Page 98 of The Temporary Bride

…or at least, that’s what I think, until I hear a small sound off to my left and catch movement in my peripheral vision.

I keep my rhythm without breaking it, turning my head just slightly, ready to tell whoever it is to get the hell out.

Fucking Iris is standing in the doorway across the room, completely still, her eyes wide. She must have slipped back in through a side entrance or talked her way past one of the staff. She doesn’t know I’ve seen her. Her gaze is fixed on Chloe’s back, and her face is twisted into an expression of jealousy.

I look back down at Chloe, at the line of her spine and the way she’s moving with me, her hair swaying with every thrust. Then I lean forward without slowing down and bring my mouth close to her good ear.

“Don’t look now,” I murmur, “but we have an audience.”

She stiffens slightly, her breath catching. “Who?”

“Iris.” I press my lips to the curve of her neck, feeling her pulse under my mouth. “Want me to kick her out again, dimples? Or should we show her what she can never have again? Show her how good I’m making you feel?”

She reacts immediately. A moan tears out of her that’s louder than anything she’s made so far, her pussy clenching hard around me in a way that makes my cock pulse. I grip her hips and start moving harder, the force of every thrust pushing her forward slightly on the bench, her hands bracing against it.

“You’re so fucking perfect,” I tell her, my voice carrying easily across the empty gym. “The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” I drive into her again, our bodies moving in sync. “My perfect wife.” Another thrust, harder this time. “I’ll never want anyone else. Ever.”

“Tristan,” she moans, her voice breaking on my name.

“I know,” I grate out roughly, reaching around her hip to find her clit with my fingers. “Come for me. Let me hear you.”

She gets louder as she gets closer, her body working toward it, her hips pushing back to meet mine, her breath coming in short bursts.

I work her clit steadily with my fingers while I keep moving inside her, and when she finally comes, she cries out my name at a volume that bounces off every glass wall in the building and probably into the parking lot.

The sound of it, my name in her wrecked, breathless voice, sends me over the edge with her. I come hard, my grip on her hips tightening as I drive in once, twice, three more times before going still, filling her up, both of us shaking from the exertion.

As we come down from it, the gym goes quiet again. I’m still inside her, both of us breathing hard, her hands still braced on the bench. I wrap one arm around her waist and cover her chest with my other arm, pulling her back upright against me, her back to my chest. She’s warm and flushed and her heart is going as fast as mine. I press my lips to the side of her neck, just below her ear.

“I think we’ve made our point,” I murmur against her skin.

She makes a soft sound, her head falling back against my shoulder. “Mm. Me too.”

I look over at Iris, making no effort to hide it this time, and Chloe’s gaze follows mine a second later. Iris jerks visibly at the realization that we’ve both seen her, her face flushing scarlet, her body going rigid.

“I closed the gym for a reason,” I say pointedly.

Chloe surprises me by adding, “Looks like you and Tristan won’t be getting back together in three years after all.”

About a dozen emotions flash across my ex’s face, but the only one I care about is the look of defeat. She spins on her heel and storms out, her bag swinging, the door slamming behind her. I laugh, pulling out of Chloe and turning her around to face me on the bench. I cup her face in my hands and kiss her, and she laughs too when we pull apart, still slightly breathless, her eyes bright.

“Oh my god, I’ve never done anything like that in my life,” she says, pressing her lips together to try to contain her grin. “I feel so debauched, and it’s entirely your fault.”

“Oh, don’t worry, dimples. I’d be happy to take full credit, although I really don’t think I can.” I smirk, brushing her hair back from her face. “I like seeing you like this.”

“Like what?”

“Possessive.” I drag my thumb over her lower lip. “It suits you. I like knowing you want me as badly as I want you.”

She rolls her eyes slightly at my pride in her possessiveness, but doesn’t argue the point, which I take as confirmation. Then her eyes drift around the gym, taking in the empty space and abandoned equipment, and her expression shifts slightly.

“You really didn’t have to do this,” she says. “Buy the whole place. You could’ve made your point another way.”

“Maybe,” I agree. “But I wanted to. I want you to be able to come here and not spend the whole time bracing for whatever bullshit Iris is going to say.” I run my thumb along her jaw. “You shouldn’t have to do that.”

She inhales, those eyes that I once thought were so cold are soft and warm.

“And besides,” I add, “like my father always used to say, it never hurts to diversify your assets.”