Home > Work > Cherish Hard (Hard Play, #1)
1 " Tell me you got back at him.""Are you kidding? I smiled like the perfect Indian princess, asked hi one sugar or two and put in seven. You should've seen his face when he had to choke it down or risk insulting my entire family." Total evil satisfaction in her tone. "
― Nalini Singh , Cherish Hard (Hard Play, #1)
2 " Suzanne and I are pregnant!""I didn't realize you had a uterus, "
3 " Taking a deep breath, Sailor decided to lay himself at her feet. "I was imagining the future and thinking of how if everything went according to plan, I'd have a very successful business with a high turnover."He made sure his hands were locked behind Ísa's back--just in case she decided to leave him in her dust a fourth time. "And since I'd be rich, I'd be able to buy houses and other nice things for my family."Ísa frowned. "I don't think your family expects that.""They don't exactly need my largess either," Sailor muttered. "But in my future fantasy, I'm buying everyone fancy cars and houses. Go with it."Ísa's lips twitched. "Okay, big spender. What else is fantasy Sailor doing?""He's building a ginormous mansion. Swimming pool, tennis court, the works.""Is he hiring a buff personal masseuse named Sven?""Hell no." He glared at her. "The masseuse is a fifty-year-old forner bodybuilder named Helga. Now, can I carry on?"Pretending to zip up her lips and throw away the key, Ísa made a "go on" motion."Future Sailor is also creating a huge walk-in closet for you and filling it with designer shoes and clothes. He's giving you everything your heart desires."A flicker of darkness in Ísa's gaze, but she didn't interrupt... though her hands went still on his shoulders."And there's a tricked-out nursery too," he added. "Plus a private playground for our rug rats."Throat moving, Ísa said, "How many?" It was a husky question."Seven, I think.""Very funny, mister.""I'm not done." Sailor was the one who swallowed this time. "And in this fantasy house, future Sailor walks in late for dinner again because of a board meeting, and he has a gorgeous, sexy, brilliant wife and adorable children. But his redhead doesn't look at him the same anymore. And it doesn't matter how many shoes he buys her or how many necklaces he gives her, she's never again going to look at him the way she did before he stomped on her heart.Ísa's lower lip began to quiver, but she didn't speak."I'm so sorry, baby." Sailor cupped her face, made sure she saw the sheer terror he felt at the thought of losing her. "I've been so tied to this idea of becoming a grand success that I forgot what it was all about in the first place--being there for the people I love. Sticking through the good and the bad. Never abandoning them."Silent tears rolled own Ísa's face."But that great plan of mine?" he said, determined not to give himself any easy outs. "It'd have mean abandoning everyone. How can I be there for anyone when all I do is work? When I shove aside all other commitments? When the people I love hesitate to ask for my time because I'm too tired and too busy?"Using his thumbs, he rubbed away her tears. More splashed onto the backs of his hands, her hurt as hot as acid. "Spitfire, please," he begged, breaking. "I'll let you punch me as many times as you want if you stop crying. With a big red glove. And you can post photos online."Ísa pressed her lips together, blinked rapidly several times. And pretended to punch him with one fist, the touch a butterfly kiss.Catching her hand, he pressed his lips to it. "That's more like my Ísa." He wrapped his arms around her again. And then he told her the most important thing. "I realized that I could become a multimillionaire, but it would mean nothing if my redhead didn't look at me the way she does now, if she expected to have to take care of everything alone like she's always done--because her man was a selfish bastard who was never there."Ísa rubbed her nose against his. "You're being very hard on future Sailor," she whispered, her voice gone throaty."That dumbass deserves it," Sailor growled. "He was going to put his desire to be a big man above his amazing, smart, loving redhead. "
4 " Hands off." Sailor pointed a finger at his troublemaking brother. "I may not be able to take you down in a fair fight, but I can spike your beer with laxatives. "
5 " Wetting her throat, she managed to say, "Did you bring protection?"Sailor froze. A second later, he groaned and dropped his head. "I hate myself right now," he said. "My cock hates me even more. "
6 " Never, not in her wildest dreams, had she dared to imagine that she'd be that important to someone. As if she was air and without her, he couldn't breathe."I love you too," she whispered. "And I forgive future Sailor for being a dumbass." Linking her arms around his neck, she spoke through the storm inside her. "In fact, I think future Sailor is going to be an incredible man I'll adore more with each and every day.""Yeah?" His lips kicked up in that familiar smile, but there was a question in his eyes, a quiet hunger. "What's he going to do?"Ísa knew what he was asking her, what he needed her to tell him. "He's going to be a man who works hard but who has time for the people he loves. And he definitely has time to get up to wicked things with a certain redhead.""I like this guy's priorities already.""He's also the kind of father who takes a turn doing the school run because he enjoys spending time with his child." It was scary doing this, laying out her dreams, but Sailor had given her everything.Ísa would be brave enough to give him the same back. "He has time to play with his baby, and to kiss his wife, and even if he forgets things now and then, or if he gets a little busy for a while, it's all right because his wife and child and all the members of his family know they're loved beyond measure." Perfection had never been what Ísa wanted. "Because when it matters, he's there. He sees the people who love him."Demon-blue eyes solemn, Sailor said, "I can do that." It was a vow. "I can be that guy.""You already are." Ísa whispered. "You're my dream, Sailor."But Sailor shook his head. "You ain't seen nothing yet, spitfire. I'm going to court the hell out of you." After a meditative pause, he added, "Nakedness during said courting is optional but highly encouraged."He was wonderful. And he was hers. "
7 " As her little sister Catie had once said, “Life’s too short to waste on boring accessories. "
8 " His entire body smiled. "
9 " Cupping his face, Ísa kissed him with wild affection. "Thank you for caring."He rolled his eyes. "That's like thanking me for breathing." She was his; of course he'd care for her and those who were important to her. "
10 " After blowing out the candle in one puff once the song was over, she took a careful bite. He waited for her to spit it back out, but she actually swallowed, then took a second bite. "Try it," she said around the mouthful. "It's pretty good."Sailor figured she was pulling his leg, but it was her birthday after all. He took a bite. And felt his eyes widen. "I'm a culinary genius." Actually, the cake was chewy and dense, but there was no salt instead of sugar, which, in his book made this a win.But even better was seeing Ísa smile with open happiness. "
11 " project. “You "