Lake watched his wife from the shop window of his security store. His eyes ate her up as she walked across the cobbled street, the midday sun glinting in her long red hair. Today she wore a green pencil skirt that hugged her curves, a soft pink blouse that begged a man to touch, and a pair of pale pink stiletto heels. Damn, but he was almost drooling just from looking at her.
“I thought things cooled down once you’d been married for a few years,” Ryan Granger, who was up from the London office for a meeting, commented from the door to the back of the shop. “You’re looking at her like you’re a starving man and she’s a juicy steak.”
“If things cool down in your marriage, you’re doing something wrong. You might discover that for yourself one day.” He cast a glance at the younger man. “Meeting’s just been pushed back an hour.”
“Yeah, I figured that.” Ryan shook his head, as though Lake’s behavior was a mystery to him. “Guess I’ll go for a walk then.”
“Text my receptionist and tell her to extend her lunch break, will you?”
“Sure.” He dug his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll let her know just how busy the boss is.” With a wicked grin, he let himself out of the shop, saying hello to Kirsty as he passed.
“Where’s he off to?” Kirsty said when she entered the store. “I thought you two had a meeting in a few minutes.”
“We did, but I saw you coming this way and rescheduled.” Lake reached behind his wife, turned the lock, and flipped the Open sign to Closed. “Now, I have a meeting with you.”
“If you shut the shop, you’ll lose customers,” she joked.
They both knew the shop made a minuscule amount of money compared to Lake’s security company. Two things stopped him from closing the shop for good—it kept him in touch with the community, and his wife’s business was just across the street. Which meant his wife was just across the street. Something he very much enjoyed.
“I think I can afford to lose one or two sales,” he said as he stepped closer to her.
“You do, do you?” She playfully backed away. “Do I need to remind you that we’ve got an expensive trip to the Amazon coming up?”
“No, but you might need to remind me why Joe and Julia decided it was a good place to celebrate their marriage.”
He’d been to the Amazon. It was hot, humid, and full of stuff that could eat you. It wasn’t his idea of the perfect honeymoon destination. But what did he know? He was just an ex-army boy trying to make a living doing what he loved—keeping people safe.
Taking his wife’s hand, he gently tugged her toward the back of the building and the stairs that led up to his office.
“I don’t have time for a meeting. I left Betty minding the shop because there was no one else to do it. If I don’t get back there soon, she could burn the place to the ground. Or worse, redesign my summer collection.”
“That’s worse?”
“You’ve seen Betty’s idea of fashion.”
Lake chuckled as they reached the door to what had once been Kirsty’s apartment. His business had quickly outgrown the space, and the rest of his Scottish team were now stationed in a building on the street behind the shop. But he’d never give up his office over the store. Not as long as Kirsty worked across from him.
“I only came over to tell you I’m booking our tickets to Peru and was wondering if you’d mind going via Miami. There’s a lingerie fair that fits perfectly with our time frame. We could go to it on our way to the wedding.”
“Sure,” Lake said as he pushed his office door closed with his toe.
“It means three days of hanging around other lingerie designers and salespeople.” She nibbled her bottom lip anxiously. “It won’t be much fun for you.”
Lake flicked the lock, securing them inside, away from prying eyes. “Will you be there?”
“Are you being deliberately dim? I’m the lingerie designer; it would be pretty pointless if you were there without me.”
“If you’re there, it will definitely be fun for me.”
“Lake”—her eyes turned liquid—“you shouldn’t say things like that unless you want me to get all mushy.”
“I like you mushy.” He liked her any way he could get her and suspected he would still feel the same way years from now. “You know what I was thinking this morning?”
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“I was thinking about the first time I showed you my scars.” He closed the distance between them, watching her pulse beat faster at the base of her throat. “This was your living room then.” He shuffled them sideways a few inches. “And we were standing about here when I stripped off to reassure you that you weren’t the only one with scars. It’s been a long time since then. We should do it again, just in case anything’s changed.”
Her emerald eyes sparkled up at him. “Didn’t we compare scars before we came in to work this morning?”
“No, we were definitely comparing other things this morning.” He grabbed his shirt and tugged it over his head before throwing it onto the desk beside him, enjoying the way his wife’s eyes flared at the sight of his chest.
“Still so muscled.” Her palms ran up the center of his chest, teasing the hair that grew there. “I remember wondering how often you had to work out to stay this way. I’ve always loved your chest hair. Only there’s some gray in among the blond now.” She looked up at him through thick lashes. “It’s sexy.”
“Glad you think so, because there’s going to be a whole lot more gray over the next few years.” Although, he still worked out every day to ensure his body was in prime condition to age well—and to keep that look in his wife’s eyes.
“Mmm?” She wasn’t listening. Both hands were massaging his pecs, and for a second, he thought she planned to lean forward and take a bite.
“Your scars are nothing more than silver lines now,” he said as he traced the barely visible crisscrossed marks on her throat. His jaw clenched at the thought of her trapped in that car all those years ago, waiting to be rescued while her blood poured out.
A kiss to his jaw eased his tension. “That was a long time ago,” she soothed him. “Now I have my very own warrior to watch over me.”
“I’ll always watch over you. That’s my job. To keep you safe, so you don’t have to worry about anything and can just enjoy life.” He kissed her with slow, languorous touches until they were both breathing hard. “It’s also my privilege.”
“You were born in the wrong time.” She ran her fingers through his short hair. “You should have been a knight.”
“I think the role of King Arthur would have suited me better. I like being in charge.” With a sweeping gesture, he slid her blouse from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
“Sneaky,” she said with breathless admiration. “I didn’t even feel you unbutton it.”
“I’m a man of many skills.” And then his words were stolen from him at the sight of her lingerie.
“You like?” Her voice broke through his daze.
“You weren’t wearing this when you left the house this morning.” The words came out as a hoarse croak.
She pushed her satin-covered breasts out toward him. “It’s that new fifties-inspired line I’ve been working on. What do you think?”
“I’d need to see all of it to make an informed decision.”
Her smile was pure seduction. “I can help with that.”
Slowly, steadily, her eyes still on him, she unzipped her skirt, and let it slide down her body to pool on the floor. She stepped out of it, standing before him in matching lingerie, the exact same color as her shoes.
That’s when he knew her visit to his shop had been more than an update on their travel plans—his wife wanted him. And didn’t that just make him feel like he was already King Arthur? Adjusting himself in his jeans, he perched against the edge of his desk and made a circular motion for her to turn.
With a knowing smile, she made a slow pirouette, swaying her hips with each tiny step. The panties were high cut at her thighs but came up almost to her belly button; the bra band under the cups was several inches thick and sat just above her belly button. The bra didn’t clasp at the back; instead, it fastened with several tiny pearl buttons. The band of the bra and its straps were made of a pale pink satin tartan. The cups were plain pink satin, and the panties were a mixture of both materials, with tartan panels over her hips. It covered more of her than most one-piece swimsuits. And was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.
“Hell,” he groaned.
“It’s a longline bra and full coverage panty with a high leg,” Kirsty said as she turned.
She might as well have been speaking Swedish because Lake didn’t understand a word.
And he was through talking.
It seemed his wife wasn’t though; she was still explaining her design, and experience told him that her enthusiasm could go on for quite a while. Something he planned to cut short for the moment. As soon as she’d fully turned to face him, his hands were on her waist, his mouth covering hers. Kirsty melted against him, her arms snaking lazily around his shoulders. He’d never get used to the sensation of her soft curves under his hands. Every day, she became more beautiful.
“I need you,” she whispered between kisses.
“You can have me. Anytime you want.”
“Now,” she ordered as he cupped her satin-covered breasts.
“Now’s good. Lose the panties but keep the bra and shoes.”
With a moan, she pressed her breasts against his hold. Lake teased her throat with kisses as he backed up to the sofa. When his knees caught it, he released her, only to sit down and look up at her.
“Take the panties off,” he ordered, “and come straddle me.”
Keeping his eyes on hers, he undid his jeans and released his hard length from confinement.
“Bossy,” she whispered, turning her back and wiggling her backside as she slipped the panties over her hips and down her thighs.
“Damn,” he growled as he wrapped his fist around himself and stroked. Once, twice. He felt primed and ready to go, like a teenage boy with no control. “Don’t think I’m going to last long,” he confessed.
She turned back to him, her eyes sparkling as she slowly straddled him. “Guess that means this underwear will be a best seller.”
“I’m already a fan.” He held himself in position for her as he reached for her hip. “But it isn’t the underwear that drives me crazy; it’s you.”
“Lake,” she whispered.
“You ready for me?” he asked gruffly.
“Always.”
With agonizing slowness, she lowered herself onto his length until their bodies were flush, and her soft, hot wetness engulfed him. She threw back her head and moaned with delight once they were joined.
“I love you,” she wailed at the ceiling.
Lake broke into a rare smile as he leaned into her, tormenting her sensitive nipples with his teeth through the satin of her bra.
“You aren’t moving,” he teased.
Her nails dug into his shoulders, and each time he nipped at her, he could feel her internal muscles clench around him. At this rate, she wouldn’t need to move. He’d blow anyway.
“Sit back,” Kirsty said breathlessly.
With one last suck on her nipple, he did as he was told, his hands resting on her hips. She was a vision. A goddess looking down at him. Her russet colored hair wild around her shoulders, her milky skin flushed with pleasure, her lips swollen from his kisses.
“Still not moving.” He smiled as he flexed his thighs, lifting his hips and thrusting into her.
“Oh…” Her eyes slowly closed as she rode the sensation.
He wished he could freeze the moment, to always see her like this. Her head thrown back with abandon, her skin flushed, her breaths coming in pants. They were completely vulnerable with each other, joined together, the way they were meant to be. Two halves of one whole.
There would never be another woman for him. There couldn’t be. Even if he woke up tomorrow and Kirsty wasn’t in his life, there wouldn’t be a replacement. She was it for him. Only Kirsty. Always.
He reached up, clasped the back of her neck and brought her face down to his. Dark, sensually drowsy eyes gazed into him, and his heart clenched so tight he feared it would break.
“I love you,” he told her softly. “More every day.”
“Lake,” she sighed, and then her lips were on his.
He held her tight, wrapping his arms around her as she made slow rhythmical movements with her hips that stroked his length deep inside of her and made all thoughts dissolve from his mind.
“My Lake,” she whispered against his lips.
Yeah, he was hers, and only hers.
Forever.