and I hit the lights the moment I can.
His eyebrows hit his hairline at the sight of my murder board.
“It’s a work in progress. The missing pieces are over at the safe house, but if everything is cleared for me to come home then I’ll bring it back here.”
He nods and pulls out the photo of the Blakeley family, waving it in my direction. “Are you going to tell me about him? Another of Grimm Graves’ bastard children, and he’s on the Senate.”
I shrug. “I’m surprised you didn’t notice the resemblance earlier; you’ve been trying to own him for some time.”
He grimaces. “There was something there but I never saw his daughter. She’s… well, the girls are definitely where the genes show through.”
A dry laugh tumbles out of me as I sit back on the couch, the weight of the entire day falling onto my shoulders. “It was startling in person; there’s no way anyone from the Bay could look at Kennedy Blakeley and not know whose blood she is.”
“Blood. You’re talking like a biker now; the Bay is slowly corrupting you.” He pins the new photo up on the wall next to Colt and Chance then stalks back over to join me on the couch. I toe my shoes off and tuck my feet up and underneath myself.
“This is the realest version of myself. This is where I’m most comfortable and happiest. I—Atticus, I never really had a plan for a life that was safe and clean. I don’t know how to be that woman. I know you wanted that for me, and I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done—“
“I don’t want your thanks, Avery, I want you alive, safe, and happy. If you insist on being here in the Bay, then I’ll have this place wired up to be safer than the fucking Pentagon.” He rubs a hand over his face and unbuttons the top three buttons on his shirt.
Those damn tattoos of his are peeking out, and I’m getting desperate to see them finally. I’m about to lean over and just strip the shirt away from him when his phone buzzes again, and he shifts to grab it out of his pocket.
“Jackson is done with the security upgrade. You’ll be safe to sleep here again, no need to wait for O’Cronin to come back.”
I shouldn’t.
I really fucking shouldn’t.
But I say it.
“I was hoping you’d stay with me instead.”
It feels weird to be leading Atticus up the same set of stairs that Aodhan carried me up, and I have to remind myself that this isn’t cheating. Aodhan knows about my feelings, he knows he has to share me, and he gave me back my locket with room in it for Atticus’ diamond.
There’s still something inherently different about the situation and I can’t help but be nervous, worried, dammit, scared about it because the one and only time Atticus and I had sex was before my feelings for Aodhan had developed.
It was before I knew that I love him.
I almost want to text him and double check but then I’m opening my bedroom door and leading Atticus in. Everything is perfectly clean. Immaculate really, because even when I’ve come home to pack bags, I’ve made sure to leave it looking tidy.
I flick the light on and the moment I attempt to turn around, Atticus is holding my hands by my sides as he slowly steps into my body until he’s pressed against me. He’s already hard, his hips moving to rub himself against my ass, and I have to bite back a moan.
“Put your hands on the mattress, Avery.”
I huff but bend over obediently, planting my hands against the plush white comforter on my bed. He gently nudges my legs wider with his foot, his shoes still on and his hand slowly running down my spine.
“You’re not even going to kiss me first?” I say, my voice more breath than substance.
His hands curve down my ass until they find the hem of my skirt, pushing it up and over my hips. “I’ll kiss you first, now stop talking. Stop making demands, or I’ll make you.”
A shiver runs down my spine at the tone of his voice, but I barely focus on the words. There’s too much still happening in my brain. I need kissing and foreplay to shut everything out and this abrupt beginning of… well, I’m not even sure what this is the beginning of.
All I know is I want more and I need it to