In the Crease (Assassins Book 11)

by Toni Aleo

  “Badly,” he decided with a shake of his head. “But it’s fine. No one will ever suspect anything, okay? The money is yours.”

  But she shook her head. “I don’t care about the money,” she whispered, and he wanted to be elated. He wanted to throw his hands up in the air and fucking know he had won, but then her eyes started to cloud with tears, and his heart stopped.

  “Whoa, Wrenya, what’s wrong?”

  Looking away, she sucked in a breath while she shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’m just nervous.”

  But he knew she was lying. “Wren. Don’t lie to me.”

  As her lips trembled, she sat up, wiping her face. “It’s nothing. Just insecurities.”

  Before she could get away, he pulled her down into his lap, wrapping his arms around her middle as his lips pressed into her neck. “Baby, look at me.” She hesitated, but then she did as he asked, her green eyes floating in her tears. “Tell me about these insecurities. How can I ease them?”

  But she shook her head once more. “It’s nothing.”

  “Tell me.”

  Swallowing hard, she bit her lip before she blew out a breath. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “The truth.”

  “The truth is…” She paused, laughing soullessly. “I’m a fucking hot mess, and going home and seeing… Fucking fuck, Jensen, it’s… Fuck.” She came undone, clinging to him, and he held her tightly, his lips by her ear as she cried into his neck. “I just don’t want you to leave me, and that place brings out the bad in me.”

  “Oh, Wren, no, it doesn’t. Baby, it’s okay,” he whispered, rubbing her back. “That won’t happen. I promise.”

  Before he could say more, though, her mouth was on his, moving feverishly as she clung to him, her belly pressed into him. Her need for him was apparent as she shook against him, holding him as tightly as he held her. Pulling away, she whispered against his lips, “Just kiss me, Jensen, please.”

  Meeting her gaze, he knew she was holding back so fucking much, but he did as she asked.

  He kissed her.

  Because he loved her.

  And he didn’t question her anymore. Not after they packed or even after they said goodbye to his parents where she cried like they were dying. She didn’t want to leave, he got that, he didn’t want to either, and it was obvious she had fallen in love with his parents. It was beautiful, and he was so thankful for that. But her silence to the airport, and even on the plane, made his body hurt. He didn’t understand it, but he didn’t want to question her about it. He didn’t want to push, but deep inside, he was worried.

  It concerned him, though, because pushing could lead to her shutting down completely, and she was finally opening up to him. He couldn’t mess that up because it could turn into a slippery slope with her. Though the anxiety she had caused with her earlier concerns was eating him alive, he was patient, he was kind, and he just loved her. Even when she tried not to let him, he did it anyway. It had been working thus far, and he wasn’t one to mess with something that worked.

  He just needed her to shut off her damn brain.

  Reaching for the bags and putting them in the back of the rental once they landed in Colorado, he glanced over at his wife as she was busy on her phone. Her silence was killing him, and he worried she had already shut down. Shaking that thought from his brain, he reached for her door. “Baby.”

  She looked up. “Thanks, told my mom that we just landed.”

  “Oh, good,” he said as she got in and before he shut the door. Walking around the car, he exhaled harshly. He wished he’d never left home. He liked his wife way better in Canada.

  As he got in the car, she said, “I texted your mom too, and she says she misses us, that the house is quiet.”

  He smiled. “Yes, the guilt-tripping is strong with my mother.”

  When he looked over at her, she smiled, a true smile that took up her whole face. “I told her we’d be back sooner rather than later, and she sent me a kissy-face emoji.”

  “Good,” he answered, moving to start the car as his heart pounded in his chest. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t hold it back. Unable to bring himself to start the car, he shook his head. “Stop it.”

  When he looked up, she was staring back at him oddly. “Stop what? Texting your mom?”

  “No, please don’t ever stop that. I mean this. You’re being weird.”

  “I am?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. “No, I’m not.”

  “Yes, you are. You haven’t spoken more than yes or no to me the whole way here, and I can tell your whole demeanor is off. Please don’t do this, Wren. I can’t, okay? You’ve fucking spoiled me with the girl I had in Canada. And I get it, you’re nervous to be here, but believe me, I’m here with you. Nothing will happen.”

  Her lips pressed together as she reached out, lacing her fingers with his. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I just don’t want to be here.”

  He nodded. “I understand that, but don’t take it out on me.”

  Her eyes softened as she pursed her lips at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

  He swallowed hard. “I just want you to be happy, and I know being here isn’t doing that. But we have to be, and we are. So, let’s make the best of it.”

  Bringing his hand up to her lips, she placed a soft kiss to his palm. “Okay.”

  His mouth quirked up at the side as he leaned over, and she met him halfway, their lips joining. He wanted to believe that she was okay. That she was letting it go, but he knew her better than that. Her mind was going a billion miles a second, and there was nothing he could do. But he’d made her aware of her actions, and he just prayed maybe she’d be more conscious of them.

  But he wasn’t naïve. There was a reason she didn’t want to be home, and he didn’t believe for a second that it was only her family. They were good people. They loved her, and he understood she wasn’t the center of attention—that was all Wells, and sometimes, Jensen—but they loved her. So he knew it was something else.

  He just wasn’t sure what.

  Or if it was a who.

  “They’re here!”

  Jensen’s face broke into a grin when he pushed the door open to the home that was his home away from home, and Wren walked in before him. “Winston! They’re here!” Elaine Lemiere came running down the hall toward them in a trusty pantsuit and her hair in perfect curls along her shoulders. Always the picture of perfection, Elaine Lemiere. “Oh my God! Look at you, come here!”

  Wren looked back at Jensen, but only for a moment before her mother wrapped her arms around her tightly. Wren hugged her mother back as she kissed her hard on the cheek, and Jensen sighed. She needed this. “Wren Josephine! I can’t! Look at you! I never thought I’d say this, but pregnancy agrees with you. Your eyes, your face… My God, you’re glowing, sweetheart!”

  Wren’s face burned as she laughed. “Mom, come on, I’m fat.”

  Before Jensen could get on to her, Elaine was shaking her head. “No, you’re pregnant, big difference.”

  “I told her that,” Jensen added. “She doesn’t listen.”

  “Does she ever? Stubborn as a mule, this one is, but let me just say, I have a feeling this glow isn’t just about being pregnant and has everything to do with this stud. Come here, you,” Elaine demanded before taking Jensen in her arms and squeezing him hard. He could feel Wren’s gaze on them but only for a second before another voice joined them in the hallway.

  “Aw, my darling.” Jensen opened his eyes to see Winston take Wren in his arms and hold her tightly as he kissed her head. Unlike Jensen’s dad, Winston was younger, not at all gray, and a lot chunkier than his father. He didn’t skip a meal, that was for sure, but he also wasn’t sick. “Look at you.”

  Wren looked unsure as she kissed his cheek. “Hey, Daddy.”

  “Jesus, have you lost weight? Jensen, are you not feeding my baby?”

  Jensen beamed as Wren rolled her eyes. “Funny, my mum claimed Wren wasn’t feeding
me.”

  Winston laughed. “You both are skinny! Goodness!”

  “Daddy, I’m as big as a house.”

  “You’re skin and bones with a bump. I’ll kick your ass, boy. Feed her,” he demanded, and Jensen laughed as Winston wrapped him up in a hug. “You hear me?”

  “Loud and clear, sir,” Jensen answered, and Winston grinned over at him, squeezing him.

  Pulling away, Winston smacked Jensen’s arms once more in a fatherly way before he reached for their bags and looked to Elaine. “Where am I going with these?”

  “Wren’s room. Come on, kids. We’ve got all kinds of wedding stuff to talk about!”

  Elaine walked ahead of them with Winston, and Jensen stopped Wren by wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing her jaw. “See?”

  “See, what? The only good thing that came out of that is that maybe you can’t stop them from feeding me.”

  He scoffed. “That will happen. And they were good, all about you.”

  “Because it was expected. Why haven’t they hit us with questions?”

  “Maybe ’cause they’re excited to see us?”

  “No, that’s not them,” she added suspiciously. “Whatever, let’s go talk about Wells.”

  “Wren,” he said, and she pressed her lips together.

  “I’m being a bitch?”

  He shrugged. “I was gonna say difficult.”

  She gave him a teasing grin. “And you claim to love me.”

  He continued to hold her. “I do, all of you.”

  She exhaled, leaning into him. “Well, at least someone does.”

  Placing a kiss to his cheek, she moved out of his arms, leaving him in the hall shaking his head. He wasn’t sure why she felt that way, but he still believed it had nothing to do with her family.

  And everything to do with something else.

  Or maybe someone.

  “Wells this, Wells that. Did you know that Wells needs to have his ass bleached before the wedding? No? Well, he does.” Jensen scoffed as he scrubbed his head, listening to Wren complain. “Honestly, Jenny, did you hear anything about us? Did they ask once how our marriage was going? Or even how your parents are? It was all about us at your house. But here, it’s about every fucking thing but us. Ugh!”

  “Babe, it’s nothing to get worked up about.”

  “But it is. Doesn’t it bother you?”

  “I mean, it was annoying, but I’m not going to let it bother me.”

  “Well, I am.”

  “Obviously.”

  “And I think it’s rude! Not once did my mom ask anything about my pregnancy. All my dad did was bitch about the money for the wedding. I swear, I don’t get it. Like, where are the questions? Why hasn’t anyone brought up the fucking inheritance? Nothing!”

  “Maybe because they believe us?”

  “No, they’re up to something.”

  “Wren, that’s a little ridiculous. Just be happy.”

  “No, I don’t trust them. I hate it here.”

  “I sort of got that.”

  “Well, just in case you’re wondering. Why aren’t you done?”

  He smiled at the shower door, the same shower door he had used when he was growing up. His bedroom with Wells connected to one side of the bathroom, while Wren’s connected the other way. Even when they were younger, they would do this. He’d be in the shower while she did her makeup or hair or whatever. It had been normal for them. But now…it was different.

  Because he wanted her in the shower with him.

  Well, he probably wanted that when he was younger too, but he hadn’t seen enough porn then to realize it could definitely happen.

  “I’m talking to you.”

  “Well, hurry up. I wanna get in so I don’t have to go back out there.”

  “You don’t want dessert?”

  “No. I want to shower and go to bed.”

  “Someone is grumpy, and probably needs dessert.”

  He could just imagine her face all scrunched up, and it brought a grin to his own face. “Someone needs their family not to care about only one kid when there are two.”

  Shaking his head, he pushed the door open, popping his head out and around the enclosure to see her leaning on the counter, messing with her nails. Her eyes were flooded with tears as she looked up to find him watching her. “Baby.”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “You’re not.”

  “I am, and I’m just being a child. I don’t need their love. I don’t need their attention.”

  “Wrenya.”

  She shook her head as a tear ran down her cheek. “It’s just annoying, and I hate that I think I need it. I’m a fucking amazing woman, I have a great job, I’m married to you, and we’re having a kid. I’m obviously good, so I don’t know why I fucking care.”

  “Ma chou.”

  She looked up. “What?”

  “Take your clothes off.”

  Her brows pulled together. “What? Why?”

  “I mean, I can pull you in here, clothes and all, and still make love to you, but I’d rather not ruin the shirt you just bought.”

  Her lips quirked as she watched him, her eyes widening a bit. She then pushed her shorts down her legs with her panties, leaving her deliciously naked from the waist down. “So thoughtful.”

  “I thought so. Now come on.” Before he went back into the shower, he caught a glimpse of her pulling her shirt off, and then she was entering the shower, so damn beautiful, his breath caught. “Come here,” he said, pulling her under the hot water and wrapping his arms around her as their lips met. Clinging to him, she slid her hands down his wet back to his ass, holding him as he devoured her mouth. Moving her against the wall, he kissed down her neck to her breasts before nibbling on her nipple.

  “Trying to distract me, I see.”

  “Is it working?” he asked before moving to her other nipple.

  “I’d say so,” she said, her head falling back as she moved her fingers through his hair. “Jesus.”

  His body went rock hard as a chill ran down his spine, while he gave nothing but love to her swollen, beautiful tits. As he cupped her center, she arched into his hand, and he shook with want. He still couldn’t believe he was doing this. With her. Making love to the woman he had loved for as long as he could remember. He had dreamed of this, and the reality was better than any of his dreams. She was perfect. Kissing down her stomach, he dipped his tongue into her belly button as the water moved down his back and over his ass.

  “Jensen,” she breathed as he ran his tongue along her lower lips, kissing her inner thighs. She tasted like heaven. “Jensen, I want you inside me.”

  She didn’t have to ask twice. Sliding up her body, he went to pick up her leg, but she moved him around, pressing her body into his as his back hit the cold tile. “Got ya,” she teased, her eyes wickedly evil as she kissed down his chest.

  “I think this is the only time I want to be gotten.”

  Chuckling softly, she raked her teeth down his chest, her fingers following her mouth. He was in awe of how sexy she looked, the water flowing down her beautiful body, her sweet ass perked out as she dropped to her knees, running her nose along him with her fingers following and taking away his breath. He gasped out when she took his hard length in her hands, and she sent him a kittenish grin before running her tongue along his tip. His toes curled against the tile, his heart freezing in his chest as she took him into her beautiful mouth. His cock disappeared inch by inch until his eyes fell shut and his muttered groans filled what felt like a suddenly tiny shower.

  Threading his hand in her hair, he arched into her mouth as his body shook. Her mouth, her teeth, drove him downright insane. She took him in and out of her mouth, her eyes never leaving his, and he wasn’t sure what was better. The torture her sweet mouth was inflicting, or the destruction those green depths were causing to his soul.

  “I fucking love you,” he muttered, his hand gripping a handful of her hair as she moved up and down h
im, sucking him so deep and with so much force, he was sure he was coming out of his skin. As she sucked him hard, her mouth moving off with a loud popping noise, she gazed up at him. “Ever imagine this when we were younger?”

  He couldn’t breathe, but he somehow got out, “I don’t think I saw enough porn to ever imagine this.”

  She giggled, running her tongue along his head. “Remember that one summer? I think you were eighteen, and you had come for that camp. I don’t remember what—”

  “Junior training.” He then paused. “Why are we talking?”

  She giggled. “I need to tell you this.” Her eyes were playful, her tongue coming out to wrap around his swollen, throbbing cock. “We had gone to that bridge over off Old Man Knocker’s hill.”

  “Yeah,” he gasped as her hand cupped his balls. “I remember.”

  She smiled, moving her hands up and down his length. “Well, we were gross, and Wells decided to shower in Mom’s room. So we raced for this bathroom, and you beat me. I remember you had started getting naked in the living room, and the only reason you beat me was because I saw your dick, and it stunned me. Dead in my tracks. All I wanted was to know how it felt in my hands. To touch you, to watch you squirm. It was insane what I was feeling.”

  His brows drew in. “You must have been watching porn way before me.” Her face broke into a grin as her laughter filled the bathroom, and he reached down, pulling her up and into his arms as he turned them, covering her body with his. “I can’t take that torture.”

  “Aw, but it’s fun,” she whispered against his lips. “Your squirm is sexy.”

  “You’re damned evil, woman.”

  “Only for you,” she answered as he picked her up under her knee, opening her and entering with one thrust that had their mouths mingling in a moan as his fingers bit into her leg. Picking up speed, he gripped her, his own orgasm building even more as he thrust up into her. His whole body was tingling, his heart was pounding, and he knew damn well it would never feel like this with anyone else but her.

  Only her.

  And as he came, he came hard, lights going off behind his lids before he braced himself to keep from squishing her, and he stilled inside of her. Gripping her leg, he moaned loudly against her mouth, but she caught it in hers, kissing him hard as her fingers threaded through his hair. Dropping her leg, he wrapped his arms around her neck, kissing her as he tried to breathe, his heart nearly coming out of his chest as he opened his eyes, meeting her gaze.