Wyatt shrugged. “It’s just fighting. Ain’t worth crying over, and I’m still participating in it. I’m in the cage, just not professionally.”
Tabitha took another bite of her bar. “Do you miss the circuit now that Clay’s retired?”
“We got some other fighters at the Cellar. Damn good ones. Chuito won a title last year and is set to grab himself another one soon. My brother-in-law by default’s looking pretty good too. He keeps fighting like he does, and he’ll get himself a UFC contract by next year.”
“Your brother-in-law by default?”
Wyatt snorted. “Tino is Jules’s brother-in-law, but seeing how I’m always tripping over him, it sorta feels like I inherited him too.”
“I saw on the news about Jules getting married to Romeo Wellings.” Tabitha tilted her head, watching as Wyatt worked at meticulously taping up the wound with tiny strips of clear medical tape that he was cutting from the roll with a pair of scissors from the kit. “That was something.”
“Yeah, well, it’s Jules. We ain’t all that surprised she had to go and do things over-the-top when she did decide to fall in love. She’s pregnant now, you know? It’s twins. As if that wasn’t predictable. She never does anything half-assed.”
“I didn’t know.” Tabitha raised her eyebrows, trying to imagine Wyatt’s very driven, very intimidating twin sister now married and having babies. “Are you happy about it?”
“Yeah, I suppose. I could’ve done without the mafia in-laws, the shootouts, and Jules’s life-threatening injuries. Not to mention all the media drama afterward, but Romeo and Tino got away from all that. She’s happy now, so I guess I am too. I’m excited to be an uncle.”
“I bet.” Tabitha laughed again, finding the image of Wyatt as an uncle a lot easier to accept than Jules as Betty Homemaker. “I heard Clay got a girl too. Y’all have been on the news a lot lately. I saw the footage of him and that Romeo Wellings fella taking down her ex-husband.”
“Don’t remind me.” Wyatt pulled a face of distaste. “Clay and Melody got that trial coming up here in August, and they surely aren’t looking forward to it. I personally think they ought to keep her ex-husband behind bulletproof glass ’cause Clay is likely to try for a second chance to kill him if he says something dumb, and you know he will. He doesn’t strike me as the smartest Cracker Jack in the box.”
“Seemed strange that Romeo was willing to help him right after their big fight, but I suppose if Jules was dating him—”
“She wasn’t dating him then.” Wyatt finished with the last of tape, pulling the cut closed tightly so it wouldn’t scar. “It’s complicated. It’d take all night to explain it, but let’s just say it’s been an exciting year in Garnet.”
She finished the bar and leaned over to set the wrapper on the nightstand. She sat back up and admired his handy work after he used the last little piece of tape on her leg. “You’re pretty good at this. Who needs a doctor?”
“I have taped up my fair share of cuts over the years.” Wyatt gave her a wide smile that made him so handsome it nearly stole Tabitha’s breath.
“I guess you have.” Tabitha knew Wyatt had spent his life fighting in and outside the cage and yet wasn’t really any worse for the wear for it. “And here I was worrying about a scar. Like I need another one.”
“Nah, you’ll be fine.” Wyatt caressed her leg once more, making her shiver against her will. “Let it heal. Put some vitamin E oil on it for a few months, and it’ll be good as new.”
Before Tabitha could respond, he stood and sat back down on the bed with the kit in hand, this time behind her. He ran his finger over her bare shoulder, gently touching the tender spot that hit the cinderblock. Underneath that frisson of desire from the gentle caress was the novelty of being touched by a man. It was something simple, something most women probably took for granted, but it was something Tabitha thought she’d never have again.
“It’s more bruising than anything. I’m going to just put some ointment on it and a bandage. No sense doing the peroxide thing again.”
Tabitha took a shuddering breath. “Much appreciated.”
She let Wyatt doctor her shoulder, savoring the feel of his touch that was tender despite his large size and dangerous fists. Her nerves had settled considerably, and for just that moment she focused all her energy on trying to remember everything about being with him again. Like the combined smell of Wyatt’s soap and expensive aftershave. The cool feel of the ointment on tender skin. The sound of the bandage being opened. The general hum of powerful energy that seemed to vibrate off men like Wyatt. Assured, successful, handsome, and charming, he’d always had such a strong sense of self. The path Wyatt was supposed to take in life had been crystal clear for him from a very young age. Knowing the right route to take had made him extremely self-confident, and that’d forever be appealing to Tabitha.
“All better,” Wyatt announced as he closed the first-aid kit. “Unless you’d like me to kiss it to speed up the healing process.”
She laughed. “I’m sure that’s the last thing you want to do.”
“I wouldn’t be
that
sure.”
Tabitha’s heart did a little flip when she heard the catch in his voice that sounded like the cross between a promise and a threat. She craned her neck curiously, looking at him in surprise. “Wy—”
“I’m gonna take off and let you rest.” Wyatt made a move to leave, but Tabitha grabbed his hand on instinct and squeezed like her life depended on it. Something about that desperation must have translated, because Wyatt closed his eyes as if looking for strength he didn’t have. “Tab, you should lemme go. I ain’t so sure I can be the fella you remember. I’ve been lonely for too long. That can make a man go feral after the first decade.”
Tabitha heard the warning that she was holding on to something akin to a caged tiger—one who was angry, lonely, and neglected by the very person who’d sworn in front of a justice of the peace to love him. The confession held terrible implications. It was something she’d never even considered, that Wyatt had been as sexually isolated as she was, with only the memories of something long lost to sustain her. She hadn’t wanted that for him, not once in all the years they’d been separated. The pain welled up between them as he stood there stoically. She squeezed his hand tighter, willing all the loss to disappear, if even for one day.
“I want you to kiss it better,” she whispered, not knowing how else to convey the need to fix what felt irrevocably broken. “Please.”
Wyatt shook his head. “I ain’t kidding. I haven’t been with—”
“Don’t—” She cut him off, not wanting to hear the confession. “You need it. I do too. It’s been such a long day. Let’s just forget the rest for a little while.”
She expected him to deny her. A part of her sort of hoped he would, because she wasn’t even certain she could do what she was suggesting, but at the same time, she needed it desperately. Just once. Some sort of confirmation that she was still human and could live and love and experience real passion like everyone else.
Even before things went bad, Wyatt had always been the only one for her. If she didn’t take this opportunity, she might never have another one, and that was easily the most depressing thought of the day, which was saying something.
Rather than turn and leave, Wyatt released her hand and sat behind her once more. Even without seeing it, she could actually sense the tension as he remained silent behind her, but so close she could feel the heat from his big body. Then he touched her shoulder, making her jump, because the reality of what she’d just gotten herself into hit her like a ton of bricks.
She jumped a second time when he leaned down to press his lips against the tender spot to the right of the bandage on the back of her shoulder instead. She was still trying to recover from the shock of pleasure it caused when he moved up to the curve of her neck, his warm breath fanning over her sensitive skin, leaving a wave of goose bumps in his wake.
Tabitha shuddered from the rush of emotion that was so overwhelming it left her choked up and struggling for breath. “I love you, Wy.”
It came out of her so easily as if the past had never happened, and she couldn’t take it back even if she wanted to, because it was one of the most heartfelt things that had ever left her mouth. She was shaking. The tears rolled down her cheeks without warning, and Wyatt didn’t question or doubt any of it.
He just wrapped one powerful arm around her waist and then pulled her close to whisper in her ear, “I love you too.”
Wyatt kissed her ear before she could say something to ruin the moment. It was obvious he needed this too, and Tabitha was so glad they’d both made it real. They hadn’t been able to be together, and the reasons they’d been torn apart were terrible and unfair. There were deep, life-changing secrets looming between them that were a little too transparent now that she was back in his arms, but they still loved each other, and neither of them were going to do this without acknowledging it.
This was probably a mistake, but it certainly didn’t feel like it as Wyatt’s lips moved down her neck. He let out a low groan and his arm around her waist tightened as if he were afraid she would suddenly disappear.
She grabbed his strong thigh through his jeans, squeezing tightly to let him know this was real. Her voice was gone, trapped in her chest somewhere beneath the nostalgia and crazy rush of desire that surged through her bloodstream. It was like a breath of fresh air, washing out over a decade of fear and solitude.
Starved and more turned on than she thought imaginable before this moment, Tabitha turned in his arms. His beautiful eyes were wide and stunned, as if the tidal wave of lust had slammed into him the same time it knocked every thought out of her head except the throbbing need for more of her husband.
Wyatt reached up and fisted her hair as if losing the tight hold on his urges. He tugged her forward and claimed her lips without asking. His kiss was harsh and demanding, but Tabitha parted to him rather than freeze, allowing him to own what belonged to him.
When he used his bulk to push her back against the bed, she let him. They never broke the connection. If anything, it got more intense as he arched his hips against her, letting her feel the hard outline of his cock through his jeans. She just clutched at his shirt and savored the feel of his tongue pushing into her mouth and brushing against hers over and over, finding that she still liked being under him.
They kissed like wild, frantic teenagers, as if they were back in Wyatt’s room and hiding from the world. Everything was exactly how she remembered it, and it left her feeling like the person she once was before life burned her. Her towel fell open, and she would have been too far gone to notice if the brush of Wyatt’s cotton shirt against her nipples hadn’t forced her to arch into him. She was suddenly hypersensitive and wound tight. Her fingers were in his hair, and she clenched them tightly as a tremor of pleasure seized her.
Wyatt grunted in response and broke the kiss to study her face as both their chests heaved from the unexpected cataclysm of desire that exploded between them. After several breathless seconds, he looked down at her completely bare beneath him, making it obvious he’d noticed the towel falling to the wayside, probably before she had.
She didn’t feel fear or shame when he groaned and became blatant about studying her naked body, but she did feel the hot flush of desire that burned her neck and cheeks at the flare of possessiveness that shone in his eyes. Wyatt’s breathing was harsh as he lowered his gaze and stopped to stare hungrily at her breasts. Then he leaned down and sucked on one taut pink nipple as if it was too much a temptation to resist. It was all happening
really fast
, but it didn’t matter. She tossed her head back against the pillow at the lightning bolt of bliss and unexpectedly found her voice.
“God, Wyatt!” she shouted, because she’d forgotten how good it felt to have his mouth on her.
She pushed her fingers into his short hair once more. She was panting. Her body was already tense with the need for release, and every tug on her sensitive nipple sent a white-hot rush of pleasure straight to her center.
Nothing existed but the need for more of everything. For one day, Tabitha was free from what felt like a lifetime of post-traumatic stress, and she seized it like a woman starved. What made it even more amazing was Wyatt met her every step of the way. His hunger was palpable. His need was overwhelming and humbling. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when she felt more loved and feminine than she did as she watched Wyatt worship her small, pert breasts that were never anything to brag about.
Then he pulled up to tug at the neckline of his shirt, and Tabitha helped him get it off. She didn’t have a chance to admire his cut, muscular form before he fell over her, forcing the air out of her chest from the weight of his heavy body, but who needed to breathe? The warm press of his bare skin against hers had Tabitha clinging to him. She turned her head to the side as he kissed and licked at her neck once more.
“I need you,” he groaned into her ear. “I’m sorry. I can’t wait. It’s been too long, and—”
“I need it too.”
He lifted his head as a look of uncertainty crossed over his handsome face. “I wasn’t kidding before. I haven’t done this since—”
“It’s okay.” She winced, finding that the tears were threatening despite the yearning. Her voice was choked as she admitted, “I haven’t either.”
“I guess we’ll just have to relearn together.” He gave her a hesitant smile. “Won’t be the first time, right?”
The tears spilled over without warning as she remembered what was once beautiful and perfect. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, don’t,” Wyatt pleaded, the tears sounding in his voice too. “I don’t wanna cry right now. Let me love you instead. We’ll take a rain check on the rest.”
She nodded silently as she fought the urge to come apart. Wyatt reached up and rubbed a thumb over her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut against the emotion, but she still felt his gaze on her. When he kissed her again, she tasted the salty tang of tears, but she wasn’t certain if they were hers or his.
She ran her hands over the thick ridges of his back muscles, savoring the feel of his warm skin. The sound of Wyatt reaching between their bodies to undo the button to his jeans and then pull his zipper down sent little darts of anticipation through her, and she found herself reaching down to help him push his pants off.