Page 63 of The Hero
He wasn’t surprised when Marlowe shook her head. “It’s not me,” she insisted.
“You can think that, but you’re wrong,” he said firmly.
“Well, I’m glad either way,” she told him. “But I also don’t want you to hide them from me. If you have them, you have them. We’ll deal. Okay? Don’t be embarrassed or anything.”
Bob wasn’t sure he could be embarrassed about anything around this woman. “Same goes for you. I know how awful nightmares can be. They can wipe you out and make you feel as if you didn’t get any sleep. That happens, we’ll take a nap or something so you can feel rested.”
She smiled at him. “Okay.”
“Okay.” Then Bob leaned down and touched his lips to hers. They both moaned as the chaste kiss quickly bloomed into something more. Bob’s hand speared into her short hair and held her still as he deepened their kiss. Her fingers curled into his chest as she gave as good as she got.
When the doorbell pealed through the apartment, both of them jerked in surprise.
Bob pulled back and stared at his woman for a long moment. She licked her lips, which were plump from their kiss. The doorbell sounded again.
“We should get that,” she said.
“Yeah,” Bob agreed, but he didn’t move.
She smiled, then bit her lower lip.
“Tonight,” he growled. “Tonight, I’m going to show you how proud I am that you’re my wife. How happy I am that you’re here. How much I appreciate everything you did for me when I was out of it.”
“Did you talk to the doctor?” she asked, her eyes gleaming with interest and lust.
“No. But I know my body,” he said. When she frowned, Bob ran a thumb over her bottom lip. “I’ll be careful.”
The bell rang again, over and over, as if JJ was officially tired of waiting for them to open the door.
Bob would keep his friend outside forever. Marlowe’s response was more important right this moment.
“Okay,” she said shyly.
Possessiveness swept through Bob’s body. His dick immediately hardened at the thought of being inside this woman once again. Of coming home.
“Okay,” he agreed. Then he leaned down and kissed her again—keeping it short this time—before running his fingers over her cheek, then stepping away to answer the door.
“Keep your pants on!” he yelled as he reached for the knob.
As expected, JJ was standing on the other side of the door, grinning like a lunatic. “About time,” he told his friend.
“Whatever.”
“Smells good,” JJ said as he entered.
His comment reminded Bob that he needed to finish up their lunch. He shut the door behind JJ and headed back to the kitchen.One part of him didn’t want to have this conversation. He’d prefer to take care of Ian West himself, without any involvement from Marlowe. But that wouldn’t be fair. And she could protect herself better if she had all the same information they did.
Not that Ian had made any indication that he was going to seek her out, but Bob didn’t want to take the chance.
The three of them made small talk as he prepped their lunch, and Bob couldn’t take his eyes off Marlowe. She had a way of making everyone around her feel comfortable. As if they’d been friends their entire lives. He’d seen it happen with Carlise, June, and April, and she was doing it now with JJ.
When they finished their sloppy joes, Bob took their dishes to the sink and left them there soaking, and they all headed to the small living area. Bob sat next to Marlowe on the couch, and JJ took the armchair to their right.
“Have you heard from Ian?” JJ asked Marlowe, getting right to the heart of the reason why he was there.
Her brow furrowed. “No. Why? Is he okay? What’s happening with the coins?”
Bob wasn’t surprised she wanted to know if he was all right. Even after all the man had done to her, she still didn’t have it in her to really wish anyone ill.
