The Deputies: 3 Novella Box Set Read Online Free PDF Page B

again. No matter what she’d done, she was still his wife and as such deserved his respect. He’d treated her like a whore last night and he wasn’t very proud of himself. She deserved an apology and a chance to tell him off.
    For a moment his chest clenched in fear that she might leave. The whole idea had been to disgust her to such an extent that she would go but now that he might have succeeded he wasn’t near as happy about it as he thought he would be.
    Fuck.
    Luke blew into his straw making bubbles in his chocolate milk. Hershey was sitting patiently at his feet hoping the soon to be six year old would drop a piece of bacon. Alyssa was warming up both their coffees before taking a seat between Luke and Hank.
    “We don’t blow bubbles in our milk, sweetie.” Alyssa moved the cup a few inches back but Luke just laughed.
    “I do, Mom. I can blow them even bigger. Watch!” Luke reached for the cup again but Alyssa pinched the straw from the glass.
    “Maybe I should have said it differently. You aren’t going to blow bubbles in your milk. But I love you. Now finish your toast.” With her sunny smile, their homey domestic scene seemed a far cry from the night before.
    He was also impressed by how easily she handled any shenanigans from Luke. In the most loving but firm way possible, she’d stop the monkeyshines and redirect their rambunctious son into more orderly activities.
    It was certainly different than how she’d dealt with Luke’s chronic colic or his climbing phase when he was two and a half. Then she’d seemed unsure of herself, almost tentative. He was starting to feel decidedly unneeded. She’d had herself up, showered and dressed along with an ornery Luke before Hank woke up.
    Luke pushed his plate away after slipping the last of his bacon to Hershey. “I’m full. Can I take Hershey for a walk? Please, Mom?”
    She surprised him when she turned to him and placed her hand on his arm. His pulse jumped to life and he was forced to look her in the eyes for the first time that day. There wasn’t any anger or animosity. If anything, they were calm and cool.
    “How about you take Hershey and play with him in the backyard? Just stay in the fence. We can take him for a walk in a little while.”
    “Okay,” Luke agreed cheerfully. “How long is a little while?”
    His son was certainly smart.
    Alyssa laughed and stood to clear the table. “Half an hour. Deal?”
    “Deal.” Luke scampered outside with a barking puppy at his heels.
    The silence stretched as Alyssa unloaded the dishwasher from last night and Hank picked at his eggs. He needed to man up and get it over with.
    “Do you feel like grilling out tonight? We’ve got chicken–”
    “Listen,” he cut in. “I’m sorry, okay? I acted like an ass last night and I apologize. I hope we can put this behind us. You were right when you said we need to do better for Luke.”
    Alyssa picked up a dishtowel and wiped off her hands. “Your apology is accepted although I’m not sure what you’re sorry for. Drinking? Having sex? Just what do you think you did wrong, Hank?”
    That was an answer he hadn’t expected. She was full of surprises this morning. “For both, I guess. Going to the bar was dumb and well—later—I shouldn’t have done that, Lis. I’m sorry.”
    He was studying his eggs again feeling like ten kinds of shit. He also didn’t like that he had lost the moral high ground he’d had yesterday.
    “Look at me, Hank.” Lifting his head, their gazes locked. “I’m not sorry we had sex. I’m glad we did. It had been way too long, don’t you think?”
    “You’re….glad? But I was so…”
    “Dominant? Demanding? Alpha?” A smile played on his beautiful wife’s lips. She didn’t look upset in the least. She looked…glowing.
    Hank’s lips twisted and his face flushed. “I was going to say I acted like a jerk. I’m sorry I was so rough.”
    “Don’t be. I liked it. It was exciting.” Now her cheeks were pink but her