33. Murray
Trying to avoid wetting London’s hair was interesting and difficult since we were both consumed with touching each other all the time.
Not even as a teenager had I felt this level of want.
It was true, then. Sex really was on another level when you were in love.
And there was no denying it for me anymore.
I was in love with London Wetherspoon Shaw.
I’d sung that to her, but it was safe within a song. Saying the words was completely different. Since we were taking things at her pace, I could stifle my impatience to tell her how I felt.
It pleased me beyond measure that any worries she had about sexual intimacy melted away when we were together.
London had a way of making me feel like I could take care of her and solve all her problems. That I couldn’t fail her.
And as a man who felt like he was failing a lot of important things at the moment, I was addicted to my wife’s company.
After the shower, we climbed back into bed, both of us seeming to have made peace with the fact that we’d be getting very little sleep. Rather than feel depleted by the sex, we were wired.
I cuddled London into me and the first question out of her mouth was, “How is Kelly?”
And I fell even harder, not even realizing that was possible.
My arms squeezed around her. She smelled like my shower gel, and it filled me with a strange satisfaction. “It wasn’t anything too serious. This girl at school is apparently annoyed that Kelly got into the regional girls’ choir when there weren’t supposed to be any late auditions.”
“Can Kelly sing?”
“Aye, she’s got a sweet voice. Perfect for the choir.”
“So, this girl is jealous of Kelly?”
“Well, a few of her friends are in the choir and are in this group chat, and they were organizing getting together this weekend to practice. Kelly said she’d be there, and this other girl said she hadn’t been invited.
Anna jumped to Kelly’s defense, and it turned into a thing because this other girl is good friends with Anna.
Kelly thinks the problem is really that this girl is annoyed Kelly came back and Anna kind of dropped this other girl.
But Kelly, Anna, and Lucas have been best friends since they were toddlers at nursery together, so … ”
I hadn’t really been sure what to suggest, but I’d quietly told Kelly that it wasn’t an excuse to stay off school.
“It sounds to me like Kelly, Anna, and Lucas need to make more time to include this girl. If that doesn’t work, fine, but being dropped by a friend is one of the worst hurts a teenage girl can experience.
Kelly and Lucas might have to learn to share Anna.
” London stroked my chest almost absentmindedly.
“Do you want me to talk to her? It would have to be after school because I need to be at the B and B in … ugh …a few hours.”
“Would you mind?” I did feel like London probably had a better handle on that kind of situation. And I trusted her judgment.
“Not at all.”
“Thanks.” I bent to kiss the top of her head.
“And for the less fun portion of post-sex discussion …” London tilted her head to meet my gaze. “How did it go with Joshua Hughes?”
I really didn’t want to fill London’s head with the darkness of my problems, but I’d promised to be honest with her, so I laid out the plan to take down the Walsh brothers.
She was quiet for a moment, her voice smaller when she eventually replied, “Just promise me you’ll do everything in your power not to get hurt.”
I pulled her closer. “I promise, a ghràidh.”
Her cheeks flushed. “You were amazing tonight. Did I forget to tell you that?”
I grinned. “You were pretty amazing yourself.”
London giggled and the sound did things to me. “I meant your singing at the Lantern, but the other stuff was amazing too.”
I tried to quell my laughter at the misunderstanding, but my body shook against her as I tried to contain it.
She playfully smacked at my chest. “I mean it. I can’t believe you learned that song for me.”
“It’s a fantastic song. It’s how I feel about life. About you.”
London looked up at me again, her heart in her eyes.
I waited, my breath catching, my hope rising.
Was she going to say it?
“Thank you,” she whispered instead.
And I tried not to be too disappointed.
London had been through so much before she came to Scotland, and I wasn’t going to rush this. I wasn’t going to demand too much of her. She’d come to me fully in her own time. I just needed to be patient.
We must have dozed for a bit because the next thing I knew, London woke me as she slipped out of bed. I automatically reached for her, wanting her back, and she laughed softly, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand before letting me go.
“I have to get ready for work.”
I groaned. “We need to talk about the job you don’t even like.”
“Let’s just take everything one step at a time.” London shrugged into her cami and shorts and then leaned over to give me a kiss.
I cupped the back of her head, deepening it until she was moaning and reluctantly pulling away.
Her plump lips were enticingly swollen. “Speaking of one step at a time,” she said a little breathlessly. “Maybe we should keep what’s happening between us between us. Kelly doesn’t need to know about this right now.”
Her words cooled my heated blood, and my dismay must have shown.
London’s eyes flared. “No, I don’t … look, I just …
she’s been through so much change and trauma.
I thought we could ease her into this change in our relationship.
For instance, we could have Fiona come over because we’re going on a date.
Steps toward her understanding things are changing between you and me? ”
Despite my disappointment and concern over the suggestion, rationale kicked in.
There was merit to what London advised.
“Okay.”
“But I’m still going to sneak into your room every night.” She pressed a quick kiss to my lips before scrambling off the bed.
I grinned at her mischievous smile. “I look forward to it.”
She blew me a cheeky kiss before disappearing out of the room.
I missed her instantly.