Page 56 of Manhattan Heart

“Sure, that’s why you scared ten years off my life.” She snaps.

My girl has no holds barred when she’s angry. She goes for the jugular every time.

I shouldn’t be turned on, but I am.

“I take care of you. It’s my job. My mission, my whole fucking vocation in life, India.” I say back with some snap of my own because I feel how unsteady I am in this new…temporary existence of ours.

It’s brought home my mortality and how much older than her I am.

That maybe one day a problem can’t be fixed and I’ll leave her alone.

Just the mere thought of it has ice coating my veins.

I can’t go there, or it’ll drive me mad.

I stroke her throat, feeling her swallowing.

She doesn’t pull back from my touch, but her eyes blaze.

“How many times have you taken care of me? Countless. Each time I get anxious, you’re there to talk me through it, to hold me until it passes. How many times did you help my mom? Countless. We are a marriage of two, Gray. We do what the other needs.”

I’m on edge, and only part of that has to do with not being as mobile as I’d like. Yeah, I’m fucking prehistoric wanting to be the man she relies on.

I like to do for her. Call me old fashioned.

It gives me pleasure to make her day happier.

Not making her morning coffee because all week she’s got there before me, has seriously pissed me off. Irrational, sulky, pissed off.

Absently stroking the skin on her neck, I count the thumps of her heartbeat under my thumb. It’s strong, steady and lovely.

“You need to get out of this mood because I love you and I’m going to love you and do crappy wife stuff for you while you’re goddamn recovering.”

I hum. Some of my mood deflating.

She’s a goddess and I adore her.

“I guess that told me,” I murmur and I watch just the edge of her lip twitching. Some of her fury is melting away too.

Leaning near me, and into the hand I have around her throat, my India cups my face, giving me the love through her touch and her eyes. “We’re in this together, Gray.”

“I like being the one doing for you,” I confess and feel slightly idiotic about it. That she’ll somehow leave me if I don’t.

I know that’s far from the truth.

Her eyes soften and become glassy and I know then, my asshole mood has hurt her. I lean down and kiss her forehead. “I love you, baby-girl. And I’m a lucky man to have you.”

“Shup up with that. We are amazing together. In sickness and in health we both promised. My ring on your finger gives me rights.”

“You’re right.”

“Damn right I’m right.”

I laugh then. My wife is amazing. And I press my erection into her belly.

Sue me, her fury turns me on.

She gasps and I see her eyes flicker. She’s no less affected than I am.

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