AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hmm.”
I had no idea how to interpret that, given the context of our conversation. But from our past interactions, I knew she was a powder keg. If I questioned the meaning of her reaction, it could easily ruin the moment with a defensive outburst.
“So, what did you mean when you said ‘it doesn’t have to be’? What doesn’t have to be what?” she asked to fill the growing silence.
Well, we might end up arguing anyway when I explained my comment. I should’ve kept my damn thoughts to myself and enjoyed this docile version of her a little longer.
“I was thinking maybe this whole thing doesn’t have to be a mess. We could make the best out of…” I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling, trying to get the wording right here. “An unexpected situation.”
My gorgeous storm sat up and propped a couple of pillows behind herself. “Do you want to explain that?” Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
I didn’t want to be lying down if she wasn’t, so I repositioned to sit cross-legged by her thighs. If this bombshell was about to detonate, I wanted to be able to brace for impact.
“We could give it a solid try,” I offered cautiously. “Us, I mean.”
“Were you hitting the vodka while I was sleeping?”
“No, but I did pour the rest of that bottle out.”
Five. Four. Three. Two…
“Why would you do that?” she snapped, but I’d expected as much.
“So you’re not tempted to drink it.”
“I’m a big girl, Carmen. I can do whatever I damn well please. And I don’t have a problem. Alcohol doesn’t tempt me.”
Nodding, I said, “It’s very true that you’re an adult, in charge of your own life. But I think you drink too much, and I want you to chill out with it.” I wouldn’t cave on this.
“That’s not up to you, for one thing. And you’re not my babysitter.”
“No, I’m your husband.” My voice naturally dropped in register, and I held her gaze so she understood I wasn’t backing down. I knew how to be stern when I needed to be. It just wasn’t a version of my personality that many people saw.
I reminded myself of my father, but I didn’t ever want to come off like the tyrant he had.
Agatha’s breath hitched when I spoke, and I couldn’t be sure what about, because instead of the comeback denying my position in her world that I expected, she snapped her mouth shut and stared at me.
I didn’t really know what to do with her attention now that I had it. So we just stared at each other. For a long, long moment.
Strangely, of all the things that should’ve been running through my mind, I wanted to kiss her. Now more than any other moment we’d shared, I wanted to attack her and pin her to the mattress until she acquiesced. I wanted her to let me take care of her like a husband should.
I moved closer by leaning onto my arms, as if I were about to pounce on her the way I imagined.
“What are you doing?” she whispered after a rough swallow.
Watching her throat undulate that way was the final straw for my common sense, apparently. Closing the last space left between us, I kissed her.
Finally.
Just as I’d imagined and had fantasized about over the past couple of weeks, her lips were velvety soft. Our kiss started with a simple peck to her bottom lip and grew from there. A longer, somewhat firmer kiss to her top lip coaxed her to join in the experience.
We both parted our mouths, and while hers was tentative, mine was more demanding. My body was working on autopilot and definitely had an agenda. I crawled forward, and she sank back into the pillows while reaching her hands out to grasp my shoulders. The new position provided a better angle to deepen the kiss. Our tongues found each other and stroked and prodded for more.
I had to pull back and assess how she was dealing with what we were doing and ensure I wasn’t coming on too strong. But God, how I wanted to. I wanted to mount her and feel her body beneath mine.
Want it so badly.
“You good?” I panted and wanted to cheer when I saw her chest was pumping for oxygen too.
