She tugs once more, and I come to a stop before I face her. My heart is heavy with guilt and shame. If she hadn’t tied herself to me, her family could have given her the life Colt has. They could have opened doors and made a path for her that was taken away when she chose me. When I feel her soft fingers on my face, I lean in to her touch.
“I never wanted that life. Even before you.” She can always read my thoughts so perfectly. “And seeing him?” She shakes her head. “It proves what I see every day.”
“That we’re broke?” I offer, and a smile tugs at her lips.
“That I made the right decision. That my brilliant husband will one day change the world and then everyone else will finally see why I gave it all up.”
“I love you.” I pull her against me, and before she can respond, my lips are on hers.
With her in my arms, I practically run to the apartment. Once we’re inside, I kick the door closed and then push her against it. I can’t get over the memory of Colt’s eyes on my wife, and the only way to make it better is to fuck my ownership into her.
I unbutton her little shorts and roughly push them off of her. With one arm on her hip and the other on her bare ass, I watch her fumble for the front of my shorts.
“Get it out,” I say, licking and biting my way down her neck. “I need you.”
Her fingers wrap around my shaft, and I feel her squeeze it once before she’s sliding it through her wet folds. As soon as the head of my cock nudges her opening, I’m thrusting inside and sheathing myself in her warmth. I grunt when I’m fully seated, and I just stay like that, with my teeth in the tender skin of her shoulder. Like an animal, I let my body claim hers before nature takes over and I’m rutting against her.
“Darian,” she groans, her knees widening and her arms clinging to me. “Harder.”
The door bangs against the rusted hinges, but I don’t give a fuck if the neighbors hear. Let them listen to my wife call my name, because that’s the only name she’ll ever call.
“You’re mine, goddamn it.” I push up her little half shirt and pull down the soft cup of her bra. When her nipple is free, I latch on to it, and I feel her pussy clench in response. She’s so close so fast, and I get bigger inside her.
“Right there, right there,” she chants, tilting her hips, and I thrust against that spot over and over.
It’s hot and fast, but when she cums, I follow her over the edge in a blaze of fire. There’s no part of her that doesn’t love me, and that power is like a drug. She fills all the empty places I try to create, and before I know what’s happening, she heals me. Every time we connect I’m made brand new, and it’s all because of our love.
I wonder if I’ll ever look back on this time and miss it.
Chapter 9
Rosy
Present day…
I tug on the top of the custom-made dress wondering why the hell it’s so damn tight. This is going to be a long night, and we haven’t even left yet. Just putting this thing on has me ready for cozy clothes and the couch. I used to love getting dressed up for date night, but now the task can be daunting. It’s not just Darian and me out on the town, it’s lots of people and I’m playing a part. How have I fallen into the routine, or rather how have we fallen into this?
All these years later and my heart still flutters when I think of marrying Darian. It’s only in the past couple of years that everything’s changed. It’s like we hit the lottery, only this wasn't luck. It was all Darian and his brilliant mind and years of working finally paying off. I’ve known since high school my Darian would do something great, and it finally happened for the both of us.
Most people who meet him know that not only is he incredibly smart, he’s incredibly driven. If Darian gets his mind set on something, there’s no stopping him. It’s one of the things I love most about my husband because it’s how he got me.
I check my phone again to see if I have any missed calls or texts, but he must have been too busy today. I haven't heard a peep from him since this morning when he woke me with his mouth. After he sent me into a pleasure-filled sleep, I woke up to an empty house.
His days are always full because everyone wants a piece of him. I don’t blame them, but I’m starting to get jealous of the people who are getting most of his time. Hell, a year ago the Pentagon wanted a meeting with him. That’s what happens when you create software that can not only identify people’s faces but it can also read body language too. Darian created software that can not only assess people in seconds but determine what they are most likely feeling and what they are going to do next.
Everyone wanted their hands on the technology. From the military, phone companies, and even people who design toys. I don’t even fully understand how it works, yet it keeps growing. So much so that Darian has been working with the government as a consultant more often than not.
I smile when the phone in my hand rings, and I see it’s Lindsey. “Hey. What’s going on?”
“It’s still weird to me when I see my brother's name come up while I’m watching TV. I swear I hear more about what’s going on in his life from the news than from him.” I bark a laugh because it’s funny and true.
“What are they saying today? Please don’t say he’s been asked to do Dancing with the Stars or something.” This time Lindsey laughs.
“No, some dating app. I guess you link it up with your social media. It pairs you with people who are supposed to be the most compatible based on things you’ve liked or places you often go. I don’t know, this shit is always over my head.”
“I hear you. You gonna try the app?”
“Maybe. With the twins always gone it might give me something to do with my free time,” she says, shocking me. I think Lindsey might be experiencing empty nest syndrome. In the blink of an eye we went from barely making ends meet to having more money than we could all spend if we had ten lifetimes.
A month ago, the twins took off to travel, and Lindsey didn’t want to go with them. I understood that this was a chance for them to live their lives, but it seems like Lindsey is left twiddling her thumbs.
“You need something to fill the days. At least that’s how I’ve been feeling.”
Allison and Amber have been all over the globe and show no signs of coming back anytime soon. They are out living their best life, which is what Darian has always wanted. His mission has been to take care of the women he loves, but I don’t know if he’ll ever understand that he’s been doing that all along.
“You can come with Darian and me tonight. I bet there will be lots of bachelors. It might actually make this fun if you come with me.”
“Hard pass.”
“Yeah, I figured as much,” I sigh.
“I was just calling to check in.”
“Same old same, or I guess it’s all new, but it feels old going to all these events. I’m not sure what tonight is about since they all blend together.”
We get lost on the phone talking about parties and then the twins and what they’re up to. When we hang up, I realize it’s been over thirty minutes and Darian still isn't home yet. He used to rush home to me, and now his nights at work are later and later.