Page 163 of Jace
“Like I promised, Viv; I’m the man who’ll love you, never leave you, and always protect you.” Caressing my belly, he vows into our kiss. “You and my baby.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
JACE
“Fuck me. How much longer?”
“Five minutes. And quit your bitching; it’s anti-aging.”
I narrow my eyes at Vale. Still. Looking like a serial killer from a horror movie wearing this sheet mask, I can’t intimidate her. “I’ll give youtwominutes because if you aren’t aging, you’re dead, and that’s what you’re about to be if you don’t let me take this fucking mask off my face.”
“Jace.” Vale stomps her Mary Jane. “This is a big day. You need to look good for the pictures.”
“I look fine.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, he does.” Wren debates with Vale. “Jace always looks as fine as wine. I can really see it now, how Sire’s your full brother. You both have bedroom eyes,” she chirps, matter-of-factly. “And big dicks.”
Sitting on the edge of Vale’s desk, she kicks her feet, making me laugh.
“Hold still,” Delphine chides, buffing my nails while I’m perched on my stool.
If I had an inflated male ego, it’d be running down the road with its hair on fire, away from the queens. But I don’t. I’m too fucking in love.
“I can use two rolls of the camera film, no?” Delphine stresses, shining my nailbeds into mirrors. Like me, she’s getting into photography. She treasures the rare stuff. “I will use f/4 aperture, no? That is for group photos?”
“You got this.” I trust her with my camera. I trust her to capture the moment we’ve been planning for a week.
But no one anticipated it’d be this special.
“Where’s the ring?”
I grin at Ruby, sitting beside Wren. “That’s the second time you’ve asked me.”
“Look here, hot Reacher.” Ruby lowers her violet eyes at me. “You may be a stealth stallion on screen, but IRL, don’t fuck this up.”
“Got it right here, darlin’.” Zar leans against the sunshine-filled window, patting the inside pocket of his bespoke suit. All the men are wearing them today, I insisted. “Don’t worry your ravishing red head,” he drawls to Ruby. “We won’t let our queen down.”
“You sure you don’t mind?” But I focus on Alena. “I don’t want to steal the spotlight from your wedding.”
It’s in a few weeks.
“I promise, I don’t mind.” Alena beams, absent-mindedly twirling the new anal beads Vale gave her to try with Loch. Yep, it’s constant TMI around here. “You and Viv are like me and Loch. When you wait so long to be with someone, nothing can diminish your love. I’m happy for you two. Vivian’s the sweetest.”
“She really is thesweetestqueen, and perfect for you, our sweetest king.” Wren sighs, beaming. “Though I heard how shewanted to fire her rifle at that asshole’s balls—wouldn’t blame her—but I’m glad you stopped her.”
Likewise.
Torturing that scumbro, I was torn between Vivian’s victory and my vengeance. I believed her; she’s a good enough shot, able to fire through that fucker’s scrawny spread legs to make him piss himself with the truth.
In my truck, she told me, Sire, and Nick, it’s what she wanted to do.
But I guess I’m already being a father. I convinced her to let me step up. I’d be the violent one, so she could remain virtuous. Not to patronize her; it’s the opposite.
I’ve seen with my own eyes what a mother can do for the sake of her child, so a father needs to do his part. The sacrifice should be mutual.
I didn’t like torturing that shithead, but I’d do it again for my woman and child.
