“He’s so awesome,” Darcy said. “Why do you hate him?”
“Her,” I corrected. “She’s female.”
“She’s the best.” Darcy smooched her head like she was a cuddly kitten, and I cringed, waiting for the snake to rebuke with fangs.
She didn’t, docile as ever.
I inched into the room, giving Darcy and Baby a wide berth, and deposited the pizza on the counter. My boyfriend hadn’t moved, spoken, or acknowledged our arrival at all. Seeing a six-and-a-half-foot, full-grown tank of a man sprawled on the floor, petting his dog, who lay belly-up against his side, was a testament to how Diem was feeling.
Darcy deposited himself on the couch, cooing at Baby, pizza long forgotten.
Determining I was fairly safe with Darcy holding the snake, I joined Diem. The floor was unforgiving and cold—and needed to be swept—but I lay and studied his face, reading the distant expression behind his stormy gray eyes.
He glanced from the dog, making brief contact and offering a weak smile.
“You okay, Guns?”
He grunted and nodded.
“Not talking? Are you mad?”
“No.” A pause. “I don’t like it when you don’t answer my calls or texts.”
“I know.”
“I worry about you.”
“I know.”
“It usually means you’re up to no good.”
I bit back a grin. “You know me too well.”
He arched a brow, a shadow of a smile curling his lips. “So what were you doing?”
“Surveillance.”
Diem winced. “And?”
“Don’t worry. Having Darcy present kept me in line.”
I stroked my fingers through Diem’s thick mop of hair and leaned in for a kiss. For as troubled as he seemed, he didn’t taste of alcohol or cigarettes. I was mildly shocked but also relieved.
“We got pizza. Come eat, and I’ll fill you in.”
He hummed, but as I disengaged, he caught my wrist and dragged me back against his mouth. For all Diem struggled to connect at thebeginning of our relationship, he’d become extremely affectionate and didn’t care who witnessed it.
Leroy Krause didn’t count. That man still had a hold on his son, and if I knew how to sever it, I would.
I kissed Diem again and didn’t argue when he laced his tongue with mine, delving deeper into my mouth. I didn’t complain when he growled and moved closer, or when Echo decided she didn’t like being smooshed between us and left.
I didn’t protest when a soft moan of pleasure passed from his mouth into mine. But when he pressed his hand to my crotch and stroked my growing erection, I chuckled and broke free, stilling his wrist.
“As wonderful as that is, you’d better not. You’ll upset the child.”
“The child is going to vomit all over the couch,” Darcy announced.
Diem eyed the brat and sighed, a sound laced with frustration as he released my cock.
