Sweet Pain (Amatucci Family #3) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,64

course, I’m coming. I’ll even bring the liquor.”

Willow smiled. “Make sure you bring a bag full of staples. I haven’t baked anything in for-freaking-ever. I’m going to bake all the soldiers some cookies and cupcakes.”

Tali squealed like a teenage girl. “Yes! I’ve been dying for some double chocolate chip mint cookies.” She clapped her hands together as she danced on her toes. “I’ll tell the other girls to bring their favorite recipes.”

Willow stepped up to Tali. She gently grasped her friend’s cheeks between her palms. “You know the way to my heart.”

Tali stilled, put her hands on Willow’s waist. “As long as I can get into your pants, I’ll be in heaven.”

“Aaaand time for Tali to leave now,” I pulled her fingers off my woman. “No one gets in her pants but me.”

Both women bent in half laughing.

I waited in mild discomfort for one of them to explain their innuendo. I pulled Willow against my front. Nestled my semi in the crack of her ass.

“I wear a bigger size than she does. As long as she can fit into my pants by the end of the night, she’ll be in food heaven,” Willow finally explained.

“Oh. Yes. Laugh. Ha. Ha. Ha. You women are scary together. Tali, go home.” I shooed her away.

Her laughter increased as I pushed the button to call the elevator again. “Oh man, that was a solid sibling reaction. Nailed it, bro.” She wiped her eyes. “Laugh, ha, ha, ha, indeed.”

Another babble of giggles spilled from her throat as the elevator dinged.

“You good to get home by yourself?” I asked her as I ushered her into the cabled car.

She waved that away. “Yes, fratello.” She patted her purse. “I’m always good.”

“See you in a handful of hours, T,” Willow called.

Tali waved, blew her a kiss. She turned to me. “Fratello.” She dipped her chin.

“Sorella.” I nodded as the doors closed.

“Awww, you guys are so cute,” Willow said in an annoying sing-song voice.

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, a litter of baby puppies, that’s us.” I slid my arm around her shoulders, turned her in the direction of the bedroom. “Time for sleep.”

She nodded. “My leg aches tonight so I must really need some sleep.”

I pulled her up into my arms for the last few steps to the bedroom. “Do you need to brush your teeth or clear off your makeup?”

She laughed. “I could brush, but that would require me to be conscious. So let’s scrap that tonight. Just don’t get sassy if I have dragon breath in the morning. As to the makeup, I’m not sure if you remember, but we slept in a bunker last night. My nightly routine—and morning routine—was severely interrupted. I’m not wearing any makeup.”

I looked down at her face. “I guess you’re just naturally beautiful then.” I kissed her, long and slow.

Her lips tipped up against mine as I pulled back. “Good answer, hero.”

I got most of our clothes off, the covers pulled back, both of us into bed, and the lights off in short order. We both dropped into sleep almost as soon as our heads hit the pillows.

Chapter 19 – Willow

My eyelids fluttered open as my body made its need to relieve itself an annoyance I could no longer sublimate. I glared at the ceiling. Cursed my body for needing to pee and interrupt one of the best nights of sleep I’d had in ages.

Ryker came out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam. A gray towel was hooked at his hips as stray beads of water slid down the ladder of his abs. A different part of my body woke up, chased away the urgency to pee.

“Good morning, hero,” I said, my voice froggy.

He smiled. “Sweet fuck. That’s it. We’re getting married as soon as possible. One, I need to wake up to you every. Single. Morning. And two, Momma threatened me.”

I chuckled. “As long as Momma’s threats are number two.”

He leaned down, caged my head between his hands. “Momma’s threats aren’t even a factor for me. I just figured I should mention them in the interest of full disclosure. You, cupcake, are all the reason I need.” He pressed his mouth to mine.

Minty freshness invaded my senses. I sighed.

He backed up. “I love you. With all my heart. All my soul.”

I smiled.

“But you need to brush your teeth.”

He danced out of the way of my lashing foot.

“Jerk! I said no making remarks!” I slapped a hand over my mouth. Glared at him. His laugh was a beautiful thing