The Bloke (Men Under Revue #1)

21. Colby

Chapter 21

Colby

My phone went off at four in the morning. I had a scheduled training session with Jaxon and Nick that I couldn’t afford to miss. It took everything in me to pull myself away from my wife and head to the showroom when all I wanted to do was stay wrapped around her, tangled in our bed sheets.

“Ay, there he is!” Nicks's bright, cheery voice rang across the room as I entered, spying him and Jaxon standing on the stage. “Got good news, mate.”

“And I hope I have even better news,” Jaxon added.

“So this isn’t an early rehearsal training?” Un-fucking-believable.

“Not exactly,” Jaxon started, crossing his arms over his chest as I approached the stage. I stopped once I reached the front, leaning the back of my thighs against one of the guest tables as I looked up at them. “First things first—”

“Right, your assignment regarding Fallout.” Nick cut in. “There is no need for you to patrol the alley any longer. The owner believes the situation has been resolved. No new incidents have occurred in the time you’ve been there.”

“Do they believe it was the man I stabbed that first night?” I asked, arching a brow in curiosity.

I told Nick and Jaxon what I had done, withholding the details involving Sienna and myself after the fact. I was still awaiting confirmation that I had the right guy and my job was officially done.

“As of right now, he was… Unless the problem presents itself again.” Nick shrugged, resting his hands behind his back.

“The next item we need to discuss is your wife…” Jaxon sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Her test is coming up soon.”

“Do you have a date set?” I rushed to ask, hoping to get some sort of timeline.

Since Jaxon first mentioned it, I’ve avoided telling Sienna, waiting for the right moment to present itself. But if she had to perform her test tomorrow, I was shit out of luck in that regard.

“Not yet, but within the month is a guarantee. Dustin doesn’t like loose ends hanging around for too long.”

“Then why do we need to discuss her now if a date isn’t even set yet?” I crossed my arms over my chest with a frown.

“There’s a Gala tomorrow evening. It’s hosted every five years, and all members of the Men Under Revue are required to attend. Those who are married will be accompanied by their wives or partners.” Great…

“Wives who have already passed their tests?” I inferred.

If that were the case, this could potentially be a good thing for her—for us.

“Exactly. This would be your best shot in preparing your wife for her test to come.” He paused. “Technically, she shouldn’t even be allowed to attend without passing it, but I’ve managed to pull some strings on your behalf… Dustin owes me a favor.” Jaxon smirked with smug satisfaction.

“And I’ve already confirmed with Dallas and Levi that they will be in attendance with their wives, Bria and Tessa. Those two ladies…” Nick blew out a low whistle. “They would be the first women I’d introduce your wife to without hesitation.”

“Why them?” I asked, arching a brow.

He sounded so sure of himself that there had to be something he wasn’t telling me. I knew Nick was friends with Dallas and Levi. He introduced me to them at the mansion for my ceremony five years ago, but I haven’t seen them since, mostly because I keep to myself unless otherwise needed by the brotherhood.

“Similar situations to yours.” Jaxon laughed in response. “You can ask them tomorrow night. They both have quite the stories to tell, especially Levi.”

“I’ll focus on my wife and her test instead.”

I didn’t want to sound ungrateful for Jaxon getting her into the Gala, but I wasn’t interested in Levi, Dallas, and their relationships while mine was still in danger of being ripped away from me shortly after my wife finally gave me a chance to break down her walls.

“Whatever, mate. The Gala is at Dustin’s mansion and starts at nine. Don’t be fucking late, and wear all black.” Jaxon concluded coolly before exiting backstage. Fucking jackass.

Nick crouched at the front of the stage where I stood and smiled softly.

“You got this?” His eyes showed a subtle hint of concern as he asked the question.

“Don’t I always?” I smirked, pushing all the confidence I had left into my words.

I didn’t have a choice in the matter.

She had no goddamn choice.

“Seriously, though, introduce her to Bria and Tessa. If anyone will gently introduce her to our world, it's them.” He attested. “They’ve done their tests and know what is to be expected. Don’t deny your wife the support they never got.” His eyes softened at his words as if he were remembering their tests—whenever those occurred.

I nodded in silent agreement. No matter how badly I wanted to be the one to bring her into this world of ours, I knew there were things I wouldn’t be able to explain in a way she could understand without freaking the fuck out.

I had one shot at explaining everything to her, and if I fucked it all up, it was over for the both of us—a risk I wasn’t willing to take.

I took a detour on the way back home to pick up a few things for tonight. It was well past nine when I returned to the penthouse, having left at five to meet with Jaxon and Nick. I expected Sienna to be up and wondering where I had gone, but she never texted me, leaving me to believe she was either still sleeping or didn’t care that I had left.

When I stepped off the elevator, the place was dead silent, so I quietly made my way past the kitchen and down the hall to our bedroom.

Opening the door, I found my wife, still fast asleep, bundled up in the sheets. Wanting to take advantage of the opportunity, I placed the boxes I had brought back with me on the dresser and crept across the room, sliding back into bed behind her.

She radiated warmth as my body pressed up against hers.

I wrapped my arms around her tightly. She stirred with a low groan as I buried my face in her hair, soaking in the warm coconut scent from her shampoo.

Her arms stretched out above her head, rolling her wrists before she turned over to face me, her sleepy eyes slowly blinking open to meet mine.

“Mmm… morning.” She hummed with a groggy voice. “You’re back.”

So she did wake up while I was gone…

“Morning, love.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead as she nuzzled herself up against my chest.

“Where did you go?”

“I had a training session with Jaxon and Nick at the showroom.”

“Oh…” She yawned, her eyes looking over to the blackout curtains I had drawn closed before leaving. “What time is it?”

“Almost ten—Don’t you have classes to instruct today?” I asked.

She didn’t usually take time off; if anything, it seemed like she had been adding classes to her schedule—most likely to avoid me.

“No. I canceled classes today. I needed a break. Perfect timing, right?” She giggled, pressing kisses to the front of my shoulder.

I hummed in response, pulling her closer to me. This is exactly what I wanted from the beginning with her. I knew it would take time, and honestly, I was shocked that she reconsidered so quickly. I almost wanted to ask her where the change of heart came from, but the last thing I wanted to do was give her a reason to change it back.

“There’s a Gala tomorrow evening,” I said, unsure how to explain what it was for and who was hosting it.

I stared at the wall across the room as I contemplated my explanation. I knew I would have to tell her everything eventually, but now felt like too soon.

“You’re quiet…” She murmured against my chest. “Not what I’d expect after everything that’s happened...”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. She wasn’t wrong.

In twenty-four hours, she went from hating me to letting me in, and I went from obsessing over fucking her to feelings that were far more complicated.

Did I marry her as a means to claim her for myself? Yes.

Did I want her to love me? Abso-fucking-lutely.

Did I expect to fall for her so soon myself? Honestly… No.

But I was falling for her. She took my breath away every chance she got, and I loved it when she attempted to put me in my place.

I was falling in love with my wife, and now, more than ever, was the worst time for it to happen.

One wrong move. One mistake, and she would be ripped away from me for good.

There were no second chances with the Men Under Revue, and she was about to be thrown straight to the wolves.

We didn’t leave our bed all day. I couldn’t get enough of my wife. I wanted her in every position, every possible way, and even then, I needed more of her.

I spent the entire day between those beautifully toned thighs, and if it weren’t for the show tonight, I would have stayed even longer.

“Don’t wait up for me, love.” I leaned down and kissed her gently on her bare shoulder.

She was curled up in the pillows and rolled to face me when I pushed myself off the mattress.

“Do you have to?” She opened her exhausted eyes and dropped her arm to the now-empty space beside her.

How did we get to this point so fast? Where I would give anything to drop all my obligations just to stay here with her.

I thought I was obsessed with her before, but that was just infatuation. This was an obsession—craving her like a fucking drug.

I stared into her stormy eyes, returning a soft smile as I grazed my fingers lightly along the back of her outstretched hand.

“I won’t be back late like all those other nights.”

“Why were you always back so late?” She looked up at me with curious eyes.

Searching mine for the truth.

“I’ll tell you everything in the morning.” Another promise.

I would tell her everything. I had to. There was no other choice. By this time tomorrow evening, she would be entering the wolf’s den regardless of whether she knew the truth or not. I only hoped she would accept everything I had to say and not run away once I was done talking.

I turned to exit the bedroom, picking up my gym bag as I reached the door.

“Colby?” Her voice carried across the dark room, and I could see the silhouette of her body sitting upright when I glanced back over my shoulder. “I’m not afraid.” She paused. “Whatever it is, whatever you’ve done… I’m-I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Sienna's attempt at reassurance meant nothing when I knew there was still a good chance she would change her mind once I told her the truth.

Until she confessed to loving me, our relationship was a grenade, just waiting for someone to pull the pin and throw it away.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I left the room and shut the door behind me.