Even though her face was buried in my arm, I felt her lips curl into a sly smile against my skin.
“Someone’s demanding my attention.”
“Who could that be?” she murmured.
“My wife.”
“This wife of yours is a pest, isn’t she?”
“Not at all. She’s smart, fun, and I can’t get enough of her.”
She wiggled her ass. I scooped her up, bringing her into my lap.
“Sounds like you like her,” she said on a grin.
“Very much. I think it’s time I showed her, just so I don’t leave room for any doubt.”
Her grin widened even more. “Excellent idea.”
***
Departure day came all too soon. Josie was in a bad mood while we packed. She slammed her suitcase shut, cursing when the zipper wouldn’t budge. I offered to close it for her before she ripped it.
She took a long shower afterward. I surprised her by ordering a slice of her favorite hazelnut cake.
“What’s this?” she asked when she returned to the bedroom.
“I ordered it for you. I’m expecting you to spit fire any second now.”
She gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry... I’m usually cranky on the last vacation day.”
I tapped my temple. “Learned that today. Stored it right here for future reference. I’ll make sure you start your day with cake.”
“Fair warning, it might get worse once we’re at home.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Her mood improved from the shot of sugar. She snapped a few pictures on the way out of the hotel.
She slept on the first leg of the journey, but when she woke up, she was moody again. Didn’t smile, didn’t joke.
“You okay, Josie?”
“Yes, just a bit nervous. Managed to forget about the immigration services and everything while we were away, but now I can’t help imagining doomsday scenarios.”
“Have you thought about the annulment? I can still make it happen.”
Say no. Say no.
Just the thought of her saying yes made me feel as if the rug had been swept from under me and I’d plowed face-first into a wall.
“The annulment,” she repeated.
I straightened in my seat, nodding. “Yes. I can ask my lawyers to have everything ready by the time we land.”
“Is this what you want?”
No. A million times no.
Since we decided to go through with this, all I’ve wanted was to keep Josie, and that feeling had intensified after the honeymoon. But I needed to at least attempt to do the right thing.
“This isn’t about me. It’s about you feeling comfortable. I’ll deal with the fallout. I don’t want you to feel pressured. Josie, I swear I’ll understand if you want to get that annulment. Nothing will change between us.”
“I said I’d help. I’m not going back on my word,” she snapped.
Instead of feeling relieved that she didn’t want an annulment, I was even more unsettled than before, because somehow things were worse between us than before we had this conversation.
She placed headphones over her ears, pulling up a movie on the screen.
When we arrived at the house, there was still tension between us. It wasn’t my style to ignore a problem or tiptoe around it, so after dinner, I cornered her in the kitchen. She was making tea for herself. I stood right beside her.
“Josie, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You’ve been snappy with me ever since we talked about the annulment. If that’s what you want, say it. I don’t want you to keep doing this just because you gave me your word. That’s a bullshit reason to do anything.”
Her eyes flashed. “Keeping a promise is bullshit?”
“That’s not what I mean. Going through with something difficult just because you gave your word is... necessary sometimes, but not with us. You’re mad at me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think?”
“I have no clue, or I wouldn’t be asking you.”
She was pissed, but so was I. I didn’t like guessing games.
“You brought up the annulment as if... as if it was nothing.”
She blew out a breath, blinking fast. It occurred to me that she wasn’t playing games. She just didn’t know how I felt. Probably thought the annulment didn’t matter to me either way.
“Look at me.” My voice was determined, but she kept staring over my shoulder. “Josie...”
She sucked in a breath when I touched her jaw, tilting her head until we had eye contact.
“It’s not nothing. I don’t know what I’d do if you said yes, because I need you. I want you.”
She sucked in a breath. Her eyes were searching me, uncertain. I wanted to erase any doubt. I cupped her head with both hands, pressing her in that corner, between the counter and the wall.
“Things changed between us, Josie, and I like the way they are. I fucking love it. Being with you, sharing my life with you... it’s incredible. You are incredible. I’m the luckiest bastard on earth. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, or what this will mean for us... for our friendship, but I don’t want to give it up, okay?”
***
Josie
God, the way he was looking at me... as if I was the only woman in the world.
“Okay.” I nodded, just in case I’d spoken too low for him to hear. He’d seen right through me, and I felt raw, exposed. When he’d brought up the annulment, I’d felt as if I’d been slapped. I’d been so afraid that I was the only one whose feelings had changed that I didn’t even know what to do or say.
But he wanted me. He wanted us.
Hunter drew his thumb over my lower lip before claiming my mouth. He hadn’t kissed me since we woke up this morning, which was far too long. I gave in to his kiss, responding to his passion with fervor, wanting to give him everything he demanded. When we pulled apart, I was torn. I wanted to kiss him, but I didn’t want to break eye contact because that look just about brought me to my knees. So much warmth and affection underneath all the passion. I wanted to indulge in it for as long as he was mine.
He kissed me again, scooping me up in his arms, carrying me to the master bedroom. I touched his arms, the planes of his chest and shoulders, wanting to rid him of all clothes. But where I was hurrying, Hunter slowed us down.
After ridding me of an item of clothing, he covered my skin with kisses. When I was only wearing panties, he took a step back, looking me up and down. All my nerve endings were burning in anticipation, and when he removed my panties too, I jumped right in his arms. He was naked already, his cock wedged between us. We tumbled on the bed, laughing. He pinned my hands at the sides of my head, kissing me so ferociously that I moaned against his mouth.
Life with this man was exhilarating. Being his wife was nothing like I’d imagined, and I meant that in the best possible way. With every kiss, he made me feel alive, adored... claimed. With every day we spent together, I discovered new sides to him, despite having known him for fifteen years, and the more I discovered, the deeper I fell into him.
“What are you thinking about?” he murmured, touching my cheek, kissing down my jaw, my neck.