“Doesn’t matter. The thought of it—” I shake my head. “I can’t stand it.”
Her expression softens. “Dane.”
I rake a hand through my hair. “You’re asking me to picture you with someone else. Smiling at him. Letting him think he has a chance with you.”
A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. “You’re jealous.”
“I’m your husband. Too bloody right I’m jealous.”
My hand fists in her hair, and I pull her head back just enough that she has to meet my eyes.
“There’s no version of that I can picture without wanting to put him through a wall. You understand me?”
“Yeah, I understand.” Her voice is lower now, rougher.
I kiss her, and she bites my lower lip hard enough to sting. A sharp breath leaves me, my grip tightening slightly, and she makes a small sound in response.
I push up and get to my feet long enough to drag my jeans off, not taking my eyes off her.
She’s already reaching for me by the time I come back to the bed.
I catch both her wrists before she can touch me and pin them above her head against the pillow, holding her there as I look down at her.
“Dane—”
My hand tangles in her hair again, pulling her head back, my mouth close to her ear. “You have no idea how hard you’re about to get fucked.”
“Then stop threatening it and just fucking do it,” she says, the words slipping out raw and unguarded.
Ah, there she is. My old Charlotte.
It’s been years since she’s gotten this mouthy with me, and some part of me has missed it.
“Turn over. Face down, ass up.”
She moves straight away, forearms flat on the mattress. I sit back on my heels, taking her in.
My hands spread her apart, and something in me shifts.
Not new. Just… newly discovered.
My palm comes down hard against her arse, the sound sharp in the room. Her body jolts with it, a broken gasp leaving her.
“You’ve been pushing me all day, Charlotte.”
Another strike, just as firm.
“Talking about being with another man like I’m supposed to be fine with it.”
She makes a sound into the mattress—half gasp, half moan.
“Yeah,” I say. “That’s what I thought.”
Another controlled strike, my hand lingering after, feeling the heat bloom under my palm.
“Keep mouthing off to me, and I’ll have your whole arse red.”
I gather spit in my mouth and let it fall, watching it land and slide down her cleft. The sight of it hits something in me I wasn’t expecting.
