Sparrow

by L.J. Shen

I hated that look. It was the look she gave me before I hired her. Before I went down on her. Before I thought she’d cracked. You’re a tough nut, Red.

She acted like I was going to kidnap her and deliver her straight into the arms of ISIS. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they, too, found themselves struggling to contain the wrath of this girl.

realized that I’d just had my ass handed to me on a plate by a twenty-two-year-old virgin. She didn’t even give me a side of ketchup. Just sent me to the fucking naughty spot.

This was crossing the line. Hell, it was sprinting right past it, crossing a dozen more lines I never knew even existed.

“I’m a good runner.” “And I’m an excellent chaser,” he whispered.

“Is that a request or an order?” “That depends on your answer.”

I was getting too old for this shit, and frankly, the only woman I was vaguely interested in screwing right now hated my guts and happened to be my wife.

“Ah, crap,” he said. I nodded. Crap, indeed.

the little obsession I’d started nurturing toward my wife.

“Just leave me alone.” “We have reservations for nine.” “I’m not hungry,” she bit out. “It’s the best place in Miami. Two Michelin stars. You can hate me tomorrow, the day after and for the rest of your life, but who knows the next time you’ll be able to visit a world-class restaurant other than the one your husband owns.”

Knocking twice on the car’s roof and the air out of my lungs,

“We were busy doing things far more interesting.” Yeah, like getting drunk in separate wings of the hotel and hating on each other.

I knew he got high on this exchange, too. Our fighting recharged him. He already looked a little better, like he’d caught a quick nap.

“I’m an asshole, and you can’t stay away from me.”

I sure don’t intend to comfortably fit into the tidy, screwed-up box you created for me.

“I’m rooting for you,” he continued, ignoring my jab. “I’m fucking your life up, and you’re still trying to claw your way out of the quicksand. It’s hard not to admire that.”

I wanted to play, too, even though we both knew he was going to break the toy. Me.

“This is your G-spot.” He bit my earlobe from behind. “Nice to meet ya.”

“Such a breath of fresh air. Messing around with me like I can’t break you in two.”

“I changed my mind.” His voice had a hard edge. “I’m not letting you fly away. Ever.”

“If you know that I’m working, why’re you calling?” “To piss you off, of course.”

“I’ve already saved one wild bird,” I reminded her. “And she keeps me damn busy.”

Spending time inside my wife had become my favorite hobby. I had finally found my weakness, and sure enough, it was between Red’s legs.

For now, she was here. With me. I intended to keep it that way.

“You better not be decent. I’m coming in.”

“You’re a little fucked up, Sparrow. I like that.”

“I’m your husband, and I’m going to do very marital things to you right now.”

“You’re impossible to deal with,” I said, pouting, but hell, I was enjoying this ping-pong. “And you love it.” He planted another kiss, this time on my forehead, as he scooped me into his arms.

He scooped me into a bear hug again, locking me in his arms. His lips grinned against my skin. Did he find me adorable?

He gave me lies, and I ate them from the palm of his hand. He gave me lies, and for him, I closed my eyes.

I was so busy telling Sparrow how much she wanted me, I forgot a small little detail—I wanted her back. More.

“You’re digging up the same grave where your husband buried your mom.”

“I’ll save you a place in hell.” “Don’t wait up.” Troy’s voice dropped considerably. “I’ll be late.”

“Fuck, I’m so sorry, Red.” He kept on repeating it, more to himself than to me.

It was also the second time he took my heart with him. But it was the first time I realized that I would never have it back. He owned it, clutched it in his iron fist. And sometimes, I knew, he squeezed too hard.

The last thing I wanted was to hurt you, Red. The first thing I needed was to keep you.