Page 39 of The Oath Operation

"Well, yeah. But she doesn't know I fixed the plumbing." Jed pointed a finger to the ceiling as though that was the secret of the universe.

Jed sat his beer down on the bar, then made a slicing motion with his hand. "You both have it wrong. It's about women’s agency. You can’t do anything that will threaten their agency."

Fish looked at him, baffled. "What does that even mean?"

Jed shrugged, a bemused look on his face. "I don’t know. Just don’t do it."

"I think what Jed’s trying to say is that you have to respect Jules’ decisions. The Chou women are fiercely independent. Take it from the first man who's managed to snag one."

"You're not the first," Jed muttered, but Noah didn't hear him.

"This community, and their place in it, is a big deal to them."

"The community isn’t so important to Jami," Jed grumbled, circling his fingers around the neck of his beer. "She’s off traveling the world."

Fish frowned, trying to make sense of it all. "So what should I do?"

"If it were me?" Noah cocked his head to the side, thinking. "I'd go home, throw Jacqui over my shoulder, and kiss her senseless. It's best when you catch them off guard. Even better when you can occupy their mouths so they can't get words out."

"I'll drink to that." Jed laughed, clinking his bottle against Noah's.

"Your answer is for me to manhandle my wife?" Fish asked, raising an eyebrow. But even as the words left his lips, he found the idea more than appealing.

It had been hours since he'd last tasted the sweetness of Jules' lips, and the two days he'd spent without seeing her beautiful face had felt like an eternity. The idea of showing up at her door, sweeping her into his arms, and kissing her until she forgot why she was mad seemed like the best course of action he'd heard all night. A little manhandling wasn't out of the question. That is, if she’d even let him in the door.

Fish sighed, his gaze drifting back to his beer. He knew he’d have to tread carefully. Jules was strong-willed and independent, and while he wanted to take charge, he didn’t want to bulldoze over her feelings.

But Noah and Jed had a point. Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words. Right now, all he wanted to do was show her how much she meant to him.

With that thought, Fish downed the rest of his beer in a single gulp. The liquid burned a new path down his throat. This time, the burn lit a fire in him.

He looked over at the men beside him. It was good to have friends like Noah and Jed to talk to. It had been a long time since he’d let himself get close to anyone, not since losing a friend in battle. He got the sense that these two would have his back if it came to it. And tonight, it had come to it. He was about to head home for the fight of his life.

Fish stood, slapping a few bills onto the bar to cover his drink and theirs. He was done waiting, done second-guessing himself. He was going to find Jules, and he was going to kiss her senseless. He was going to remind her that he wasn’t just her business partner; he was her husband. And more than anything, he was the man who was head over heels in love with her.

ChapterThirty

It was late by the time Jules unlocked the door to her apartment. She'd stopped at the bakery, but Fish hadn't been there. He wasn't at his place either. She still didn't have his phone number and hadn't asked Jacqui for it before she'd left her place. She would call and ask for it now because she would not spend another night without her husband beside her.

She reached for the light switch. The apartment flooded with light, and she saw a figure move in the dark. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth when she saw him sitting on her couch. Relief washed over her, and her heart skipped a beat. Before she could say anything, he rose and strode toward her with a determined look in his eyes.

"Fish," she began.

He didn’t give her a chance to finish. Fish pulled her into his arms, his grip firm yet tender, as if she were the most precious ingredient in his life. His lips found hers, capturing them in a fierce, desperate kiss that tasted like the sweetest indulgence. It was as if he’d been starved for her, and now that he had a taste, he wasn’t letting go.

Jules melted into him, the warmth of his embrace enveloping her like the heat of a well-stoked oven. The only thing real was the way he held her, the way his lips moved against hers, demanding and giving all at once.

His kiss was like a decadent confection, rich and layered, sending a rush of warmth through her that was far more satisfying than any healthy treat she'd ever concocted. There was no substitute for a healthy dose of her husband. She felt the rush of sweetness spread through her, a sensation so powerful it made her toes curl in her shoes.

Fish’s hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer, his thumb rubbing gently over the band of her wedding ring. His touch on her finger was a reminder of the bond they shared, a promise sealed with this kiss and showcased with the bands they both wore.

This kiss was the kind of sweetness that didn’t spike her blood sugar but settled deep into her heart, where it warmed her from the inside out. It was the kind of sweetness she could indulge in over and over without fear of the consequences. And as Fish deepened the kiss, she knew she never wanted to be without this feeling, this intoxicating blend of heat and tenderness. It was as if he was determined to mix the perfect batch of emotions, combining desire, love, and something deep, something that was just starting to rise between them.

When they finally broke apart, both breathless and flushed, Jules looked up into his eyes and saw the same hunger she felt mirrored back at her. This was love, she realized. A love that was rich and satisfying, a love that made her feel more alive than she ever had before. A love that she knew would only grow sweeter with time.

"I love you," she said, her voice breathy, but her husband heard her clearly.

"The guys were right," he muttered under his breath, but she heard him just as clearly.

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