Page 31 of Triumphant Kings

“Let’s go get you cleaned up before I fuck you again and we never leave.”

“I don’t see the problem there.” She laughs as I scoop her up in my arms.

“Brat agai,n I see.”

She just shrugs and smiles.

She’s so fucking beautiful.

Bringing her to my bed, I lay her down before going to the bathroom to get a warm washcloth.

Her eyes are closed as I clean her up, a soft, contented look on her face.

I fucking love it. I love that she feels safe and open to be herself around me. That she let me do all of that with her, and didn’t even blink twice.

As I’m tucking her in to get a nap, she grabs my hand as I brush her hair out of her face.

“I love you,” she says, voice almost a whisper, but she doesn’t open her eyes.

“I love you more, Pretty Girl.”

“Are we okay?” she asks.

She means her marrying Collin out of nowhere.

Not answering right away, I take a moment to think. At first, I was hurt. This woman is my everything. I went so long thinkingI’d never have her, then to getting everything I ever wanted. The idea of someone taking her away from me had me wanting to go and murder Collin. I’m not even joking. The only reason why I didn’t was because I knew it would hurt Sadie, and I couldn’t stand the idea of her being in any pain, especially not because of me.

“We’re okay, Pretty Girl,” I promise her, leaning down to press a kiss to her temple.

“We’re okay too,” she murmurs, and I smile because I know she means what she just found out.

“So you don’t hate me?” I ask, partly teasing. “Not going to call me names and go running for the hills?”

“No,” she sighs. “Because I'd be a hypocrite.”

That has me smiling as relief fills me.

A blush forms on her cheeks, even in her sleepy state. “Because it turned me on.” She says so low I almost don’t hear her. “I–I like it.”

And that gets a full-blown beaming smile out of me. “Yeah?” I ask.

“Shut up,” she grumbles, rolling over to face me. She opens her eyes just enough to look at me. “If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t be. But you?” she shrugs. “Well, you know.”

“Yeah, Pretty Girl. I know.”

“It’s very clear to me that we’re all fucked up.” She closes her eyes. “All of you, and me, but it works for our little family. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Neither would I.” My heart is so damn full it's going to burst any second. “Get some sleep. I’m going to take a shower.”

As I’m almost to my door, she calls my name.

“Yeah?” I turn back.

“My mom knows about us.” My heart drops. “She’s fine with it. But she wants you to talk to your dad and tell him yourself. She doesn’t want to lie to him.”

Closing my eyes, I groan. “Fine,” I mutter. “Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” She just manages to get out before sleep takes her.