I turn off the fire and face her. “Let’s go find out.”
She watches as my hand disappears under the band of my pajama pants. She shudders when I grab my dick. Her curious eyes want to see what I’m touching but it’s not time. If she wants to lose her virginity on our wedding night, then she’ll have to wait for everything. If I give in to temptation even a little, I’m not sure if I can stop.
Imala catches me watching her and averts her attention to her food. I love how she still blushes at my antics. Our wedding night is going to be so much fun.
“When do I stop being your dirty little secret? I swear I’d feel used if we were fucking.”
Her eyes grow and her lip sticks out and I know how she took it.
“You don’t have to keep sleeping over.”
I lean down so she can look me in the eyes.
“First, I was just fucking with you. Second, I’m here as long as you need me. I don’t expect you to be okay in a month.”
“Wyn? How were you there that night?” She pushes her food around on her plate to combat her emotions.
“Business. I was following a lead on a money trail, but my contact didn’t show. I was leaving the nearby diner when I saw you. I was headed your way to mess with you then those men showed up. I’m so glad I was stood up.”
“Me too.” She sniffles but I opt to refocus her attention.
“Do you want to use your skills to help us out?”
“Us?” Her curious brain is already refocusing.
“Your grumpy b
ear and teddy bear.”
I have no idea why she likes my ornery cousin so much.
Hey! Ornery Oran. I snort my amusement.
“What?” she asks with a smile tugging at her lips.
“Nothing. Inside joke. You won’t get it. Had to be there. Where’s your laptop?”
I follow her instructions and return to find her finished eating. Good. The last thing I need is for her to starve herself. It was a battle at first but I’m glad she’s seeing it my way.
“What am I researching?” she asks, her eyes glow with excitement.
I set up a VPN connection on her computer, then log into the site.
“Before Elmer’s...untimely death, he had random sums of money equaling hundreds of thousands of dollars a month going...somewhere. We need to find the money and its purpose.” She reviews the files I’ve gathered out of my briefcase. “This is what we know so far. I need to know if I really have to get a hacker.”
Imala stretches like she’s trying to pop her neck. “I’m on it.”
I rub her back, but she’s focused. “Will this entertain you for a few hours?”
“At least!” she boasts but freezes when I kiss her forehead.
It’s the closest we’ve gotten to any intimacy outside of sleeping. I’m only behaving because she’s healing, but once I put a ring on her finger, all bets are off.
“I have to go to Oran and your sister’s house. I’ll be back later?”
“Yeah. Yeah,” she murmurs, as she absently waves me off, enthralled in the paper chase.
I return later that night. Poker took longer than expected since Jagger and Oran were working on honing their technique. I’ve earned myself a few favors from the two; they were so pissed. But, with Oran and Karessa finding their groove and Ainslee glowing from her pregnancy, I can honestly say I’m very happy for both.