Page 63 of Powerless
“Not at all. It was a beautiful, sacred thing cherished by everyone involved.” My gaze returned to hers. “There were rules to it, though. Our society was a bit complex. Technically you broke a rule but that’s okay.” I directed a small splash at her to show I was joking. “You didn’t know. And it’s nowhere near as bad as cheating.”
“So,” she looked apprehensive, but not as crushed as a few minutes ago. “You want to have that kind of relationship with me?”
“Only if it’s something you want, too.” I grabbed her waist and pulled her back once again to straddle me. “I’ll explain it later, lay it all out for you. Then you can think about it and decide if it’s something you want to try. If not,” I sucked in a breath, “I’ll try my damndest to be good enough for you as your only man. Idon’twant other women, I’m not wired that way. But if you’re only with me…sugar, I’m gonna piss you off. I’m probably gonna hurt your feelings again, even though I don’t mean to.”
Mari laughed lightly, running her fingers over my scalp as her forehead touched mine. “I have a feeling that’s gonna happen regardless if it’s just you or not.”
“You’re probably right.” My hands molded to the curves in her back again. “Just hear me out before you write it off?”
“I can do that.” She smiled against my lips before bringing a fist to her mouth to stifle her yawn. “Later, though?”
“Later,” I promised, kissing her after she finished yawning. “Rest first. And I gotta hold church to bring everyone up to speed. I’m sure you’ll have patients to check on.”
“Yeah…” Her eyelids were already drooping as she leaned on me.
“And hey,” I kissed her forehead.
“Hm?”
“I’ll find out what happened,” I told her. “And I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Mariand I slept from the ass-crack of dawn all day until the following afternoon. When we got up, she made her rounds checking on patients while I poured over some work in my study. Just to make her feel safer, I told Hades to go with her, which he seemedveryhappy about.
That evening, I found Jandro and some other guys drinking and playing cards around the fire pit next to the pool.
“One of you fuckers pour me something and deal me in. You,” I pointed at Jandro, “I need a word. Alone.”
His eyebrow popped up in surprise. “Sure thing, Reap.”
He followed me into the clubhouse and through the hall until we reached the church conference room, neither of us saying a word until I locked the door behind us.
“What’s going on?” Jandro’s tone was cool, but brimmed with curiosity.
I huffed out a breath. “You need to find out from Shadowexactlywhat the hell happened after Mariposa treated him.”
Jandro’s eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms. “Wha—”
“She’s saying he fucked her.” The words came out with a growl, whether out of jealousy or protection, I couldn’t be sure. “And she came to me right after, all upset.”
“What, fucked her? You mean like actual…?” He made an O-shape with his hand and stuck his opposite index finger through to demonstrate.
“Yes, Jandro. That is generally what people mean by fucking.”
“You can’t be serious.” He looked baffled. “This isShadowwe’re talking about.”
“I know. It makes no sense to me either.” I scrubbed a hand down my face. “But Mari’s not lying about this. She was all quiet, then she started crying—”
“You don’t think—” Jandro cut himself off abruptly, jerking his eyes away for a moment before looking back at me. “Reap, no. Shadow wouldn’t.”
“That’s why I’m telling you to find out what happened. He’ll say more to you than anyone else.”
“He’s never hurt anyone in this club, you realize that?” my VP asked me intently. “He’s never even showed up to a Fight Night. Reaper, she must’ve—”
“Don’t say it,” I warned him. “Don’t you fucking say she wanted it to happen. She said it felt likecheatingon me.”
“Fuck me, man,” he sighed heavily. “You still haven’t told her?”
“I started to,” I said. “She gets the basic idea but we haven’t talked about it in depth yet.” I cut my hand through the air. “Doesn’t fucking matter, anyway. She didnotwant this to happen. And it willnotbe repeated, you hear me?”
