BIG: (A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance) (41 page)

Ric cleared his throat. “David, can I just remind you why you’re now earning a six-figure salary?”

“Uh... delegation?”

“That’s the magic word. So, did you convince your sight-seeing crew of the paintings’ authenticity?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Well done. I’ll return my wife tomorrow morning for an early afternoon start. You keep hitting the Monet books. Hey—we’re having a memorial service for Elsa and Brad in a couple weeks. It would be good if you could be there. You know, to testify to how terrifying Elsa could be.”

“Now, that I can do.” David chuckled at the other end of the line. “Will Henrik be there?”

“Will your sense of occasion and appropriateness be there?”

“All on duty.”

“Then wear the charcoal suit and silver tie. He might even start a conversation with you this time.” Ric cut off the call with a soft laugh and gathered Annalesa in his arms. “Does he always whine that much?”

“No. it’s mostly for show. I think he’s happy with the huge pay increase.”

“Any regrets, Leesa?” He kissed the tip of her ear, pulling her back against his warm chest.

“Only one.” She fought back a grin at the nervous seize in the muscles providing her pillow.

He frowned. “What?”

“Thinking I could own a Kia Sedona in Paris. I can’t park the bloody thing.”

“Leesa!” He rolled his gorgeous eyes. “Don’t do that to me!”

“Sorry.” She rested back, loving that she was able to tease him these days. He’d always been so highly-strung. “I have no regrets about us. Not a single, tiny thing.”

“Me either.” He kissed her temple. “You going to trust me next time I start talking about putting things right?”

“Yes.” She stroked his forearms, not prepared to joke about that. He’d changed so much, and changed the direction of Ryker Arms to the point that the company’s humanitarian contributions had nearly drowned out all the publicity over their former status as stepsiblings.

She was proud of him. He hadn’t even sought out Arensen’s grave so he could drive a steam-roller over it.

“So...” Ric murmured. “With all this love and acceptance... will you let me off this christening?”

She flipped over in his lap, grabbing his wrists in hers and pressing them back over the armrest of the couch. “Can I just remind you who made me into a shield maiden?”

“I’m guessing that’s a no.” He chuckled and pulled his arms out of her grip, making a joke out of her gym-earned strength. “Fine. We’ll go. So long as you take your turn holding baby Church—”

“Ewan!”

“And you remember that we’re on a secret mission for
any
date they give us to join them on holiday in Maine?”

She laughed. “Deal.”

“Good!” He lifted her back up again, that fiendish sparkle back in his eyes.

“Ric, we’re supposed to be heading off to the airport.”

“Without a shower? I know we’re married now and all, but there’s no need for people to inhale the evidence.”

She sighed. “You’re just procrastinating now.”

“I’m going to fuck you in the shower twice as long, just because you said that.”

“I
could
fight you off. Shield maiden, remember?”

“It’s a small shower, Leesa.” Ric chuckled. “I don’t think your shield would fit in there with us. I’m kinda big.”

“I like how big you are.” She curled against him, smiling. “All the big things about you. Your big body and big arms that make me feel so small and safe. Your big heart, where you keep all that big, big love for me. Your big—”

“Hey!” He jumped when her fingers played over his now-soft cock. “Now who’s procrastinating?”

“Who me?” She licked her lips, tracing a fingernail around the head, making him groan.

“God, Leesa, you make me feel ten feet tall.” He kissed her forehead.

“Ten feet?” She scoffed, glancing down. “Maybe ten
inches
...”

“Hey!” His fingers found her ribs, tickling her, and she laughed. “Just for that, when I get through with you, it’s going to feel like you’ve been impaled by a ten-foot pole. I’ll be surprised if you can even walk a straight line down the aisle of that church.”

“Is that a threat or a promise, Ricard Ryker?” She widened her eyes in mock horror.

“Both.”

“But you have to catch me first, big boy.” She leapt off the bed, squealing with laughter as he chased her into the bathroom to make good on his promise.

The End

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