“I’d much prefer to ownyou.”
“You do, Tate. I belong to you. Always. Heart, soul, body and mind.”
“I have a surprise for you,” he murmured. “Well, two actually.”
She couldn’t control the surge of delight that made a broad smile curve her lips. Sheadoredsurprises and Tate well knew it. It didn’t matter how simple or elaborate.AnythingTate gave her was treasured and met with utter delight.
“Tell me!” she said, all but pouncing on him. She jiggled and bounced on his lap in excited anticipation.
He laughed and patted her hip. “Hop up so I can get the first one. It’s in my jacket pocket.”
She scrambled off his lap and perched on her chair, waiting impatiently as he strolled leisurely over to the couch to retrieve his coat. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a beautifully wrapped small box with a shiny silver bow. Her eyes widened and she nearly bounced out of her chair when he walked back over.
He slid the box along the tabletop until it rested in front of her.
“Happy anniversary to my girl,” he said huskily. “I intended to give it to you Friday night, but we got … sidetracked.”
She caught her frown before it appeared. Just thinking back on their emotional, gut-wrenching anniversary night was enough to remove all her present joy. So she focused instead on here and now and the fact that her husband wasback.
She reverently opened the wrapping, taking her time so she didn’t tear it. He chuckled as he watched her, shaking his head.
“I’ve never understood why you don’t just rip into it. It’s just paper, Chess.”
“But it’s beautiful paper,” she protested. “I hate to tear something so pretty.”
He laughed again but fell silent until she got to the box underneath. With shaking fingers, she opened the lid and shook out the velvet jewelry case inside. She sucked in her breath when she finally managed to reveal the contents.
Inside was a radiant, sparkling diamond bracelet that caught the light and twinkled brilliantly. She held it up, viewing it in awe, and tears burned the edges of her eyelids, making the bracelet blur in her vision.
“Ah hell, Chess. Don’t cry.”
She gave him a watery smile and then sniffled. “I can’t help it. It’s gorgeous, Tate! I love it. Put it on for me, please. My hands are shaking so badly I’ll never be able to get it latched.”
He laughed but complied, carefully looping the tennis bracelet around her left wrist. It made her look and feel decadent with the gorgeous diamond wedding ring and now an equally beautiful diamond bracelet. She felt as lit up as a Christmas tree.
When he was done, she held up her arm, twisting it this way and that, watching in fascination as it caught the light and sparkled just like the Christmas tree she’d just thought she resembled.
Then she threw herself back onto his lap and kissed him ferociously. “I love it,” she said fervently. “I absolutely adore it! Thank you. You’ve made this the perfect anniversary weekend and Monday!”
A brief shadow crossed his face, as he no doubt remembered the inauspicious start to their anniversary. Sorrow and regret brimmed in his eyes before she kissed him again, soothing away the painful reminder to them both.
When she finally drew away, she remembered that he’d said he hadtwosurprises.
“What’s the other surprise?” she asked, excitement once more bubbling to the surface.
He smiled and tenderly pushed a strand of her curly hair from her cheek. “It’s not immediate, rather it’s a surprise I’ve planned for us.”
“Oh, I like it when you sayus,” she said dreamily. “What is it? Tell me, tell me!”
He chuckled. “My girl is so impatient.”
She mimicked strangling him by wrapping her fingers around his neck and adopting a ferocious scowl. “Stop holding out on me andspill.”
He kissed the tip of her nose and then pulled away so he could gaze into her eyes.
“I know it’s been a long while since we visited The House. So I’ve planned a night for us. Two weeks from now on a Friday night. I’ve even already hand-picked the man who will participate in our fantasy.”
Her pulse immediately began to race and she couldn’t control the surge of wicked anticipation that licked like flames over her skin. Images from the past, the immeasurable pleasure they’d both enjoyed, raced through her mind. Another man touching her, pleasuring her, at Tate’s behest. Under his command, always in control, stepping in only when Chessy neared her orgasm. Those belonged to him. It was one of the two things he wouldn’t allow another man. The other was that another man was never to kiss her on the lips. Some may think it was an odd “rule” but Chessy understood completely.
