“Then, husband—”
Tib relaxed. She got it, as she always seemed to understand him. Her soft words rolled over him, giving him ease.
“Will you hold me while I rest?” she asked.
He kissed her pretty lips, giving her his promise, the same as she’d silently given him hers. “Always.”
She’d forgiven him, just like that. His heart swelled up more than his dick had earlier. When this was through…
When this was through—
Tiberius looked down at her, at her closed eyes and her slowing breaths. He’d give her all of him. She deserved to have his exclusivity of mind and heart, and she’d proven it yet again.
When this was through…
It played like a mantra in his head. Tiberius closed his eyes again, resting also, holding his wife close to his side. Maybe he’d make her that in truth.
It wouldn’t be the worst thing he’d ever done.
Chapter 5
Tiberius
The boy was still out there when Tib opened his eyes. He could see him from the small octagon-shaped window set high on the wall in the bedroom alcove. The boy had his back against a tree, but his face and scrawny body was directed toward their borrowed house. The teenager wasn’t even trying to hide his fascination with them.
Tib looked over to Sophie. She was still asleep, her body curled up tight next to him. He eased out from underneath her and went to the living room windows, pointedly looking out. His fierce gaze met the scared look of the teenager, thinking the boy would run away.
He didn’t.
Cursing under his breath, Tiberius yanked on his clothes and strapped on his weapons. He heard Sophie stirring, and she pulled open the curtain. He halted her with a stern look.
“Don’t come out yet.”
She paused, but obeyed. He gathered her clothing and carried it over to her, giving her a warm but thorough kiss. She blushed, kissing him back with a longing which made him want to dive back into the bed and give conquest to all of his darkest lusts and heartfelt whims.
“Get dressed before you step out here,” he ordered instead. “That brat is still outside.”
She tugged on her garments, trying to peer over his shoulder. “Still?”
Her body, with the fleshy, dimpled thighs and roundness of hip, was distracting him. Or rather, distracting his cock. He turned away so he wouldn’t push her back down onto the mattress, undress her again and thrust his hardened flesh into her waiting warmth. He thought it once, twice, too many times in the quick moments it took her to dress. He heaved a heavy sigh, trying to ignore her and his base desires. He was failing miserably.
“Yeah,” he answered. “I’m going to go out and see what I can find out.”
She grinned. “You mean scare the living daylights out of him.”
He smacked his lips loudly to her cheek. “Darling… if I wanted to scare him, I’d only have to show him my weapon.”
She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “You can show me your weapon anytime you like. I promise to enjoy it.”
He threw back his head, laughing. “Sophie, goddamn, woman. You’ll be the death of me.”
Stepping out into the main room after him, she jumped onto his back, wrapping her legs about his waist and began to tease her lips over his earlobe. Tib groaned.
She whispered sweetly, a giggle in her voice, “You were the one who said it, not me. I’m only willing to take you up on the offer.”
He wanted her… so much. Sophie was; she was…
He couldn’t think beyond that. Tib’s mouth firmed decisively when he finally answered her.
“Okay, my little climbing girl.” She giggled at his slight joke, one so unlike him. He hid a wayward smile. “Take my hand and get down. Easy now.”
She stretched her hand out and took his, sliding her body as close to him as she could during her descent. Tiberius turned, and his face became stern. Hers followed with reciprocal seriousness.
“I don’t want you to step foot outside. Let me handle this.”
She nodded. He kissed her mouth quickly. He gave one last instruction.
“Lock yourself in.”
“Yes, sir.”
His heart warmed. He should tell her… what, exactly? That she was turning him upside down? That he’d never been so satisfied in his life? He couldn’t, so he stayed silent.
Stepping outside the tiny home, Tiberius waited until he heard the click of the bolt before he went around to the back of the house. The boy waited for him, his eyes still on the windows.
“See something you like?” Tiberius said, his voice full of threat. He didn’t want to make the boy run away, just in case he’d be a source of information, but he wanted the teenager to know he’d stepped on another man’s turf. In fact… his.
“Yeah,” the kid answered, his tone smart.
The boy kept his gaze focused. His hands were in his pockets, his lean face studying the wall of windows pensively. Tib came up beside him and looked in the direction where the boy stared. Yes, the teenager saw everything that happened in the living room, everything upon the divan. Damn it. The teenager had seen Sophie in all her sexual glory. Tib wanted to strangle the kid, and it was only because of Sophie and her tender feelings that he didn’t.
“Why are you here?” Tib asked bluntly.
The boy shrugged. “I like to watch.”
Tib’s hands clenched into fists. “A little young for that, don’t you think?”
The teenager scowled. “Nope. I’m nearly thirteen. And how else am I supposed to know?”
“Well, why don’t you walk the fuck into that damned town of yours and check it out. I’m sure you’d find it enlightening.”
The boy flushed. “I don’t like to see… them.”
Tiberius frowned, though he had a good guess of what the boy meant by his statement. He wanted to hear it, flat out, however. It stung better that way. He antagonized purposefully.
“You mean the damned fuckers who run the town?”
Shrugging, the boy gave another petulant glower. “You know. The other kids.”
He understood exactly what the little shitter meant. Tiberius just didn’t give a fuck, as it were, about this kid’s feelings. The boy had just been privy to the sort of intimacy Tib had never experienced his whole grown life, and yet this punk dared to tell him some kids in chains were too much for him to handle. He wanted to throttle the kid, and only the fact he was still a boy, held him back. Sharing Sophie with anyone felt invasive.
Defeated, because his jealousy had taken a rather possessive bent, Tiberius relaxed his threatening stance, still wanting to beat the kid to a bloody pulp, in spite of all his rationale. The boy grinned, unrepentantly watching him.
“Where are your parents?” Tiberius asked, chewing out the question.
The teenager shrugged. “My mom doesn’t give a shit about me. She does her thing. I do mine. Any questions?”
Tiberius hid a grin. He had to admire the spunk of the kid, who in spite of his bravado, held a shimmer of fear on his face and a quiver in his voice. He didn’t blame the boy.