Emma’s lips turned into a pout and I winked at her. “Let’s go home, love.”
Chapter 18
Emma
I smiled as the car bounced over the familiar drive, nearly bouncing out of my seat with anticipation. We were finally back in Alaska after two weeks of being in the city, helping my mom navigate through the legal aspects of her life now that my father was a criminal, and cleaning out my apartment. Some of the things I brought with me, but most of it I donated, realizing I could live without it.
That, and my husband had promised me an entirely new wardrobe full of clothes that I wanted this time, as long as he got to pick out the lingerie.
Hey, I wasn’t going to complain.
Now that we were back home, I had begged Artem to let me see Noah and Gertie first before we went to the mansion, wanting to make sure that the couple was still alive and well. A few phone calls didn’t amount to seeing them in person and I was dying to do so.
He had relented, as he did most of the time, and now, we were almost to the farmhouse. “I think he will shoot me at first sight,” Artem grumbled as the car pulled up to the front door.
“No, he won’t,” I laughed, waving frantically at Gertie, who was waiting by her husband on the front porch. “He knows how much I love you.”
Artem grabbed my hand before I had a chance to exit, his thumb rubbing over mine. “You know I love you.”
I rolled my eyes at him. Ever since the debacle with my brother, Artem felt the need to confirm that I was aware of his love for me and that I loved him more than normal. This was new ground for us, new territory for the rest of our lives, but I wasn’t going anywhere. Leaning in, I brushed my lips over his, hearing his growl in response. “I know.”
His other hand cupped my cheek roughly, brushing his thumb over my skin. “I won’t ever stop telling you, Emma. I know I’ve fucked up, and whoever thought I deserved you probably didn’t think I would be keeping you this long.”
Artem’s words tore at my heart. It was hard for him to say these things, I knew that, so I treasured them all when he did say them. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything.”
I pressed my hand to his chest, right over his heart. “If you could do it all over again, would you?” I knew that he had major regrets about taking me in the manner that he did, and though the outcome had worked out, I often wondered if he would have done it the same way.
His jaw worked. “No,” he said softly, dropping his hand. “What I would have done differently is actually approach you on one of those days where the sun was shining, and you were having your coffee. I would have said something smart, something that would have made you laugh, and I would have known then that I couldn’t live without you.” Artem raised his eyes to mine, a hint of laughter in their depths. “And then I would have taken you out on a proper date and wooed the panties off you.”
I burst into laughter before launching myself at him. “You are far too much, husband. Far too much.”
He held me close, pressing a kiss to my neck. “Tell me I wouldn’t have.”
“No, you probably would have,” I replied, resting my head on his shoulder. “But I have to say I prefer the way you did it much better.” Well, minus the attack from Yuri, but that was my fault, not Artem’s.
He let out a heavy breath. “Not me. I really would have enjoyed the chase, Emma.”
Pulling away from him, I gave him a saucy smile. “Who says that the chase is over?”
His grin turned feral, but I was already out of the car and heading to Gertie, who threw her arms around me the moment I reached her. “Oh, my dearie! I can’t believe it’s you!”
“It is,” I told her, returning her hug. “You look well!”
“If it isn’t the wayward wife,” Noah drawled as he came in for a hug too. “I miss our chess nights, Emma.”
I breathed in the scent that always clung to him, firewood and his pipe. “I miss you too, Noah. You are looking improved.”
He pulled back, scoffing as he always did. “They weren’t gonna take me down. I’ve been through two wars. It would take a hell of a lot more than that to kill me.”
I gave him a smile before looking at Artem, who was waiting at the bottom of the steps. “This is my husband, my Artem.”
Gertie kept her smile, but Noah frowned as Artem came to my side, sliding his arm around my waist. “Nice to meet you. Emma talks a lot about you both.”
“You the fellow that found me?”
I felt Artem stiffen beside me, even though his expression never changed. He had the greatest poker face sometimes, and I had lost many a game of strip poker against him.
Not that I minded so terribly.
“Yes, I am.”
Noah stuck out his hand begrudgingly. “Then I thank you for bringing me back home to my Gertie.”
Artem took his hand and shook it, bringing tears to my eyes. I knew that Noah wouldn’t have any hard feelings against Artem, especially since he hadn’t been directly related in the kidnapping, but it was good to see that my assumptions were correct.
“Well, don’t just stand there!” Gertie exclaimed. “Come on in the house. I have coffee brewing.”
I sat at Gertie’s kitchen table with her as Noah pulled Artem away to look at his gun collection, my husband looking shocked that the older man had the number of guns he was claiming. This was all new to Artem too, but I was so proud of him for not pushing back, for being, well, normal. Just because he was a boss didn’t mean he wasn’t a man first, and these interactions were good for him to remind of that small detail.
“So, tell me. How did you get him to worship you like that?”
I smiled, the mug warm in my hands. “He doesn’t worship me.”
Gertie laughed. “Honey, that man would kiss the ground you walk on if you told him to. I’ve never seen anyone look at another human being the way he looks at you. You’ve done a number on him.”
“He’s done a number on me,” I added, warming to the fact that Artem wasn’t hiding his love for me from others. “Oh, Gertie, I love him more than I love myself some days.”
She chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “I know how you feel. When my Noah went missing, I felt like my arm had been cut off. That man will drive me to drink some days, but he also makes me feel like nothing can touch us when we are together.”
It was the same way I felt about Artem. “How do you stand being apart?”
“It’s good for you to be apart some,” she replied, patting my arm. “You need time to not forget who you are, Emma. That man of yours, he loves you. I can see it in his eyes, but everyone needs to be themselves first and foremost.”