Page 132 of Paper Coffins
“You can go to bed. I’ve got it from here.”
Giving me a small nod, he glances at Natalia before looking back at me. “Did you get him?”
“You knew I went for Vinnie?”
“Course I did.”
“He’s getting acquainted now. I think you’ll like him.”
“It took me a moment to place him, but I have met him before. He let me into her place a few weeks back. Would’ve broken me in half if Natalia had ordered it.”
I laugh my agreement but keep my eyes on Natalia.
“How’s it been?”
“Quiet,” he admits and nods to the bed. “She wore herself out.”
I look at the mess on the floor and frown. “So I can see.”
“She thought you left because you didn’t believe her.”
That was a risk I had to take. I left in a flurry of madness, and it wasn’t until I was too far gone that I realised I couldn’t turn back. I can only ask for forgiveness when I make a start on the things that need my attention.
“I did think that, but I had things to do. Things that needed addressing.”
Standing up, he tosses the blanket aside and sighs before he whispers, “Where do we go from here, Beck? Everything’s a fucking mess.”
“We’ll deal with it in the morning.”
Nicolas always maintained that any business was best dealt with in the cold light of a new day and never in the dead of the night. That was only good for covering shit up, not bringing it to light, after all.
“I guess I’ll leave you to it.”
He leaves quickly, pulling the door to as I unbutton my shirt a bit. Crawling onto the bed, I occupy the side Natalia’s facing. Reaching out, I start to stroke her face, pushing the few wayward curls away from her cheek, hoping it’ll do enough to rouse her.
“Hey, darling girl.”
She reacts to the feel of my hand on her cheek but doesn’t yet open her eyes. The way her breathing changes tells me she’s awake, but not quite.
“You left.”
The thickness of sleep in her voice is the same sexiness it used to be, and I grin, feeling a real slice of our past is here. After all of our intimate moments, this one feels the most normal.
“I know. I’ll apologise later for that, but I think telling you that Vinnie is here will more than make up for that transgression.”
She opens one eye. “In one piece?”
“Yes. In one piece. Have you seen the size of him?”
“It’s why I liked him,” she admits, grinning wickedly as she closes her eyes sleepily. “Little me. Big him. What a duo.”
I can’t resist the bubble of laughter that comes from me. She’s right. I can imagine he protects her very easily.When she lets him.
“Never slept with him. If you’re worried.”
“Actually,” I start, reaching out to push some hair back. “I’m not.”
She forces herself awake a bit more, shifting ever so slightly to watch me. She does very little to attempt to hide her suspicion on that front.