“But Andros will be there?”
“Patrick thinks he will. There’s some business—not involving us—that Andros and Sterling are negotiating.”
Her head moved from side to side, her long dark hair following suit upon her shoulders and down her back. “I don’t like that.”
“It’s not our worry.”
Ruby forced a grin. “Mom, win.”
“I plan on it.”
A few minutes later while in the bathroom with the tub water running, I stripped from the clothes I’d worn upstairs for dinner. With a towel wrapped around me, I added lavender bath salts to the water as the sweet aroma filled the bathroom. Piling my hair in a messy bun, I readied myself for a quick, warm bath. After testing the water, I dropped the soft towel near the tub and stepped in. As I settled, the water rose to my chest, covering my skin in the silky lavender-scented liquid.
Just as I was about to close my eyes, the door to the bathroom opened and a smile came to my lips. “I thought you would be on 2 longer.”
“I told the others to get over it. I was spending the evening with my wife.”
My gaze narrowed. “You did not.”
“Not in so many words.”
Patrick’s suit coat from earlier was gone as were his cuff links. His shirt sleeves were rolled to his elbows and his pants, belt, and shoes were in place.
He had my attention as he unbuttoned the shirt, button by button, exposing his toned wide chest. Peeling it from his arms and dropping it to the floor, he came closer.
Looking at his slacks, I grinned. “You’re overdressed if you’re joining me.”
Testing the water with the tips of his fingers, he knelt on the towel I’d dropped.
The aroma of his cologne mingled with the lavender as he leaned over the tub and our lips met. The heat intensified, not from the water but from this man’s actions. As his mouth unapologetically claimed mine and our tongues danced, one of his hands steadied my neck as his other large hand roamed.
Under the water, his touch moved, caressing my breasts until my nipples hardened. Lower he roved, as his fingers moved over my skin until they found my core.
Without words, I moved my legs, granting him access as his lips and tongue continued their claim. I gasped for breath as one finger and then two filled me. In and out he worked me, taking painstaking time and pleasure as his thumb also found my clit.
I was lost to his touch as the bathroom filled with my moans and whimpers.
For only a moment, I considered protesting, to say I wanted to pleasure him as well, but words were lost as he brought me to climax. My muscles tightened as my fingers grasped the tub’s edge, and I stretched my legs as my inner walls contracted.
“That’s it, Maddie. Let go.”
It was what I was doing, what I could do with Patrick.
I could let go, let the worries and concerns float away like the lavender scent from the bath. Wave after wave fluttered through me until as limp as the washcloth, I managed to smile and reach for his hand.
“You should take off the rest of those clothes,” I said, eyeing his defined muscles. “And join me.”
“I would.” His smile grew and blue eyes shone. “Except there’s something in my pocket I want to be sure not to lose.”
Still kneeling beside the tub, Patrick pulled a velvet box from his pocket.
My eyes grew wide. “What did you do?”
“I hope you like it.”
The water sloshed as I sat forward and tears came to my eyes. “Is it…?”
“Seventeen years overdue?” he said, finishing my sentence. “Yes, Maddie girl, it is, and if you’ll forgive me for the delay...” He reached for my cheeks and wiped away a tear. “I would be honored to have you wear my ring.”
He opened the top, pulling it back to reveal a stunning ring wedged inside between the folds of soft satin.
I stared at the most beautiful wedding set I’d ever seen, one with a large round center diamond. The wedding band wrapped around with alternating diamonds and rubies.
Words were lost as I stared, unable to move.
Patrick lifted both rings from the box, holding them between his thumb and first finger. The two rings stayed intertwined. “I had them soldered. They can’t come apart. Just like us. Never again.”
“Oh, Patrick, they’re beautiful.”
His blue gaze met mine. “And you’ll wear them?”
“Every day for the rest of my life.”
He slid the rings over my fourth finger of my left hand. Unlike the ring from Marion, this one fit perfectly. He again reached into the pocket of his trousers. This time, there was no box, only a large titanium circle.
My heart raced within my chest. “You’ll wear a ring too?”
“Of course. I said I would. I want the world to know that my heart is taken.” Instead of putting it on, Patrick handed the large ring my direction.
As he’d done for me, I placed it on his fourth finger on his left hand. For a moment, I stared at both of our hands. Such as a picture from a wedding album, the rings shone. I looked back up at my husband, at his handsome face. Yes, we’d both aged, but as much as we’d changed, he made me feel the emotions of new and wondrous love, the rapid heart rate, clammy palms, and overwhelming wonder.
My lips pushed my cheeks higher as my smile consumed my face. “It seems too good to be true.” I looked again at the ring upon my finger and back to his blue orbs. “I can’t believe you bought these.”
“It’s just one thing on my list of things you deserve, things we missed, and things we’ll make right.” Standing, Patrick reached for his belt. “If that invitation still stands, my pockets are empty,” he said with a grin.
Shaking my head, I lifted my hand to him. “I’ve had enough of the bath.” He took my hand as I stood within the large tub. “Take me to bed, Mr. Kelly.”
“I hope you’re not tired.”
“Sleeping wasn’t my intention.” With my hand in his, I stepped from the tub. The silky water slid over my skin to the towel below. My gaze went to my left hand. “I’m speechless.”
He reached for another towel and wrapped it around me. “That’s all right. I wasn’t planning on talking.” In one swoop, Patrick had me in his strong arms and cradled against his bare chest.
After laying me upon the bed, Patrick kicked off his shoes and loosened his belt. Soon he was dressed the same as I—undressed. He began to climb into the bed when I stopped him.
“Patrick, will you do one thing first?”
He stopped. “Anything.”
“Turn off the lights.”
“Are you sure?”
I looked from the ring to his blue gaze, taking in his handsome fit physique and nodded. “I’m sure.”
Patrick
Over the last few days, as he said he would, Sparrow reached out to the leader of the New Orleans underworld, kingpin to kingpin. It wasn’t like the other man’s name was listed on Whitepages dot com, but when someone with Sparrow’s clout wants to talk, most people cooperate. Thankfully, he had. After some negotiations, we had not only his permission for our meeting with Ivanov but the support of his men if needed.