“Fuck, querida, you’re going to kill me some day with that hungry little pussy of yours,” Skull whispers in my ear, his fingers combing through my hair which sticks to my neck.

“Definitely going to have to shower, if I can ever feel my legs again.”

Skull laughs and I realize I said that out loud. He rolls on his side and pulls me so I’m half-draped over him, our legs hanging off the end of the bed. I close my eyes as he holds me close, wishing we could stay like this and never leave this room.

“Does that mean quick and hard worked for you, mi cielo?”

“I’m not sure. I may need another example to be positive,” I mumble. Skull’s head goes back in laughter and happiness surrounds me. I wrap myself up in it, hugging him by clenching my body tight into him. I love that I make him laugh. I love that I can give him joy. It is joy too, because I hear it in the tone of his voice and see it in his face.

“You do realize, when all this has passed, I’m going to want a real marriage, Beth. I want you to belong to me in all ways. When I see you, there’s this inner voice inside of me that screams ‘Mine’! I want the world to know it.” He kisses the top of my head.

“You mean inner caveman. Are you going to have your name tattooed all over my body too?” I ask jokingly. Skull’s body tenses up and I manage to finally open my eyes to look at him. His eyes are dark with need. “Okay, see, I love you, and in my brain we’re already married in all the ways that count, but once this is done, if that’s what you want, sure.”

“And—”

“I’m allergic to pain,” I cut him off. “I’m small, not some big bad over-muscled biker who apparently loves needles. It’s a good look for you. I totally approve. But I had enough of needles when I was sick. There’ll be no tattoos on this body. No way, no how. No dice.”

“I’ll make you change your mind,” he says, and from the gleam in his eyes, he’s taking my declaration as a challenge.

“Yeah, good luck with that. People in Hell will be wearing snowshoes before it happens.”

“We’ll see.”

Crap.

“I need to go, sweetheart. Thanks to you seducing my poor abused dick, I’m running late.”

“When will I see you again?” I know that sounded needy, but I can’t stop it. Things are easier and I’m stronger when Skull is beside me.

“I’ll see if I can break away around dinner time to feed you.”

“When you say feed me, do you mean food or dick?”

“Jesus, I’ve created a monster.” He says, getting up and dressing. It makes me sad because a man like that should never have to put clothes on. He’s more beautiful than any museum statue.

“What? I was merely asking for clarification,” I grin, sitting up. I will admit I’m not covering up; I sit there naked with the cold air hitting my breasts, hoping he finds me irresistible enough to come shower with me. His fingers stop buttoning his jeans and I know a moment of victory—just before he dashes my hopes.

“Stop it, you little minx. I have to go to this meeting. Cover up those tits or I’ll bend you over my knee and smack your ass for teasing me.”

His words hit me and I feel a flutter deep inside. I don’t know if it’s from fear, or maybe want. I’ll decipher that later.

I grab the cover and pull it over me. “Spoil sport.”

Skull gives out a chuckle before pulling on his cut. “I’ll give you what you need later, mi cielo, I promise. I have to go now. My men are waiting on me.”

I stand up, letting the cover fall. I walk over to him and reach up, loosely wrapping my hands at the back of his neck and stretching against his body. His big hands rest on my ass and his head tilts down to look at me. There’s a big smile on his lips.

“I’ll let you go, but it should be noted that a husband should always shower with his wife in the mornings.”

“I must have missed that rule,” he says, bending down to kiss my eyelids, squeezing me tighter against him.

“It’s in the new husband rulebook, page ten.”

“Damn, I didn’t know there was a rulebook. I’ve always been the kind of man who goes against the rules, forging my own path,” he whispers, his voice dropping down as he kisses along the side of my neck. “I like to feel my way, you know? Explore, experiment, and conquer… That’s always been my motto.”

While he speaks, he nibbles on the skin of my neck, and his hands move inwards on my ass so that his fingers are skimming the valley between the cheeks. My pussy trembles and I have to wonder if he’s going to make me come again, even without really touching me. He’s that potent.

“Maybe we could throw away the rulebook,” I moan, tilting my head as his lips capture my earlobe and sucks it into his mouth. He bites down on it and the sting of pain causes my pussy to spasm. Was it just a few minutes ago I was completely worn out?

“Good plan, mi cielo,” he says, but his hand comes to my neck and he pulls away just a fraction to look into my eyes. “I have to go, esposa.”

“I know. I’m just going to miss you.”

“I feel the same. Te amo, sweet Beth.”

“Te amo,” I whisper before his mouth comes to mine. This kiss isn’t like one we’ve shared, at least in a long time. This one is sweet, gentle, and almost delicate. It makes me feel cherished.

When he pulls away, it physically hurts, and I do my best to beat down the panic that swamps me. It’s not logical, but I honestly don’t want to be away from him. I’m scared I’m going to lose him. I might be listening to Latch’s advice, but that doesn’t stop the fear. I think Skull sees it, or maybe he can sense it. I’m not sure. He looks like he’s about to say something when there’s a heavy banging on the door.

“Boss? You alive in there? We’re late.”

“Fuck,” he mumbles. “I got to go, querida.”

“Go. I’ll be here waiting, but please be safe.”

“Always. I have too much to lose now,” he says, kissing my forehead, then he pulls out of my arms. He reaches behind him and gets the t-shirt he had on yesterday and pulls it over my head. He fishes my locket out and lets it fall on top of the shirt between my breasts. I raise my eyebrow at him. “When I open that fucking door, Torch will do his best to look in here and the fucker is not seeing any of what is mine.”

“Yes sir, Captain Caveman.” I smile, wrapping my arms around my waist and mentally trying to ignore the desperation inside of me that makes me want to beg him to stay and not leave me.

“Damn straight, woman,” he agrees, turning away from me. A thought comes to me, and I can’t let him go without trying to warn him.

“Is Pistol going with you?” I ask, and when I see the questions flare in his eyes, I bite my lip.

It’s wrong, but I can’t tell him about my father. Not right now. If he knows, will that be the thing that makes him push me away forever? Or will he attack Roger… Redmond… and get himself killed?

“Si. Why do you ask, querida?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t trust him. Will you be extra careful around him?” That’s the best I can do to warn him without giving him the full truth. I feel like all I do is lie anymore.

He studies me for a moment. Finally, he says, “Always. We’ll talk this evening, mi cielo.”

Did I give too much away? He turns and opens the door to leave. I stand there watching because I can’t make myself look away.

“Fucking hell, boss. I thought you got lost.”

“Screw you. I was giving my wife a proper goodbye.”

“Your wife?” Torch says.

“Si. My wife. Let’s make sure you don’t forget that, fucker,” Skull grumbles before their voices completely disappear down the hall. My hand goes to the locket. I hold onto it. I just keep holding it.

That’s exactly what I’m doing when my cellphone that Skull gave me rings. Thinking he’s calling to tell me he misses me, I run to answer it like the crazy school girl I am and sometimes forget.

“Elizabeth, you are not here,” my father’s voice tells me at my giggled hello. And just like that, I’m no longer happy. I’m not even warm. I feel cold all the way through.

“How did you get this number?”

“That’s a stupid question,” he says, and it is. He could probably get it a million different ways, but I’m sure it was from Pistol.

“I’m hanging up now,” I tell him. My hands and voice shake, and fear flows through my system where only moments before there was hope.

“You were supposed to meet with me today.”

“I’m not coming. Skull and I were married last night. I’m going to have faith in my husband,” I tell him defiantly.

“Funny, I was told you said no.”

Acid churns in my stomach. My hand holds tight to the locket.

“Then your spies don’t obviously know everything,” I lie.

“I think they do. You turned Skull down because you know in your heart that you are going to give him up. Your decision is already made. You’re just having trouble coming to terms with it. Stop fighting it, sunshine. Let me save you. Let me save all of us.”

I hate him. I fucking hate him.

“Goodbye, father.”

“You’ll regret this, Beth. What’s about to happen is beyond my control. It could have been avoided if you had listened though. I’m sorry, sunshine. I really did try.”

Something in his voice terrifies me. That isn’t hard, considering how panicked I already am.

“Wait! What’s about to—?”

The call drops. Silence is the only answer I get.