“It’s not a no. It’s a not right now. There’s too much other shit that I gotta handle first.”
I jerk from her touch and get to my feet. “I’ve got some shit to do. Can I trust you to behave till I get back?”
“I have some errands to run myself.”
“I’ll get you a key.”
“Maybe I should stay with Torsten or at the clubhouse. Give you some space.”
“You want to run and hide? You can try it. Promise you this time you won’t get far.”
“You say you aren’t mad, but you are. I’m here. Can’t that be good enough… for now?”
I meet her gaze seeing unshed tears threatening to spill and I know I’m being a dick. Woman makes me crazy. “C’mere.” I pull her into my arms, giving her a tight squeeze. “You’ve been through a lot of shit past few days. Don’t need me piling more on.”
“Thank you.”
I press my lips to her forehead and breathe her in. I can give her some time, but as God is my witness, I know with every fiber in me that Astrid is going to have my baby and be my wife. If I gotta bind and gag her and force Holy to perform the ceremony I will.
“Want you here when I get back. You sleep in my bed. Get out of your head and remember you already gave yourself to me. This is gonna happen. Would rather you cooperate.”
“You freak me the fuck out. You’re so sure of this. Of me. Even knowing what you know. You should be running for the hills not going down on one knee.”
“You’re it for me. Said I’ll give you time and I meant it.”
“I do want this. It’s just the police want to question me. What if they arrest me and I go down?”
“Not gonna happen.”
“But it could.”
“I’m handling it. That why you’re holding back and pulling away?”
She closes her eyes and nods.
“You’re not going down for shit you didn’t do. We’ve got the rest of our lives, but I’m eager to get started, yeah? You deserve to be happy with me, darlin’. Life doesn’t wait. It just happens. Gotta live in the moment and stop worrying about what ifs and focus on the sure thing.”
“You calling yourself easy?” She smiles and I relax.