Page 71 of Vicious Secrets
“Verbally and statutorily?”
“Safety and security were absent from my life until I married you, and I never realized it.”
Siro blinks slowly, and his lips press tighter together. It’s his “that doesn’t answer my question” look.
I wince and sigh. “Only verbally.”
His nostrils flare as he inhales, and there’s a twitch in the corner of one of his eyes. But his voice doesn’t carry a hint of venom. “You’ve always been safe with me, and you always will be, Robyn. There are entire armies at my disposal, but my firepower is useless if you don’t cut your mother out of your head first.”
Siro’s right. He can provide me with all the protection in the world, but as long as she’s poisoning me from the inside out, I’ll never be safe in my own skin.
“I won’t force you to cut her out of your life completely, Robyn. But, as long as he remains unsworn, Oscar could be a go-between. And I know he’d do it if you asked.” His hand detangles from my hair, and the fingertips dance down my spine.
“I love my mom, but we need to live separate lives.”
It’s Christmas, this topic is fucking depressing, and I’m sitting on my husband’s lap on the verge of tears instead of on the cusp of an orgasm. This is bullshit! I need to rectify the issue immediately.
I kiss Siro like I’m claiming him for the first time again. He groans and kisses me back.
“Presents first,” he says against my mouth. “Then, if the nurse lets me, I’ll fuck you into the mattress.”
I giggle and drag my teeth along his bottom lip. “I think the nurse is willing to bend some rules for you.”
We clean up the dining table and head into the living room. Siro sets a box the size of an old computer monitor in front of me, and I hand over one no bigger than his palm.
An argument erupts between us over who goes first. If Fabi were here, he’d have a stroke. Alphabetical order wins this Christmas. So, I tear straight into the box.
A pile of fifteen or so label-less skeins of alpaca yarn greets my eyes. They’re dyed various shades of purple in a tie-dye-like fashion.
“These are amazing! Where did you find them?” I ask as I sink my fingers into the soft yarn and squeal with excitement.
“A farm a few hours north. They’re one of a kind.”
I cock my head. “What do you mean?”
“Hand dyed just for you.”
Blood rushes to my head, and I nearly keel over. I throw my arms around his neck and pepper kisses along his jaw. Siro chuckled as he works open his gift.
“Is this...” His voice drifts off as he holds up a small key between his thumb and index finger. “The key to my bar cabinets?”
I force my hands to stop molesting him. “Open it!”
Siro crosses the room and disappears behind the bar as he knees down. I dance my way over and watch as he slides the door open. He freezes for a moment. Then reaches a hand up and strokes his fingers along the stacks of board game boxes. If two to eight people can play it, I bought it.
“For our family?” he asks and looks over at me.
“For whoever you want to share them with.”
Siro’s on his feet and in front of me in a flash. He hugs me, and the resulting collision of our bodies knocks us against the wall.
“I love you, Robyn.”
“I love you too, Siro.”
Epilogue
Siro
