Graham had never vocalized that he wanted Colin to stop what he did for a living. Hearing it took a bit of the angry wind out of Colin’s sails.
Angela gripped his shirt. “Swear to me. Say you’ll never go back there. Swear you’ll never try to get revenge.” When he said nothing, she began to punch his chest with fury. “Swear it!”
Colin wouldn’t lie to her. From what he knew of Marco, he believed what Angela said was true, but it didn’t make him feel any better. Still, he took her hands firmly and made the most difficult promise of his life.
“I won’t go back. I swear it.”
She collapsed into him, and even Graham let his head fall back and his eyes close, as if consoled by the sound of his brother’s promise.
It was hard to imagine a life that didn’t consist of hunting down criminals and trying to erase them. He’d done a lot, but it didn’t feel like enough. It was never enough. He wanted to destroy them all, burn the entire underworld of slavery, but that’s not what Angela or Graham would have him do. They were all he had. They were his life now. Could he dedicate himself solely to keeping them safe and happy?
Staring down at Angela’s sweet, tear stained face, and the familiar slope of his little brother’s nose, the answer was clear.
Yes. Yes, he could make a life out of being there for them. A life fueled by love instead of hate—hope instead of fear. He would do that for them. For himself. He would attempt to rebuild for them a tiny piece of what’d been stolen.
At the airport Abernathy flashed a badge and sped to the terminals, slamming on the brakes next to the private jet.
“Get in touch someday when you’re settled,” Abernathy said, turning to hold out his hand.
Colin slapped his hand into the older gentleman’s and shook it, holding on longer than normal as they spoke many thanks through their eyes. Abernathy nodded and pulled his hand away.
“Go, and try to find yourself some happiness, aye? Off with ya.”
They slid out of the car and up the steps of the plane.
Colin allowed himself one last look over the Scottish landscape before saying good-bye to his homeland, likely forever.
People in our Russian community called us Nico and Eliska, but at home we were still Colin and Angela. Graham left us two years ago for New York City to chase his dreams, something that made Colin and I happy despite missing him. He left the day after Colin became my husband.
The doves on the fire escape outside our apartment window were loud that early morning. The sun was barely awake. When I stirred, Colin’s hand went around my waist, spooning me from behind and pressing his morning erection against my ass. His warm, steady breaths at the back of my neck signaled he was still half asleep.
He usually woke earlier than me to work out, so we didn’t often get to have morning sex. I fully planned to take advantage of it now.
I slid my underwear down, letting my backside wiggle against him. He pushed my hair aside and kissed the back of my neck.
“Is there something you’d like to ask for, my little lassie?”
“Please, Mr. Douglas, may I touch you?”
“Mm, aye, you may. Such a good little girl.”
I reached behind me and encircled his cock, both of us moaning as I arched my back and led him inside me. Sex was the only time I could get away with calling him Mr. Douglas. It no longer carried the weight of his time as a pseudo patron. We’d taken back the power of those words. When he owned me now, it was for our pleasure. It was a relationship born of trust.
We rocked against each other, his grip on my hip helping him to push deeper. I squirmed, reaching back over my head to feel the familiar fuzz of his head as my ass circled, driving him crazy.
“You are so fucking incredible,” he said into my neck. His hand left my hip, letting me control the pace of the thrusts, and he reached up to palm my swollen breast, squeezing with enough pressure to make me cry out. Then his hand slid down between my thighs and gently pinched my clit. I gasped and pressed my hand over his, making him press harder.
As he worked me faster, both with his hand and from behind I felt an orgasm building. The arm underneath him reached up and his hands tangled in my hair, gripping enough to make me gasp as he pulled back to run his scruff across my jaw. I shouted the pleasure of my release loud enough for the neighbors to hear, just the way he liked. He followed right behind me, coming deep inside me and practically growling, just the way I liked.
Afterward we lay there coming down together, him still inside me.
“Well, good morning,” he purred against my shoulder.
I smiled. His hand slid up and stopped on my rounded belly, fingers splaying across my taut skin. I placed my hand on top of his.