Page 91 of Twilight Tides
Because … “I didn’t know it could be like that. Husband.”
His eyes flared at the word. “Me neither.” He kissed me. And it turned into a lovely languorous make-out session as we rolled onto our sides.
Finally, after a little while of just kissing and petting each other, we came up for air and Murray pressed a tender kiss to my nose. “I need to deal with the condom.”
“Let’s take a shower together,” I suggested instead, needing to clean up between my legs.
He smiled lovingly and in answer pulled me up off the bed with him.
33.Murray
Trying to avoid wetting London’s hair was interesting and difficult since we were both consumed with touching each other all the time.
Not even as a teenager had I felt this level ofwant.
It was true, then. Sex really was on another level when you were in love.
And there was no denying it for me anymore.
I was in love with London Wetherspoon Shaw.
I’d sung that to her, but it was safe within a song. Saying the words was completely different. Since we were taking things at her pace, I could stifle my impatience to tell her how I felt.
It pleased me beyond measure that any worries she had about sexual intimacy melted away when we were together. London had a way of making me feel like I could take care of her and solve all her problems. That I couldn’t fail her. And as a man who felt like he was failing a lot of important things at the moment, I was addicted to my wife’s company.
After the shower, we climbed back into bed, both of us seeming to have made peace with the fact that we’d be getting very little sleep. Rather than feel depleted by the sex, we were wired.
I cuddled London into me and the first question out of her mouth was, “How is Kelly?”
And I fell even harder, not even realizing that was possible.
My arms squeezed around her. She smelled like my shower gel, and it filled me with a strange satisfaction. “It wasn’t anything too serious. This girl at school is apparently annoyed that Kelly got into the regional girls’ choir when there weren’t supposed to be any late auditions.”
“Can Kelly sing?”
“Aye, she’s got a sweet voice. Perfect for the choir.”
“So, this girl is jealous of Kelly?”
“Well, a few of her friends are in the choir and are in this group chat, and they were organizing getting together this weekend to practice. Kelly said she’d be there, and this other girl said she hadn’t been invited. Anna jumped to Kelly’s defense, and it turned into a thing because this other girl is good friends with Anna. Kelly thinks the problem is really that this girl is annoyed Kelly came back and Anna kind of dropped this other girl. But Kelly, Anna, and Lucas have been best friends since they were toddlers at nursery together, so …”
I hadn’t really been sure what to suggest, but I’d quietly told Kelly that it wasn’t an excuse to stay off school.
“It sounds to me like Kelly, Anna, and Lucas need to make more time to include this girl. If that doesn’t work, fine, but being dropped by a friend is one of the worst hurts a teenage girl can experience. Kelly and Lucas might have to learn to share Anna.” London stroked my chest almost absentmindedly. “Do you want me to talk to her? It would have to be after school because I need to be at the B and B in … ugh …a few hours.”
“Would you mind?” I did feel like London probably had a better handle on that kind of situation. And I trusted her judgment.
“Not at all.”
“Thanks.” I bent to kiss the top of her head.
“And for the less fun portion of post-sex discussion …” London tilted her head to meet my gaze. “How did it go with Joshua Hughes?”
I really didn’t want to fill London’s head with the darkness of my problems, but I’d promised to be honest with her, so I laid out the plan to take down the Walsh brothers.
She was quiet for a moment, her voice smaller when she eventually replied, “Just promise me you’ll do everything in your power not to get hurt.”
I pulled her closer. “I promise, a ghràidh.”
