Page 129 of Bad Run

“You put rules in place,” I interject.

Gwen rolls her eyes at me, that fire in her burning back to life. “Fine. I put them in place. I did that to protect myself from getting hurt when our arrangement ends and you eventually walk away. So, I guess I’m worried about what happens next.”

I reach for her left hand, finding it naked again. She’s been wearing the rings I gave her on a chain around her neck, and until now, it hadn’t bothered me.

Now, I want the whole fucking world to know Gwen is mine.

When I proposed, my goal was to win her heart. To win her trust and loyalty. To prove I’m the man she needs in her life. Her number one supporter who can lift her when she’s down.

We had a breakthrough this morning. Gwen let me into her body, and it changes everything.

There’s no more holding back for me.

I slide my arms under her back and loop them over her shoulders. “What happens next is you start wearing your ring and stop worrying about me walking away. I’m here to stay.”

“Lance …”

With a kiss, I cut off whatever stupid shit she was going to say because I know it will piss me off.

In less than a second, Gwen melts into me, twirling her tongue with mine. Lust, need, yearning, hope, love, fear—every emotion in me—I channel into our kiss.

When we break apart, her eyelids are heavy with desire, her lips are swollen and pink, and she’s gasping for breath.

“Better?” I ask.

She digs her fingers into my hair and smirks. “If by better you mean worried and horny, then yes, better.”

“I can’t stop you from worrying, but I am invested in us. I want to give our marriage a shot. A real shot. No more hiding. No more lying. Just you and me out in the open. I want to hold your hand and kiss you goodbye at work. I want to spend every night with you in my arms and wake up to your beautiful face every morning. I want to be the man giving you endless orgasms. I want it all. With you. What do you say? You in?”

I’ve wanted Gwen to be mine since the moment I met her. But does she want me too? I think she does, but I’ve fucked things up with Gwen at the start of the season, so I can’t be sure.

The organ in my chest grows tight as it races a hundred miles an hour, waiting for Gwen’s answer.

Her beautiful eyes search mine as if searching for the answer deep within their innermost depths. I drop whatever shields I can, laying myself bare. Every single word I spoke was the truth.

“I’m in.”

“Fuck yeah, you are.” I slam my mouth to hers in another sultry kiss, drinking her in.

My wife.

My dick gets hard at the thought. Breaking our kiss, I rear back a little too far and roll off the bed, landing on my back with a hard thud, expelling the air in my lungs.

Gwen’s face appears above me like the bewitching guardian angel she is, with a different type of worry in her eyes. “Oh my god, Lance. Are you okay?”

The mid-morning light circles her head like a luminous halo as she peers over the edge of the bed.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I blurt.

“I think you’ll live.” Gwen giggles, the sweet sound music to my ears.

I pull myself into a sitting position to look her in the eye. “Can I take you out to dinner tonight?” I ask. I wish I could take her out all day, but she has work, so dinner will have to do.

“I’d love to go to dinner with you.” She runs her fingers through my hair.

“I’ll pick you up from here at, say, six?” I couldn’t be more grateful that we don’t have a game tonight.

“I’ll be ready.”