Page 52 of Fury
“For what, lover?” He gave her a squeeze.
She snorted a watery laugh. “For being such a girly girl.”
He squeezed again, slipping one hand down to her thigh to stroke up and down. “I like you being a girly girl.”
“I’m not usually, so don’t get used to it.” That had a little bit of her sass back, and he smiled against her hair to hear it. “We should go.”
“We should,” he agreed, not moving. That earned him another snort, this one less tear-filled. “We will. Just let me have another minute of you, yeah?”
“You only want a minute?”
Eyes closed, he held her, feeling the way her breath still hitched occasionally, and liked how her weight in his lap felt perfect, as if he could sit here for days and not get tired of holding her. “I’ll take a lifetime, one minute at a time.”
Michael was waiting on the porch of the large house as Fury pulled the car to a stop. Tall and angular, he seemed to be all elbows and knees, big mitts of his hands dangling at his sides. Dark hair curled at the back of his neck, hanging down into his face to partially hide intelligent grey eyes. He looked exactly like Mason had at that age. Even before Bethy could unbuckle, Michael had her door open and had crouched down, looking into her face with an intensity Fury could feel from across the car. The boy didn’t say anything for a moment, just stared at her. Then when he did, it wasn’t anything Fury would have expected.
“You’ve been crying.” Michael moved, angling so he could glare at Fury. “Did he make you cry?”
Whoa. Bethy had told her son she was bringing a friend, and when questioned by Michael had given him the information that Gabe, as she called him, was more than a friend. She hadn’t mentioned him being upset by the news, but clearly this was a wrinkle the kid wasn’t excited about.
Before Fury could respond, Bethy got there. “No, honey. Gabe didn’t make me sad. I just had a good friend die. I told you that. I had a moment on the way over, that’s why we’re late. Gabe had to stop the car and take care of me.” She lifted a hand to curl her fingers around the corner of Michael’s jaw, angling his head so he had to look at her. Pointedly she said, “Hello, Michael. I’ve missed you.”
Lurching forwards, Michael wrapped his arms around her with a sigh. “I missed you, too. I was afraid I’d made you mad with all my questions. With my wanting…I just missed you.”
Fury gave them a minute, looking around at the neighborhood. It was nice, filled with well-kept homes, clearly a bedroom community of families by the piles of bikes next to some of the garages. Movement caught his attention, and he saw an older woman come out of the house they were parked in front of, the door opening behind her as a man joined her on the porch. “Beth, looks like Michael’s parents want to say hello, too.”
Michael pulled back, looking around Bethy again, this time with an embarrassed expression on his face. “Hi, I’m Michael.”
Bethy filled in, “And he’s sorry about what he said before.”
Fury scoffed. “No, he’s not, baby. He was makin’ sure someone he cares about was okay. Can’t hold that against him.” He stuck out a hand and Michael gripped and held, solemnly pumping up and down. “Hey, there. I’m Gabe.” For the second time in a few minutes, he unbuckled Bethy, this time pushing her ass to slide her towards the door. “Out, babe. Let’s meet ‘n greet, and then get some food. I’m starving.”
She rolled her eyes as Michael laughed and stood, holding his hand out to help her up. Gabe liked seeing that, how the boy held her in high regard, ready to do battle if someone hurt her, and making even a casual gesture caring. He joined them at the porch, following Bethy up the sidewalk, winning the battle to keep his eyes off her ass.Probably wouldn’t go over well with Michael’s adoptive parents if I strolled up lookin’ like a lech.
Five minutes later they were back in the vehicle, Michael in the backseat. He was so tall he could lean up between the seats, and did, hand to the radio in a way that spoke volumes to how comfortable he was in Bethy’s car. That started a good-natured argument about what radio station they’d listen to, Michael coming out on the controlling side of the buttons well before they pulled into the restaurant Bethy had selected for their meal.
At the table Michael was well mannered, courteous, and curious, something he didn’t bother trying to hide. She’d been gone a long time, and he had questions about that, about how she was handling what had evidently been a difficult conversation with Michael before she left, and who Fury was to her. All his questions made Bethy anxious, and she kept tripping over herself to give him the answers he seemed to need. He wasn’t rude, not a bit of it, just persistent in a way that made Fury smile. His questions continued through the meal, circling back to Bethy’s family again and again, and Fury finally understood the kid was not just inquisitive but was nervous at the idea of meeting people who meant something to this woman he clearly loved.
Leaning forward, Fury tapped his water glass with the handle of his fork, pulling their attention to him easier than if he’d tried to interrupt the intense conversation. Leveling the fork at Michael, Fury told him, “Get this, yeah? Bethy’s family is good, decent people. I’ve known her brother all my life, known Bethy the same. They’re the kind of folks where, once you’re in, you’re in. No worries about them changing their minds. Mason’s already decided you’re in, or he wouldn’t have pushed her to bring you up. He would have come down and done an on-site assessment, so to speak, figuring out if you’re worth the time and effort.” Bethy’s head jerked back, and her eyes went wide as Michael’s expression mirrored hers. Fury grinned. “Him tellin’ her to bring you up, letting you close to his wife and kids? No doubt about it. You are in, boy. Family. Cousin Chase will be happy to have someone around his age to talk to. And, I bet you won’t always get along, but that’s okay, because family doesn’t set you aside just because you argue.” He shook his head, stabbing a piece of meat with his fork and lifting it to his mouth. “I won’t set you aside just because you like country music, either. Just sayin’.” He shoved the bite into his mouth and chewed, watching wave after wave of emotion cross the boy’s face. Relief and fear, followed by a longing so intense he wondered if Bethy saw it, too. A moment later she leaned towards Michael and spoke softly, confirming his suspicions.
“Gabe’s right, you know. I don’t tell him that often, on account of it goes to his head, but he’s right about this.” Michael turned to face her. “I’ve fought to stay part of your life through the years, because I wanted you to know me. Now, I want you to know my family. All the people who are as important to me as you are. They’re going to love you, Michael.”
“I’m a little nervous,” Michael admitted and she nodded.
“I know. So are they, honestly.”
“Nervous? Why?” The kid looked confused.
“Because they’re going to be meeting someone who is very important to me and they care.” Michael offered her a one-sided grin and she returned it, reaching out to ruffle and then smooth his hair. “You can’t blow my cover, though.” Michael cocked his head to one side and she laughed. “Chase thinks I’m cool. I wanna keep my cool aunt status for a little longer.”
“You are cool.” Michael was quick to defend her, and that made Fury grin. “She is!”
“Okay then, I’m cool. You’re cool.” She looked at Fury. “Are you cool, honey?”
Stabbing a piece of meat off her plate, he grinned at her immediate scowl and then laughed aloud as Michael eased his plate away, moving it closer to his side of the table. “Oh, yeah, baby. I’m cool.”
