She sighs. “I feel like you're talking in business-speak here, James. Why are you asking me? Really?”
“I'm asking if you want to change the terms of our partnership. If you want…more.”
The word hangs heavy in the air between us. I don’t know what “more” means, or how I could possibly give it to her. I just know that I don’t want to deny my wife anything she asks for.
“Nothing has changed in terms of the arrangement,” Maura says finally. “But I’d like us to befriendsat least, for the sake of our child—if we have one.”
My jaw tightens, and then relaxes. I might not have any idea how to be a good husband, but I know how to be a friend. If this is what she wants, I can give it to her.
“Friends,” I say, extending my hand to her.
She slides her fingers between mine. Not a handshake, but something more intimate. She bites her lip and looks down.
“I know we're outside of our scheduled window,” she says. “But if you have time now, I'm free too. There's still a chance they could lead to conception, anyway.”
My lips part, and for the first time in years, I feel heat rise to my cheeks. I have no idea what to say. I assumed that after our argument, she'd be more distant. I never expected…well, any of this.
“Is that even something you want?” I murmur. “I don't want to push you. I can wait a few weeks.”
No matter how uncomfortable that might be.
Her hands tightens around mine. “I’m not that cruel. I know you have needs. I have them too.”
I glance down at her, my eyes landing on her pouty lips. Her tongue sweeps out to wet them, a tempting flash of pink.
Her eyes meet mine, and those lips curl up into a smile. “And since you can’t sleep with anyone else, what kind of friend would I be if I left you hanging?”
Wait, what? “I’mthe one who can't sleep with anyone else?”
Her smile turns wicked. “I never agreed to exclusivity. That's your burden to bear.”
Rage washes over me like a typhoon, hard, sudden, and all-consuming. The thought of another man touching my wife makes me want to tear something to shreds. Better, someone.
“Mutual exclusivity was fucking implied,” I snarl. My temper isn’t usually this easy to rouse, but it’s too goddamn easy to picture another man’s fingers twining in Maura’s auburn hair. I know exactly what other men would see in her—a well-coiffed, elegant woman, perfect for defiling.
Fuck, I’ve never been jealous like this over a woman before. Maybe marriage naturally turns men territorial.
“I’m not much of a businesswoman, but isn’t the point of writing a contract making sure that nothing’s implied?” Maura’s caramel-colored eyes twinkle. “If you wanted exclusivity, you should've negotiated harder.
“No,” I growl. “Me and no one else. Not ever.”
Her eyes widen. “Really?”
“I want your word.”
“Yes,” she says. There’s no hesitation, which makes my blood pressure drop instantly. “Only you, James. I promise.”
I slide my hands into her hair and pull her mouth up to mine. She has to stand on her toes to keep from craning her neck, and it’s sexy as hell. I love that as tall as she is, she still has to push herself up to kiss me.
She reaches between us and presses her hand to my cock, which is still only half hard. I didn’t anticipate getting the chance to have her tonight. She pulls away from the kiss and flashes me a wicked smile.
Then she lowers down to her knees and reaches for my belt.
The sight of her on her knees—my elegant, sophisticated wife looking up at me through her lashes—short-circuits something in my brain. All my carefully cultivated control threatens to crumble.
My mouth goes dry.
Christ, is she really about to suck me off? I go from half-flaccid to rock-hard in a second, my cock throbbing at the thought of it. My enthusiasm is…unexpected. It’s not like this is new for me—but it’s new forus.I’ve never felt my wife’s mouth on me.
