip to the others about my meltdown.
“What happened?” Grinch asks as he pops his head in the door.
“Apollo is freaking out because he’s falling in love with his wife.”
“Really?” Grinch asks with his nose scrunched like he smells something foul.
I nod. What’s the point in denying it?
Grinch looks between Thumper and me, his head shaking in what looks to be disgust.
“You guys are so fucking pussywhipped.”
Thumper smiles wider as he claps Grinch on the back. “You should try it sometime, man. It’s the fucking best.”
“Rather eat glass,” the man says before leaving the room.
“It’ll happen to him eventually,” Thumper says as he picks up the notebook. “I get the feeling he’s going to fall the hardest, and I don’t think it’s going to take much at all. We said that shit about Jinx and look what happened.”
“He fell for the woman who walked up and kissed him out of the blue in the grocery store,” I say.
“With Grinch, it’s probably going to be like the mail lady making eye contact with him while getting his signature for a lube delivery.”
“Probably, but plot twist, our regular mail person is a dude.” I chuckle. “Now can we get back to work? I want to get home.”
“You heard we’re heading to Columbia, right?”
I cuss all devious criminals as I get back to work.
Chapter 21
April
“Excited?” Cara asks, a sly smile on her face.