This had got so deep under his skin, he’d eventually talked about it with Tate, considering Laurie bore her own scar after being stuck by a serial killer and Tate had to see that shit every day. Tate had words of wisdom, they helped but not enough.
So, in the end, he had to suck it up and remind himself she was in their room, their bed, their daughters down the hall and now his, hope to God, son in her belly. She’d endured a nightmare and killed a man so she could end up breathing and save him from the lonely, lost life Tuku had led.
And he absolutely could live with that.
But he wished like fuck one of the many times he swept his thumb along that scar, when he was done, he’d make a miracle and it would go away.
So far this had not happened but he didn’t stop trying.
He made it to the end of the bed and put his hands to his hips. She pushed forward and crawled on all fours to him. His cock started getting hard watching her and kept doing it when she made it to him, got up on her knees and slid her hands up his chest as she pressed close to him.
“Nic already gave me the time off,” she told him.
“I’m thinkin’ you chattin’ with Sam behind my back is somethin’ I should be pissed about.”
Her head tipped to the side and her lips twitched. “Why?”
“Uh… Lex, you and Sam are playin’ me,” he informed her.
“Right, so you can beat the pants off stodgy old farts that Sam heard saying the n-word,” she returned. “It’s worth it.”
And there it was. It was gone. Any wound he left after tearing her apart five years ago hadn’t just healed over. It was gone. He knew it because she didn’t blink before playing him. No uncertainty. She knew he’d do nothing, not one thing, to harm what they had.
But fuck, assholes said that shit all the time.
“When did I become a crusader for black justice?” he asked.
“You’re not. Sam is. It’s just that, this time, Mr. Humongo is his wing-man.”
He stared down at his woman and shook his head because, serious as fuck, she was a goof.
She pressed closer and coaxed in a soft voice, “Come on, honey. Sam says his house is right on the ocean. The girls’ll love the beach.”
The beach.
Hawaii had beaches.
“I’ll do it,” he stated and watched his wife smile. Then he asked, “Can you tell me why you keep puttin’ clothes on before you go to bed?”
“It’s November. It’s cold.”
Not in the house it wasn’t. He had three girls to look after. He never jacked down the heat. He wanted them to be comfortable at all times so he saw to that, including paying a whack on heating their huge, fucking house. Something else he spent a whack on to keep them comfortable.
“Lex, fuck you before we go to sleep,” Ty pointed out. “You puttin’ on pajamas is a ridiculous obstacle.”
She pressed closer and her hands slid down and around his back to hold him tight.
“I like the ways you take them off,” she whispered.
“That’s good, mama, but it’s me who’s gotta take them off.”
She pulled back and asked, “Is it that much of a pain in the ass?”
Ty moved and he did this quickly and efficiently and in less than thirty seconds his wife was on her ass and naked in their bed.
Then he answered, “No.”
She grinned. Then she found her knees again. Then she lunged.
Fuck, his woman was a wildcat.
He let her pull him to the bed not about to complain mostly because, seeing his wife naked in their bed, his cock was no longer getting hard.
It was there.
*
“Good day,” she whispered into his chest.
Ty didn’t reply but she was wrong. It wasn’t good. It was fantastic.
“Love the way Irv is with the girls, especially Lell,” she went on.
Ty again didn’t reply but he did too. His father and his girl had a bond, thick as thieves. Irv loved Vivie but he had a connection with Lell, one she’d cherish for always and never forget, even years after he was gone. Ty did not have that. Neither did Lexie. But his daughter would.
And he liked that.
His relationship with his father had obviously improved significantly after his Dad saved Lexie’s life at the same time nearly losing his and, with Irv now off the booze entirely, it kept getting better.
His Mom never entered their lives, not anymore. She’d had a variety of run-ins with Lexie in town and at the house that set Lex to throwing some serious sass and bought his mother a visit from her son communicating her ban. His father might catch it when he got home after a visit but he never said. Ty didn’t ask. But when Irv came over, which was frequently, he never acted like he did, so it was likely he hid it. It was a little late for Irv Walker to shield the ones he loved but it was better late than never.
Ty liked that too.
Lex gave his gut a squeeze and muttered, “’Night, baby.”
“’Night, mama.”
She sighed.
Five minutes later he took her weight.
Five minutes after that, she rolled away.
When she did, he rolled into her, curled his arm around her belly that was carrying, hope to God, his son and pulled her close.