Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

ARCHIE

I couldn’t believe what I’d just read. How… how in the world had this happened?

Looking at Takeshi, I searched his face for some kind of reaction to me reading this. His letter had been written with so much emotion, I could feel the pain and worry in each word.

They blurred on the page when I looked back down. I wouldn’t let the tears fall. Not yet.

I had to be strong.

Strong enough to get the answers I needed. The answers Takeshi had prepared for me.

Blinking them away, I focused on each and every detail I could. My husband had wanted me to know the truth about his injuries. He’s gathered every scrap of information he could to answer the seemingly endless questions he knew I’d have.

After the letter, there were accounts from everyone at the NightShade office. Even the big guy, Tank, had a perspective.

Words jumped out at me as I read. Things like “devastating” and “unsure if he’ll recover” made me feel like I was living in the moments after he’d been shot.

It was obvious how distraught the men were. They were more than coworkers. They were a family unit.

I already knew that much. I’d seen it myself when I was at the office with them.

Surrounded by survivors of one of the most inhumane things out there—human trafficking—they moved like a well-oiled machine. A single glance had said more than words ever could.

After I made my way through the team’s reports, I found the police report. It didn’t have all that much more information in it. There was so much police jargon, I felt a little out of my depth. Thankfully, someone had made notes in the margins for things that weren’t so obvious.

The final pages contained all the medical information regarding Takeshi’s hospital stay and recovery. There were notes from doctors, specialists, and Fabian, his personal nurse, which made me feel a little better knowing he’d had someone to attend to him directly. I vaguely remembered a conversation with Sinclair about him, but I wasn’t sure.

I had nothing against hospitals. They saved lives day in and day out.

But somehow, I’d already grown attached to my new husband. And the thought of him being left alone in a room to wait for someone to come help him when he didn’t have a voice to cry out made me irrationally angry.

I pulled out my phone to search some of the medical terminology. With each webpage that loaded, I felt more furious than before.

How could this Brad person be so callous? Why did they take so much away from a man who didn’t deserve it? All so they could have someone who didn’t even want them in return.

It was bullshit.

I slammed the binder closed after reading the last page, then tossed it on the table. Holding it made me livid. Thinking of the details I’d read made me want to go on a rampage.

In general, I wasn’t a very violent person. The most I’d ever done was yell at a friend once, then I’d immediately apologized.

Sure, I got angry at times. But I rarely reacted like this.

Takeshi’s hand came down on my arm. It was then I realized I was digging my nails into my own skin.

He used his thumb to wipe away the tiny droplets of blood, then he laced our fingers together. The move kept me from causing any more damage. It also managed to calm the rage I’d felt only moments before.

“I’m sorry,” I said hoarsely.

Takeshi tilted his head, the question in his gaze. “Why?”

“Because you didn’t deserve this. None of it is fair. You were trying to protect him. And now…” My words cut off as I stared into his eyes.

There was a glint in them that spoke of amusement. Not at me though. Somehow, without him needing to tell me, I knew the look was about my indignation over everything.

He grabbed his phone, then typed across the screen. I watched him, eager to see what he had to say. I couldn’t even begin to guess, my emotions too all over the place to make any sense.

I hadn’t ever been this unbalanced.

From the high of getting married and sharing an amazing kiss with a gorgeous man to the low of realizing so much had been stolen from him before we’d even met.

My job is in security. Protection details mean we do what is necessary to protect the client. Sinclair wasn’t responsible for what happened, nor could he (or anyone else) have prevented it.

I frowned at his phone. “It’s still not ok. Knowing you suffered makes me want to revive Brad from the dead just so I could have a go at him.”

Takeshi’s shoulders shook with a silent laugh. He started typing, but somehow, I knew what he’d ask before he even finished.

“I don’t know how to shoot in case you’re wondering. But I think it wouldn’t matter in this case. That asshole would have been pig food if I’d had a chance at him.”

Takeshi eased his phone down at my growly tone. His hands moved to rest against my jaw, holding me in place as he examined me.

I’m not sure what he saw. Maybe the anger. Or maybe the fear for what he’d gone through alone.

Whatever it was, it changed the somber look he had into one of heat and desire. His lips slotted over mine in the next second, stealing my breath while simultaneously setting me ablaze.

The kiss was gentle, neither of us pushing for more. Just a gentle press of lips. A tease, if you will.

And then his tongue ran against the seam of mine, so quickly I almost missed it. I opened for him immediately, the need for more urging me forward.

My husband wasted no time exploring me further. His hands shifted, moving to tug me up and onto his lap. One locked around my waist, the other behind my head.

I gripped his shoulders when he situated me over him. They steadied me enough to find my balance again.

Only, that didn’t last long either.

Because despite not being able to speak or make a sound, I could still feel the way he responded under me. I felt the hard ridge of his erection rubbing against mine. Felt the grip he kept on me, like he was afraid to let me go. Felt the passion in his kiss, as if he thought he’d never get another chance.

Fuck that.

I’d be kissing him every chance I got.

We might have entered this thing as a way to help us both, but there was no denying how we felt. Our chemistry proved as much. I could only imagine what it would be like to be under his watchful eyes in bed. I thought of how he’d explore my body, his attention homed in on every detail.

That thought was what sent me over the edge.

I came before I could even realize what was about to happen.

My mouth opened in a gasp as my body shook above him. I jerked with each spurt of cum into my pants, not stopping until I felt completely destroyed from the release.

Takeshi stared me down, his face carefully blank. He kept me close, then leaned over for his phone.

Did you just come from kissing me?

I bit my lip, nodding to the question. “I… didn’t mean to. It just happened.”

Normally, I’d have said sorry or some other apologetic term. Only, I wasn’t sorry. Not in the slightest.

I was relaxed. I felt euphoric.

There was no apologizing for what our bodies had done.

You were unexpected.

His next message had me tilting my head like he normally did. “Is that a bad thing?”

He immediately shook his head.

“So it’s a good thing?” I teased.

That got me a nod.

I laughed, then laid my head on his shoulder. It made me curl in his lap in a way that might have seemed odd given we were strangers not all that long ago.

Except now he was my husband.

Husband.

I still loved that word. Hearing it. Thinking it. Soon I’d probably have to write it too.

I couldn’t wait.

Takeshi wrapped his arms around me, one hand keeping me close as the other stroked along my spine. I fell asleep in a matter of minutes.

When I woke sometime later, it was to find we weren’t on the couch anymore. Instead, we were in a bed.

My bed? I looked around. No, not mine.

This room had more of a personal touch than mine had. And the scent of it. I recognized it instantly as Takeshi’s. The smell of rain and cedarwood blended so perfectly. I’d forever think of him each time I came across it.

The spot beside me was empty, though it was still warm. It made me wonder where my husband had run off to. And also, how long we had been in this bed together.

Before I could let myself fall down a rabbit hole of thought, I was greeted by the sight of a half-naked Takeshi stepping out of the bathroom. He was in a pair of tight boxer briefs and nothing else.

My eyes trailed from his feet all the way up his legs and torso, over the bandaged area I knew his wound sat, until I met his eyes. The look he gave me had my cock rising to attention again.

I looked down to find I was still in the clothes I had on earlier. I winced as I thought of the mess I’d made in my pants. It would not be fun to clean all that up.

Takeshi smirked at me, then walked over to his phone. He sat beside me as he typed out a message.

I would have taken you into the shower, but you were out of it. You seemed like you needed the rest.

“Probably. It’s been a bit stressful with the whole job search and then getting fired. Plus the wedding.” At his quirked brow, I rushed to add, “Not because I didn’t want to or anything. It’s just a big deal, and I was nervous. Shutting up now.”

I got to witness another of his silent laughs, which made me smile despite the embarrassing word vomit I just let out. Takeshi reached out, his finger trailing over the curve of my lips. I shivered at the touch, curious to know what he was thinking.

“I need to shower and change,” I said after a few intense seconds of staring at one another.

He dipped his head, then stood. His hand reached out to me. I took it easily, then followed him into his bathroom.

It was still steamy from the shower he’d taken, the warmth engulfing me and loosening my muscles. At the oversized stall, he started up the water and motioned for me to go on in. Then he pointed at himself and waved out the door.

I caught the basic gist. He’d leave me to shower. I think he was also implying he’d get some clothes for us both. That wasn’t really any of my concern. I could always just wrap a towel around my waist until I made it down the hall to my room.

My room.

Huh. It didn’t feel like that anymore for some reason. Probably because the kiss we shared on the couch felt like starting a new level to this relationship. Add in the fact he had all the details of his injury prepared for me, and that was another step toward deeper feelings.

If I wasn’t careful, I’d fall in love with my husband.

Would that be so bad though?

I didn’t have a clue.

Everyone made it seem like this was going to be a temporary solution to our problems. I was told we didn’t have to stay married forever. Just long enough for me to get to stay here and for Takeshi to learn sign language with his team. After that I’d be free to do as I pleased.

But what if what I wanted was to keep my husband? Would that be allowed?