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I studied him for a minute. "You didn't have to do this, you know."
"Do what?"
"Fly me to the Caribbean. The hair, everything."
"That's where you're mistaken. I did have to." Then he turned and went back to work.
I tucked myself into one of the seats then fastened my seatbelt, trying not to let my mind wander to what we'd done in my office. The crack of his hand on my ass when I tried to wriggle away, the way he'd crooned in my ear and dug his hands into my braids. Stroking a thumb over my cheekbone, telling me to hush and that I'd like it.
Then when I'd tried to wiggle away again, it had earned me another crack on my ass and led to the discovery that it had made me wet. I didn't know if I should be embarrassed, or hot, or flustered. I pressed my thighs together.
And being the asshole that he was, he lifted his gaze as if he knew exactly what I was thinking about and grinned. "Why don't you go ahead and get some rest? If I know you, you've already got a whole bunch of work done. If anything comes up that needs you, I'll wake you."
My brain was in turmoil. He was taking good care of me, but my heart was still scared.
I stared at him for a long moment. "What are you doing, Atticus?"
"Nothing."
"I don't believe you."
"Gwen, I understand that my words aren't enough now. I broke something. The only thing that's going to make you understand that I mean what I say is showing you, and that's exactly what I intend to do. I should have been showering you with everything you needed all along. But I was closed off and cold. I should have damn well swept you off your feet, and I didn't. So the second time around, I'm doing everything I possibly can on the off chance you might look at me the same way again. I'm not going to demand it. I'm not even going to ask for it. Only you know if you're ready to let me in or not. But regardless, I'm still giving you what you deserve. So, tuck in and get some rest. And for once, let me take care of you, Ness."
Chapter 19
ATTICUS
I kept sneaking glances at Gwen. Worry and fury twisted with bile in my gut. Three attempts on her life. The control I usually had a hold on was frayed thing. This was the darkest moment of my life because she might have been hurt, or much, much worse."
You could try talking to her asshole.
I could. But every conversation devolved into a fight. Which consequently had my dick out in seconds. Probably for the best that we didn’t talk at the moment.
She looked beautiful. I loved the hair. She looked like a completely different woman. Still her, just different.
It didn’t matter what she looked like. She could be wearing a burlap sack and shave her head bald, and I would still crave her.
I'd basically given up questioning it at that point, because it was true. I would.
Sometime after her hair was done, she'd also changed clothes into white linen pants and a sleeveless white crop top, showing a sliver of belly. She looked perfect and ready for the islands.
Christ, I was going to be seeing that sliver of brown skin all goddamn day, trying not to think about how soft she was or how much I wanted to run my fingers over her skin.
When we landed, we were met by Ariel Winston, owner and director of Royal Elite, a bodyguard and security agency that worked with the palace a lot. Two members of her team, Jax and Zia, were with her.
We all shook hands, and Jax led Gwen to the waiting car while I spoke to Ariel.
"It's good to see you, Atticus."
"You too, Ariel. You look well."
"Sure, if well means my feet are constantly swollen, I feel nauseous all the time, and most days I just really need a nap, then yeah, I'm absolutely well."
I lifted my brows in surprise. "Oh, I didn't know."
Her quick grin could have lit up the sky. "It's new. We only just started telling everyone."
"Congratulations are in order."
