Chapter Thirty-Seven

“You are never dragging me to the ballet again!” Brenden pulled the keys from the ignition then exited the car, spinning and leaping as he imitated a male dancer before opening the passenger side door.

Paige rolled her eyes, unable to contain her laughter as he delivered his best solo performance. “The Nutcracker is a classic, Brenden Jasper. ’Tis the season.” He shrugged, chuckling as he took her hand and led them into the house. “And I didn’t complain about your snorkeling adventure.”

In fact, she hadn’t objected to any of the time they had spent together in the weeks gone by as part of the promise he made to reclaim his life.

“For all of two seconds.” He let her hand go then left to drop his keys on the hall table. “You let a baby barracuda run you out of the water.”

She giggled. “They have teeth.”

“I would’ve protected you.” His face became serious, and so did hers as he walked back toward her.

He stood less than an arm’s length from her as she breathed in his delicious, spicy scent, knowing he would protect her. Ever since he found her in the nursery four weeks ago and confessed how he had ended the man who poisoned her, she had no doubt that Brenden would do anything to ensure her safety.

“I know,” she said, “thank you.” And not just for keeping me safe, but for trying to be “us” again.

Their eyes met, igniting embers of desire that had been suppressed for far too long. Brenden leaned in, testing her lips as Paige wrapped her arms around his neck, willing him to continue. He swept her up and cradled her in his arms. His lips found hers again and demanded her affections. Paige clung to the promise of passion as Brenden carried her upstairs. Once inside their bedroom, his hooded gaze communicated unspoken desire. He then eased her down his hard length. Her heart began unbreaking, body temperature climbing, as if it had been lit by ten sticks of dynamite. She had endured a season in hell for this moment.

So long to unkind nights. Tonight, for the first time since he’d returned home, her world was being righted. Proof was the kiss ravaging her mouth. It was demanding, dominant, adoring, everything she had come to expect from the man she had said I do to.

Paige took a deep breath, dizzy from the affections of her one and only. She watched Brenden shrug out of his jacket and unbutton his shirt. He was still a damn dream with golden tanned skin and washboard abs. Unlike her, who still carried a few extra pounds from the pregnancy.

“I’d protect you from anything,” he rasped, stilling as his line of sight went down to her sudden, unexpected hold upon his hand. The silk of her blouse slipped from his fingers. She folded her arms across her body before turning away from his penetrating stare. Brenden gently turned her face back to meet his. “Why do you turn away from me?”

“My body…it isn’t the same as before.”

“You’re fucking beautiful,” he growled. His hand cupped her ass, melding her body into his as they fell onto the bed. After months of aching and loneliness, they were now one again. Passion and desire would no longer remain silent. “Don’t ever hide from me.” Buttons popped off her shirt, and the silk of her blouse fell open as he tugged her skirt down. “You’re beautiful. You’re my wife, and I need you.”

“I need you, too,” she panted, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Between mind-numbing kisses, Paige lost her bra and panties. Brenden leaned in, silently appraising her naked body. An unmistakable hunger lingered in his mesmerizing eyes and wiped all apprehension away. The strength of his body and warmth of his skin against hers had a dizzying effect. No other man would ever make her feel so weak and alive at once.

“Let me show you how much I need you.” He grabbed her ankles, pulled her closer, and then spread her legs wide.

She was on full display and ready for him to pull his well-endowed cock out and take her however he wanted. He lowered and pressed his lips into her thighs. Kiss by kiss, he traced a hot path up to the folds of her pussy. Pleasure pumped through her veins, unleashing a wildfire as Brenden sunk two fingers within her dripping heat. She wanted, no needed, this, and was grateful for the wave of ecstasy that had brought them back to their marriage bed.

“Mmm…feels good,” she moaned.

Brenden latched his mouth onto her pussy. His tongue speared into her hot center. “Tastes so damn good.”

Paige laced her fingers in his hair and held tight for dear life. His reckless hedonism elevated her to some private destination as he feverishly polished her clit. Her hips bucked, encouraged by his dirty talk as his tongue fucked her into oblivion.

“Oh gawd.” Her legs shook. “Oooo…oh, Brenden,” she gasped, as a white-hot orgasm ripped through her body.

…

Brenden’s head buzzed. He sat back on his haunches, drunk with desire. He could eat her all night long and never tire of watching her submit. Willpower overrode lust. He wanted so much more, and he didn’t want their first time after the accident to be too indecent.

Although, if he were honest, there wasn’t one decent thought going through his head as he studied the erratic rise and fall of her chest. His mouth watered at her pebbled nipples, and his cock grew harder at the wetness weeping from her pussy. The ebony goddess lying before him awakened a deep, dark, primitive hunger. Never could he remember wanting a woman as much as he wanted Paige.

An ache penetrated his heart as he slid from the bed and quickly removed his pants. All the while wishing he could recall every intimate moment he had ever shared with his wife.

“My turn,” Paige purred, pulling him from his thoughts. She crawled to him at the edge of the bed and grabbed his cock. Her tongue licked around the fat mushroom head, forcing a guttural groan to slip from him. “I’ve missed sucking your fat dick,” she said before taking him in her mouth.

“Fuck,” he roared. “Your mouth is sin.” His eyes closed, enjoying how she sucked him deeper down her throat, but he didn’t want to come yet. He wanted to be inside her. “Not like this, baby.” He eased his cock from her mouth. In one swift motion, he had them back in the center of the bed. “I’m ready to be balls deep in your pussy, Paige.”

“Please,” she moaned, before fastening her mouth to his.

Brenden steadied the tip of his dick at her entrance. The heat from her pussy melted him, while the wetness gave him permission to slide past the silken folds of her sex. His dick dipped in, but not far because she was tight. He pulled back, managing to control the beast within. He rocked his hips back into her, pushing deeper.

“Mmm…”

“Mmm, what?” he challenged, sinking back inside her. “That’s it. Take it all.”

Paige wrapped her legs around his waist. She tilted her pelvis up to meet his thrust. Brenden clutched the covers as he buried his head in the spot between her neck and shoulder. He moaned, relishing the way her pussy stretched to accommodate him.

Her scent was sweet, feminine, familiar. His mind swirled, and distant images of the woman lying underneath him came into view. Each image highlighting her body trapped within his rapture and his within hers. Paige was more delicious than he ever dreamed, with her lush body, seductive moans, and intoxicating kisses. His wife was perfect in every way, and the tight sheath of her pussy was beyond compare.

He went still. His eyes bore into hers. Something told him this wasn’t the first time he had that thought. Except he couldn’t remember when or why.

“You don’t want this?” Her hand gently caressed his cheek.

“How could I not?” He snapped out of it, then pushed his dick to the hilt, forcing her to call his name. “You’re so damn tight. So sweet, so good.”

Brenden picked up the pace. He slammed into her, feet tingling, heart racing, and more determined than ever to reconquer her body. She was his, and tonight he was determined to remind her of the man he was. The smoke was clearing, and perhaps soon it would all be gone, for he was desperate to have every memory return of them together like this.