Page 8 of Wild Ever After
“My name on your lips… Mmm. Still has the same effect on me that it did the very first time you said it. I’ll give you two choices. One… You can leave with me right now and we can have this out sooner rather than later. Two… We can join your friends and have a nice time like we used and put off the issues for a few more hours. Either way, Bella, you’re leaving with me tonight and I will be administering your birthday spankings the way I’ve been doing for twenty four years.”
She looked at him. “Twenty-four?”
His smile was just shy of indulgent. “Yes. Last year you didn’t receive them. That will be remedied.”
“Oh.” She could fight guilt, but she couldn’t fight the heat that crept up her neck or the blush that flooded her face. “Please don’t,” she said softly.
“Oh, pet,” he said just as softly. He leaned in close. “We haven’t even started.” He straightened. “Which choice will you make? One or two?”
The inflection in his tone hadn’t changed from intimate, yet conversational. No one would be the wiser if they were overheard. It was one of his hidden talents. He gave nothing away in his words. It was always in his eyes. His stance remained casual, relaxed. But the gray eyes that occasionally scanned the pub behind her? They told her everything.
He was impatient, but not angry. Curious, but unwilling to push too hard. He’d wait for her decision and accept whatever it turned out to be.
Truth be told, now that he was in front of her, her interest in the small gathering of colleagues had again waned. She wouldn’t be able to concentrate on having fun or on any of them. Her mental focus would be on Harry. Always on Harry.
“I’ll beg off sitting with them, but we’ll stay, grab a booth and talk a bit. That’s all I’m offering.”
His gaze met hers. He didn’t blink, just stared until she fidgeted from one foot to the other. He smiled at the moment.
Damn him.
“I accept.”
Good.”
“For now.”
Always had to have the last word. For some reason, she found comfort in the familiarity.
She nodded, understanding there was no use in arguing.
She took off her coat under his unwavering scrutiny. She didn’t want to care what he thought when he looked at her, but she did. Did he really like her hair shorter? Did he like the minimal make-up? What about the jeans and boots?
She’d lost a little weight in the beginning, but had gained it back along with a bit more as she’d settled into her new, albeit temporary life.
Did he find that appealing, too? He’d never had less than admiration for her curves. Did he still?
How important was any of that to her now? She didn’t want to know.
* * * * *
Harry held his smile in when Bella turned on her chunky boot heels and weaved her way through the crowded bar. He stayed close, at least within touching distance. There wasn’t anyone who was going to get between him and his wife. Not now. Not again.
Not even her.
She looked good. Actually, she looked great. Better than he’d hoped for.
She was a strong woman, his Bella. The love of his life, the one who submitted to him, the one he’d pushed to her limits.
The one he’d pushed away.
She was the one who’d paid the biggest and hardest price for his ego and their pleasure.
He’d packed her up and put her on the plane, out of the spotlight, but she was the one who’d stayed gone, leaving him lost when the dust settled.
He wouldn’t leave Baltimore without her.
She stopped at a table in the center of the room and four pairs of eyes paused on her for a moment before focusing in on him.
