Page 26 of Burn Bag (Owens Protective Services #31)

KAVANAUGH

I definitely couldn’t handle having her hands on me this morning, so I made sure to slip out of bed before she woke up, which wasn’t too difficult considering the pain meds had knocked her out.

She said last night that she didn’t need them, that she was feeling better, but I made her take them anyway. I wasn’t taking any chances.

It occurred to me as I was making breakfast that I had wanted a woman who could do all the cooking and cleaning, yet I seemed to get the total opposite.

There was no way I was letting Daphne anywhere near a stove again, and based on how she wielded that mop and broom yesterday, I wasn’t entirely sure that letting her anywhere near cleaning supplies was a good thing either.

Not that it mattered. We were just getting to know each other. We’d see how things progressed, but for right now, I was perfectly happy with the way things were. Chaos and all. It wasn’t exactly the relationship I had been hoping for, but maybe it would turn out for the best.

But I was definitely going to have to figure out how to move forward in our relationship without mauling her every chance I got.

My cat scratches were healing, which was a relief since I got hard nearly every time I was around her.

It was painful as hell when those cuts broke open when my cock couldn’t control itself.

Somehow, it seemed wrong to maul her when we hardly knew each other. Even though she had her hand on my cock yesterday morning.

And that kiss.

Fuck, that kiss was amazing.

I hadn’t imagined I could ever be so turned on by another woman again.

Not after Isla. But I could see now that what I felt for my childhood friend was nothing more than lust. I wasn’t sure I ever really loved her beyond the bond we’d had since we were kids.

The idea of finding a woman who loved me for me had overridden my brain until all I could think about was possessing her.

That hadn’t turned out so well for me. In reality, I really didn’t know Isla at all. IKE seemed to understand her in a way I never had. And even I had to grudgingly admit that they were perfect for each other. Even if the bastard had snaked in and stolen her from me.

But Daphne…She was different. If I was going to make this work, I had to take my time and get to know her.

So much for not rushing into things. What the hell had I been thinking, finding a wife online? My biggest problem with Isla had been moving too fast, and then I ran out and found the first woman I could marry and put a ring on her finger. Psychologists would have a field day with me.

So, my plan was to take it slow—to get to know my wife before I did something crazy like sleep with her. I needed to understand who she was as a person. Right now, all I had to go on was the fact that she liked cats, was prone to hospital visits, and was sexy as hell.

Maybe I could get her to fill out a personality profile or something to move things along.

“What smells so good?”

I glanced over my shoulder, clenching my jaw in irritation at what I saw. She was wearing one of my shirts with small black shorts underneath that barely peeked out. And she looked fucking sexy as hell .

“Sorry, I borrowed your shirt. I didn’t want to pull anything over my head.”

I ground my teeth together as I tried to ignore how fucking sexy she looked, how her nipples peeked out against the material, and how her legs were showcased like a porno for me. Fuck, this was not helping me in the slightest.

“I—I hope it’s okay,” she said nervously when I didn’t answer.

“It’s fine,” I said, turning away. I got to work dishing out breakfast, doing my best to ignore her as she took a seat at the island. Fuck, why did she have to wear my shirt? Didn’t she realize how fucking amazing she looked in that? Didn’t she see the effect it had on me?

“You’re angry,” she said quietly.

I tossed the spatula aside after laying the waffles on the plate. “Not at all.”

“You look angry.”

“I’m not,” I snapped, setting the plate in the center of the island.

“I can change,” she said, starting to stand, but I reached across the island and snagged her hand, preventing her from leaving.

“It’s not that.”

Gnawing at her lip nervously only made things harder on my cock. I knew my face was twisted in some sort of snarl, but I couldn’t stop it. I was a fucking wreck.

“Look, I didn’t mean to be so presumptuous.”

“It’s fine. Really,” I said, trying to calm myself down. “It’s just…” I decided to go for honesty. Otherwise, she would think I was pissed at her. “You…there are certain aspects of women wearing men’s clothing that…does things to a man.”

“What things?” she asked it so fucking innocently that I groaned, and then she got the picture. “Oh!” Her hands flew to chest, which did nothing to help. “Uh…sorry. I didn’t think about…those things.”

“Like I said, it’s fine. I mean, we’re married.”

“Right.”

“And this is normal.”

“Exactly. ”

I averted my eyes, avoiding the sight of her gorgeous legs like the plague. “I mean, it would be weird if I didn’t find you attractive.”

“And if I didn’t find you attractive. Which I do,” she added quickly. “By the way, about the other morning…with my hand on you…I just woke up like that. It’s not like I intentionally grabbed you.”

I frowned, wondering why she was apologizing for that.

“Not that I wouldn’t intentionally grab you,” she rushed on. “I mean, I don’t walk up to men and grope them. But then I guess you’re not regular men. I mean, you are a regular man, but you’re my husband, which means I can grab you.”

I smirked at that.

“Not that I would literally walk up to you and grab you just because I could. That’s weird.”

“Not to a man.”

“Right, but I’m not a man, and women don’t do that.”

“Maybe they should.”

“Just…grab you? Like, walk over and grab on?” she asked uncertainly.

I shrugged, wondering if she would actually do it. She appeared to be considering it. Her teeth sank into her lip as her eyes reflexively dropped to my crotch. Fuck, there I went again.

She took a step forward, and then another, but at the last second, she chickened out and walked toward the silverware drawer, grabbing a fork. “Syrup?” she asked, her voice cracking.

“Yeah.”

Damn, I was so close. But maybe it was for the best. I wasn’t sure starting a marriage out with groping each other was the best way to go. Again, not a great start to this relationship. It couldn’t be built on sex. I knew that much for sure.

“Uh…you know, I should probably get over to work soon,” I choked out as she sat down, hitching her leg up on the stool. Her toned leg was on full display, just waiting for me to run my fingers over, but I somehow found the restraint and stayed on my side of the counter.

Grabbing a waffle, I tore into it, not even bothering with syrup. Right now, I needed to stuff my face with something, and while I would love for that to be her pussy, this waffle was going to have to do.

“You should slow down. You’re going to choke.”

And then I did. Waffle got stuck in my throat, but it wasn’t because I was eating too fast. No, it was because I was imagining her choking on my cock as I fed it down her throat.

Fuck, I had to get out of here, and fast. I grabbed the glass of orange juice I had set out for her and chugged it. Slamming it down on the counter, I stalked around the island and headed for the door.

“Uh…I gotta work. Stay out of the litter area and get some rest. Don’t do anything but lay on the couch or in bed all day. Got it?” I called over my shoulder.

“I think that’s a little ridiculous—” she started, but at my glare, she shut her mouth. “Got it.”

With a tight nod, I headed out the door and breathed in the fresh air. Fuck, this marriage was going to kill me.

“You left her at home?” Red asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Sauntering around the table, I took my seat, waiting for the meeting to begin. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well…she almost burned your house down and ended up in the hospital. Twice. Just thought you might want to reconsider anything that might…go in that direction again.”

“Like leaving her alone?” Eli grinned. “You really are off to a great start. How are the balls, by the way?”

I glared at him, not wanting to discuss the state of my balls. They were sore as hell and the scratches were scabbing over. And worse, every time I saw one of those fucking cats, they withdrew into my body and took cover. I wasn’t sure I’d ever have a properly functioning dick again.

Except when I looked at her .

“Fuck you.”

He chuckled as he kicked up his feet on the table. “I thought you were crazy for marrying some chick you picked out online, but nothing could have prepared me for Daphne. Hell, I don’t even know her, and I’m already wondering how the two of you are going to survive.”

“Marriage takes work,” I argued.

“Oh, I’m not talking about marriage. I’m talking about literally surviving. Eventually, the hospital will call the police on you if you keep showing up with these kinds of wounds.”

I scowled at him in irritation. “It was three trips to the hospital. It’s not that bad.”

“It’s not that bad,” he mocked. “Says the man who can’t sit properly without adjusting his dick so the cuts don’t break open. Why the fuck did you stay with her?”

“Because I married her,” I snapped.

“She brought seven fucking cats into your house!” he said incredulously. “That’s the type of warning signal that should have you running in the opposite direction! Red, back me up here!”

He shrugged, taking a seat. “I can’t say much. Look at Zoe.”

“Zoe never attacked you with cats,” Eli pointed out.

“No, but she did make Fox the godfather of my kids. That’s got to be like ten times worse.”

“All I’m saying is that you should maybe go on a job and think things through. I mean, do you really want to stay with this woman for the rest of your life?”

“I literally just got married and you already want me to get a divorce?”