Page 94 of Wedlock

“Falcon, be real, man. You see her a fortnight ago, after three years apart, and now you decide you can’t live without her?”

“Yes.”

“If it’s her body you want, surely you can find another who looks like her? Humans are a dime a dozen, even redheads, if you know where to look.”

“It’s not her body,” I shake my head. “It’s all of her.”

“Haven’t you got enough to worry about with tracking down the ones who tried to off your heir?”

“That’s in hand,” I nod, suddenly serious. “You and I both know that whichever queen was behind it wanted the same reward — my marriage to the Princess.”

“Perhaps. That’s yet to be determined. Either way, you still believe you’ve dodged that bullet?”

“I’m fast,” I grin.

“What’s really behind this, Falcon? Why the rush?”

How can I tell him that seeing Tiger on death’s door had made me realise the precious time I’d lost with him? That I know nowthat Idowant to be part of his life. Moreover, I want to be part ofbothmy son’s lives. And I want my wife back in my life and in my bed. Wolf’s not wrong. I do want her body, I want to fuck her from sunset to sunup for the rest of my life. But more than that, I want her by my side, tempering me, challenging me, making me laugh, making me want to be better.

“Angie knows that I’m aware she had twins,” I shrug and meet Wolf’s concerned stare. “She can’t expect me not to want to at leastseemy son.”

“You told her that? Do you so wholeheartedly want to cut ties with Jag that you’d double-cross him this way? Truly, Falcon, I’m surprised you did this.”

I shrug.

“It’s not a bad thing that she knows she can’t trust Viscount Speardon as much as she thinks she can.”

Wolf gives me a disappointed look.

“All’s fair in love and war, Wolf.”

“Jag will rip your throat out for revealing that,” he snorts, “and for wanting to reignite your relationship with her.”

“He’s nowhere to be found,” I shrug, “you said it yourself, he’s disappeared again, just as he did after his last broken heart. It could be centuries before we see him again.”

I don’t add ‘good’ because I know Wolf doesn’t understand the depth of my feelings against Jag since his betrayal.

Wolf snorts.

“I know how to reach him, as you’re well aware. You can choose to pretend he’s disappeared off the face of the earth, but it doesn’t make it true.”

“He’s gone as far as I’m concerned. The Jag I knew left the day he fucked my wife.”

“Your wife,” Wolf sighs as he sits down, signalling for me to do the same. “I just don’t understand you. What on earth do you hope to gain by phoning her?”

“I want her back,” I meet his eyes over the rim of my glass. “I plan to woo her.”

“Woo her?” Wolf roars in laughter. “Woo the woman who’s run from you three times? Get the message, man, she’s just not that into you!”

I can’t help but grin at his booming laughter.

“Oh, ye of little faith. I’ve never met a woman who could resist my charms, when applied diligently, Count Mandraken.”

“I think you might have,” Wolf grins. “And I’m prepared to wager a hefty sum on that.”

“Right or wrong,” I shake my head, my thoughts and expression now serious, “I have to try. I love this woman, Wolf. I can’t fucking deny it any longer. She’s the only one who’s ever really challenged me, the only one I can see as truly an equal. The only one who makes me want to be better than I am. I want her back in my home, in my bed, and in my life.”

‘I need her back.’