18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Callum
" N o," I told Fleur as she looked at me militantly from the couch in her living room.
"You're not my keeper. If I want to go get a drink at Peychaud's, I will—"
"No," I repeated. "Sit your pretty little ass down on the couch. Your arm needed extensive surgery. You didn't even notice the fucking shrapnel in your thigh—"
"I knew about that," she barked.
I talked over her. "Which means I have to fucking carry you to the john every time you need it. So, no. You will not go to—"
"You don't have to carry me," Fleur yelled. "I can walk."
She stood up and swayed; then took a step and winced. She pursed her lips and took another. Right before she was about to collapse, I picked her up bridal style.
" Grian , stop being difficult and just do as I say?" I implored.
She moaned. "I hate this. I don't want this. It's been a week. I wanna get back to my life."
"If you don't rest, it's going to take longer," I warned her, then took her to her bedroom.
It had been an interesting week. My beautiful sunshine had disappeared. Apparently, when she was hurt or sick, Fleur was nothing but trouble. June had warned me of that when I'd been shocked when Fleur threw a book at me (she missed), just because I told her she had to take a pain pill and get some rest.
"The last time she got the flu, she was so weak and so angry…it was horrible. I almost left her to die," June confided in me. "The rest of the time, she's such a bright light, but when she's sick…ugh…I'd rather fuck Kid Rock than be around her."
Fleur had managed to get clearance to read me into what she did for her company. I got some high-level information and was told that I'd have to go through a background check for more. I'd never get her level of clearance, but I'd at least know when the fuck she was going out of the country if not where she was at.
I'd tried to ask her if she'd quit and that conversation had not gone well at all. I loved her even more for why she did what she did. My Grian was a patriot and a do-gooder. I knew that about her, but not the extent of her goodness.
Even though her parents and sister had been complete douches to her, when she thought she was dying, she left a message for them so they wouldn't feel guilty in case she didn't make it home.
My Fleur took care of everyone and apparently hated it when someone took care of her.
She sat up in bed, grumpy and sullen, leaning against a stack of pillows against the headboard. "I'm bored, and I hurt. When can I use my arm again?"
"Soon, love." I lay next to her and kissed her forehead. "How about I entertain you?"
She snorted. "I can't have sex, Romeo."
"You think that's all I have in my repertoire to entertain you, sex?"
"I guess we can watch a ballgame," she said, resigned.
"So, sex and sports…that's all you think I am?" I didn't think she thought that, but I found making her defensive a good tactic to get her to stop being a grouch.
"No, Callum, never," she protested.
Worked like a charm!
"I know, baby." I smiled. Christ! It was going to be so much fun getting to know her better. This time, I'd open myself to her and not be scared about getting hurt or worried about making Sabine upset.
"I gotta ask. You talked to the parents and sis about…all that stuff?"
I groaned. "Yeah. Sabine managed to convince your parents that she was insecure about Seamus because of you, and that's why she fucked that other guy."
"Me?"
"And since you stole me from her, she convinced them that you could've stolen Seamus, too," I informed her.
She stared at me for a long moment and then burst out laughing.
God! I'd missed that laugh. Her big happy 'my heart is so big, come join me' laugh.
"I hate that Seamus's last thoughts were about Sabine fucking him over."
She cupped my cheek with her good hand. "He wasn't upset. He…it sounded like he'd known or guessed. He told her they were done. She wanted to talk more, and he said they would, but he wouldn't be coming home again, not as her husband. He was divorcing her fine ass. "
"What a shitshow," I muttered.
"He seemed fine when he told me to keep this to myself and that he’d handle everything. He even smiled while we talked. I... I thought he was relieved, like he’d finally found a way out. That’s what I believed—that he wanted out of his marriage, and this was the perfect excuse, that it was her fault."
I kissed her lips then, softly. "Thank you for giving me that."
"I'm so sorry he's gone. I miss him, too. But I never felt that way about him."
I grinned. "Just me."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, just you."
"Settle down, Grian . I'm going to entertain you with a poem."
She smiled that brilliant, beautiful smile of hers. "Really?"
"Yeah, really." I picked up a book of poetry I’d left on her bedside table for just this purpose. I’d been reading poetry ever since she’d introduced me to its beauty, and right now, this poem captured everything I wanted to say.
"Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."
She sniffled. "Yeats."
"Yeah, baby."
"You love me?"
I pulled her into my arms gently so as to not jostle her. "Yeah, I do."
"You hurt me."
"I know. I'm sorry."
Tears shimmered in her eyes. "How can I be sure you won't do it again?"
"Can't be. I probably will, but never on purpose." I let her see into me, through me.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I love you too. But I'm scared, afraid to risk it."
"I know." I wiped her tears. "How about you give us a chance?"
"What does that mean?"
I kissed her forehead, then her nose, and then her lips. "How about we date?"
Her eyes widened. "Date?"
"Yeah, like properly. Like we were meant to. We'll take it slow and easy."
She licked her lips. "So, no sex?"
My dick protested. Being around her without fucking her would be tough—I knew because I'd been doing it for a week, and my hand was tired while my cock was frustrated about not being inside of her.
"Your call," I said hoarsely.
"Well, I want to have sex," she announced. "I like having sex with you."
"Thank the fuck god," I exclaimed. "I like having sex with you too. I freaking love it, Fleur. Best I've ever had."
"Yeah?" Her eyes were excited and hopeful, and if I could fall any deeper in love with her, I would have, but I was already all the way in.
"Absolutely, my Grian ."