Page 71 of Brutal Mercy

Her fingers creep up around my neck, but I catch them. As much as I want her, I won’t fuck her here with an audience. When I lift my mouth, disappointment clouds her features. “If you touch me, I can’t guarantee that I won’t take you. I can’t seem to help myself where you’re concerned. And I don’t want to fuck you with spectators.”

“Then can we go home? I need you.” She licks her lips.

My cock is hard instantly. I nod. “Let’s go.”

“Do you mind if I visit the ladies’ room first?”

“No, I’ll escort you there, and then we can head upstairs.” I slide out of the booth and help her to her feet. Mindful of her tender ankle.

While she’s in the ladies’ room, I text Lorenzo to pull the car up. And he calls me. “What’s up?”

“Ares called me when he couldn’t reach you. There’s a problem.”

“What?” If that fucker moved Luna’s sister, I’m hunting him down tonight. I’m sick of the cartel’s fucking games. I vowed I would retrieve my wife’s sister. And that’s what I will do, and I don’t care who I have to take down to do it.

“It’s your wife’s store.”

“Just spit it out. What happened with the store?”

“It’s been burned to the ground. The fire department is there now, putting out the last of the flames.”

“Fuck. Say nothing about this near my wife. Let me handle it. Understood?” Luna will be devastated. I know that store means something to her because it was her parents’.

“Absolutely. I’m by the door waiting. Do you want to head to the store tonight?”

“No. We’ll head home in the morning. There’s nothing we can do about it tonight.” And I need time before I tell her. She’s already been through so much. “Be up in a few.” I hang up just as she limps out of the restroom.

“Dammit. You should have told me your ankle was hurting.” I scoop her up, not caring who’s watching.

“They’re fine. I’ll be okay. I just pushed it a little too far with the heels,” she replies with a sigh and loops her arms around my neck, snuggling against me.

I carry her to the elevator and hold her on the ride back up. When I deposit her in the backseat of the SUV, I remove the damn heels. Another time, I will enjoy her mile-long legs in heels. I can see myself taking her, pounding into her while her heels dig into my low back. But that’s a fantasy that’ll have to wait. Once she’s seated and buckled in, I round the other side and join her.

On the way home, she cuddles against me. And I can’t stop touching her. My fingers rub circles on her arm. The moment we reach the house, I’m taking her to bed and fucking her all night long.

And it’s precisely what I do. I carry her inside and up the stairs, making a beeline for our bedroom. Because I don’t want anyone but me seeing her charms. The moment the door shuts behind us, I’m on her, dragging her beneath me, where I spend my night worshipping her gorgeous body.

Because I’m in love with my bride.

Chapter nineteen

Luna

Thescentoffreshlybrewed coffee has my nose twitching. It’s the first thing that wakes me. The second is the presence beside me on the bed. My cheeks heat after last night. And all the ways Hades made love to me. With an internal sigh, I open my eyes. And I find a dour-looking Hades.

“What’s wrong?” I sit, clutching the covers against my chest. Eyeing the two mugs of coffee on the nightstand on his side of the bed.

“We need to head back.” He hands me a mug of coffee.

I take it from him, grateful that he’s paid such close attention to the things I like. He knows how I take my coffee—lots of cream and three spoonfuls of sugar. I like it sweet, so sue me.

After I take a sip and that first bit of caffeine hits my tired soul, I ask, “But that’s not all. Is it Lyla? Is she hurt? Is she—” I couldn’t say the D word. Hell, I didn’t even want to think it, let alone speak it. I clench my hands around the coffee mug to keep them from trembling.

“No. Ares is circling her location. Your sister will be rescued soon. It’s the store.”

“What about it?” Dread settles in my belly.

Compassion and concern fill his eyes. He doesn’t want to tell me. There’s a pit growing in my stomach as I wait for him to respond.

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