by Layla Hagen
It took us both a few minutes to calm down. I kept her close, kissing her neck again, inhaling the scent of vanilla and pepper that I’d associated with my best friend for years. After tonight, I wouldn’t be able to smell her perfume and not think about how sensual she was, how responsive. How she’d surrendered her pleasure to me.
***
The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. I swallowed hard, sitting upright, trying to gather my wits to guess where Josie could be and why she wasn’t here.
My heartbeat was erratic as I rose from the bed, and only returned to normal when I heard the water running in the second bathroom.
I debated waiting for her to come out so we could talk... but why postpone the moment?
I grinned as I approached the door, hearing her sing a catchy tune. My Josie was in a great mood. I hadn’t known that she sang in the shower, never heard her at the apartment.
I opened the door, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of her. She was dancing under the spray of the water, eyes closed as she rubbed shampoo in her hair, swinging her hips and that perfect little ass from side to side.
I couldn’t bring myself to even feel guilty for looking. I merely leaned against the doorframe, crossed my arms over my chest, and watched this fascinating side of my best friend.
Unfortunately, I was so focused on following the movements of her ass that I didn’t realize she’d seen me until she yelped, nearly slipping.
“Hunter!”
“Good morning.”
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Since the last time you sang the chorus.”
“And you didn’t think about announcing your presence?”
“Nope. Had a great view. Got distracted. Can you blame me?”
“I totally can, and I am.”
“I’d apologize... but I’m not really sorry.”
“I didn’t know you were a shameless peeping Tom.”
She grinned, and I grinned right back. I stepped closer, then into the shower.
Josie swallowed, lowering her gaze to some place on my chest. I brought my hand under her chin, lifting her head. Then I couldn’t help myself and kissed one corner of her mouth, nibbling at the other until I felt her shudder.
“I don’t want to forget about last night,” I said before realizing this wasn’t how I was supposed to go about this. I knew Josie, and she needed time to adjust to changes. Hell, she’d already turned her life upside down to help me. I was supposed to ask her what she wanted, be the gentleman, not make any demands.
Josie didn’t say anything, but I was still hovering with my mouth over her jawline, feeling her hot, short breaths on my cheek. If she wanted us to forget about it, then I’d respect her wish. The next three years would be excruciating, but I’d respect her wish.
“What do you want exactly?” she asked in a small voice, which was unlike her.
“Why don’t you tell me what you want instead?” I wanted to look her straight in the eyes, but one other thing I knew about Josie was that she didn’t like eye contact when she was figuring things out. It unnerved her.
“I... I don’t know. I mean, last night was incredible. And I don’t want to pretend it didn’t happen, or that I didn’t want it to happen. Because I did. I’m just... afraid this will change our friendship.”
I pulled back then, looked her straight in the eyes. “It won’t. I promise. You’re my best friend.”
Something passed through her eyes, quick as a flash. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Why do you doubt me?”
“Your recent track record about keeping your word is against you.” She was smiling now.
“Is that so?”
“Remember what you asked me on the wedding night? And yet here we are, not even forty-eight hours later.”
“Your fault entirely for being so damn irresistible.”
“You won’t even own up to your flaws? You’re even worse than I thought.”
“I see. No redeemable qualities?”
“If I think about it hard, I could come up with one or two, but you’re welcome to prove to me you have more.”
“Your wish is my command, wife.”
Chapter Eighteen
Josie
“This was amazing. Amazing.” I felt like jumping up and down on the boat. Scratch that. I was jumping up and down. This had been our first scuba dive into the ocean. We’d practiced in one of the pools before, until we got the hang of breathing and managing the equipment.
The scuba instructor smiled, maneuvering the boat back to shore. Hunter sat on the back bench, giving me a lazy smile. He watched me the entire time I took off my scuba diving suit.
My skin warmed up everywhere he looked, as if he had his hands on me... or his mouth.
“You’re not saying anything. What did you think?” I asked him later on as we walked to our lounge chairs. I elbowed him lightly. He reacted immediately, wrapping an arm around me, pulling me into him.
“I think that you look fucking irresistible in your bikini.”
I rolled my eyes. “I meant what you thought about scuba diving.”
“I think I absolutely need a reward for the act of bravery.”
He let me go as we reached the lounge chairs, sat on the nearest one. I parked my hands on my hips, tilting my head.
“A reward?”
“Yes.”
“And what would that be?”
His smile turned into a wolfish grin. “Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“So, if I reward you with an ice cream, you’ll be happy?”
He pulled me closer. “I didn’t say anything about not persuading you to give in to the kind of rewards I want.” He placed a kiss just under my belly button. My skin broke out in goose bumps the next second.
“Hunter. We’re on a beach.”
“And I just can’t get enough of you.”
Somehow, he’d pulled me between his legs again. My outer thighs were touching his inner thighs, but even that small contact was enough to send a sizzle through me. He lazily moved his hand at the small of my back in tiny circles. The man simply seemed incapable of keeping his hands off me. But who was I to judge? I touched him every chance I got after our first night together three days ago. The lines between us were blurring, and I didn’t know how to bring that up, or if I should. I was just afraid that I couldn’t keep my heart out of this.
“Sooo... what do you think about skydiving? Or a safari?” I asked casually. Hunter stared at me.
“You’re doing this on purpose? To torture me?”
“Maybe.” I had no idea what had gotten into me, but I suddenly wanted to experience everything with him. Besides... loosening up wouldn’t hurt him. Not everything was controllable, as evidenced by the fact that his visa hadn’t been extended, prompting the need for a green card.
I did understand why he felt the need to—or at least I thought I did. When his dad lost the business years ago, it threw his family into a spiral downward. Everything was out of his control. I could understand the drive—the need to ensure you never got in that situation again.
“You’re different, somehow,” he said.
“What can I say? You’re right. As your wife, I keep developing new skills. Nagging, for one. Talking you into trying out silly things for another. What do you say, husband?”
I just wanted him to have fun, be happy.
“Only if you promise not to give me shit for flying your family over for Christmas.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, attempting to sound stern.
“That is a conversation we’ll circle back to later.”
Truth was, I was still melting every time I thought about that, but I didn’t want him to get any more dangerous ideas. Meanwhile, I was already thinking about nice things I could do for him. Stuff I hadn’t been able to do as a friend. Holy shit! A whole new world of options opened up. I could just imagine taking care of him in the evening when we were both home, helping him relax.<
br />
“This isn’t how it works,” I said.
He leaned in closer, playfully wiggling his eyebrows. “No deal, then.”
“You’re not leaving me much of a choice.”
“So we have a deal?”
“Okay.”
“You do realize you’re letting me get away with a lot more than before, right?”
I shrugged playfully. “What can I say? I’m starting to like being your wife, Mr. Caldwell.”
Chapter Nineteen
Hunter
“You’re cheating,” Josie said. I’d brought my laptop to the beach. We had two days of our honeymoon left, and I just wanted to get a head start on the emails.
“Just checking on a few things to make sure there’s nothing urgent.”
“I’m not checking anything until I’m in my office. I love being a lawyer, but I apparently love taking a break more. And I have to thank my husband for helping me make that discovery about myself.”
I chuckled. I was so proud of her for making it so far. Josie had hustled just as much as I had. Between the two of us, we’d probably covered about every student job there was in this city.
She glanced at my screen. “That project looks sexy. What is it?”
“A school.”
“It’s a charity project, right?”
I nodded. The company made enough profit that we built one or two buildings for charity a year. This was a public school. The Ballroom Galas also gathered funds for this project.
“Can I ask you something? How come you’ve gone into real estate? I’m sure you haven’t made things easier for yourself.”
I hadn’t. People still associated the name Caldwell with the huge real estate developer who went bankrupt more than fifteen years ago.
“You know me, I never choose the easier way.” I could have left it at that, but something in Josie’s expression beckoned me to open up. “I’ve always liked Dad’s work. He put everything he had in it, and I’m not talking about money. It was who he was. He was proud of it, and I spent most of my childhood in his office, watching mock-ups, listening to him explain the ins and out of the business.”
Josie kissed my shoulder, skimming her lips up and down my arm. This newfound closeness between us made it so easy to keep talking, even about things I hadn’t spoken about before—not because I had anything to hide, but it put me in a mood.
“My dad actually started this school project years ago. It took a while to sort out the legal issues and get all the permits to build, but we got the green light last year.”
“Do you need a hand?”
“You want to get involved?”
“Sounds like you need a lawyer for all those permits. I have contacts.”
The company had enough lawyers, but I wanted Josie to be part of this. I’d always liked working with my cousins, but the thought of Josie being on it too filled me with a sense of joy unlike anything I’d ever felt.
“I’d love that.”
“Just hit me up with whatever you need. Have your people email it to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I glanced at the screen again, but I couldn’t focus. To the hell with it. Everything could wait until I was back from the honeymoon. I shut the laptop, putting it to one side.
“That was awfully quick.”
Even though her face was buried in my arm, I felt her lips curl into a sly smile against my skin.
“Someone’s demanding my attention.”
“Who could that be?” she murmured.
“My wife.”
“This wife of yours is a pest, isn’t she?”
“Not at all. She’s smart, fun, and I can’t get enough of her.”
She wiggled her ass. I scooped her up, bringing her into my lap.
“Sounds like you like her,” she said on a grin.
“Very much. I think it’s time I showed her, just so I don’t leave room for any doubt.”
Her grin widened even more. “Excellent idea.”
***
Departure day came all too soon. Josie was in a bad mood while we packed. She slammed her suitcase shut, cursing when the zipper wouldn’t budge. I offered to close it for her before she ripped it.
She took a long shower afterward. I surprised her by ordering a slice of her favorite hazelnut cake.
“What’s this?” she asked when she returned to the bedroom.
“I ordered it for you. I’m expecting you to spit fire any second now.”
She gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry... I’m usually cranky on the last vacation day.”
I tapped my temple. “Learned that today. Stored it right here for future reference. I’ll make sure you start your day with cake.”
“Fair warning, it might get worse once we’re at home.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Her mood improved from the shot of sugar. She snapped a few pictures on the way out of the hotel.
She slept on the first leg of the journey, but when she woke up, she was moody again. Didn’t smile, didn’t joke.
“You okay, Josie?”
“Yes, just a bit nervous. Managed to forget about the immigration services and everything while we were away, but now I can’t help imagining doomsday scenarios.”
“Have you thought about the annulment? I can still make it happen.”
Say no. Say no.
Just the thought of her saying yes made me feel as if the rug had been swept from under me and I’d plowed face-first into a wall.
“The annulment,” she repeated.
I straightened in my seat, nodding. “Yes. I can ask my lawyers to have everything ready by the time we land.”
“Is this what you want?”
No. A million times no.
Since we decided to go through with this, all I’ve wanted was to keep Josie, and that feeling had intensified after the honeymoon. But I needed to at least attempt to do the right thing.
“This isn’t about me. It’s about you feeling comfortable. I’ll deal with the fallout. I don’t want you to feel pressured. Josie, I swear I’ll understand if you want to get that annulment. Nothing will change between us.”
“I said I’d help. I’m not going back on my word,” she snapped.
Instead of feeling relieved that she didn’t want an annulment, I was even more unsettled than before, because somehow things were worse between us than before we had this conversation.
She placed headphones over her ears, pulling up a movie on the screen.
When we arrived at the house, there was still tension between us. It wasn’t my style to ignore a problem or tiptoe around it, so after dinner, I cornered her in the kitchen. She was making tea for herself. I stood right beside her.
“Josie, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You’ve been snappy with me ever since we talked about the annulment. If that’s what you want, say it. I don’t want you to keep doing this just because you gave me your word. That’s a bullshit reason to do anything.”
Her eyes flashed. “Keeping a promise is bullshit?”
“That’s not what I mean. Going through with something difficult just because you gave your word is... necessary sometimes, but not with us. You’re mad at me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think?”
“I have no clue, or I wouldn’t be asking you.”
She was pissed, but so was I. I didn’t like guessing games.
“You brought up the annulment as if... as if it was nothing.”
She blew out a breath, blinking fast. It occurred to me that she wasn’t playing games. She just didn’t know how I felt. Probably thought the annulment didn’t matter to me either way.
“Look at me.” My voice was determined, but she kept staring over my shoulder. “Josie...”
She sucked in a breath when I touched her jaw, tilting her head until we had eye contact.
“It’s not nothing. I don’t know what I’d d
o if you said yes, because I need you. I want you.”
She sucked in a breath. Her eyes were searching me, uncertain. I wanted to erase any doubt. I cupped her head with both hands, pressing her in that corner, between the counter and the wall.
“Things changed between us, Josie, and I like the way they are. I fucking love it. Being with you, sharing my life with you... it’s incredible. You are incredible. I’m the luckiest bastard on earth. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, or what this will mean for us... for our friendship, but I don’t want to give it up, okay?”
***
Josie
God, the way he was looking at me... as if I was the only woman in the world.
“Okay.” I nodded, just in case I’d spoken too low for him to hear. He’d seen right through me, and I felt raw, exposed. When he’d brought up the annulment, I’d felt as if I’d been slapped. I’d been so afraid that I was the only one whose feelings had changed that I didn’t even know what to do or say.
But he wanted me. He wanted us.
Hunter drew his thumb over my lower lip before claiming my mouth. He hadn’t kissed me since we woke up this morning, which was far too long. I gave in to his kiss, responding to his passion with fervor, wanting to give him everything he demanded. When we pulled apart, I was torn. I wanted to kiss him, but I didn’t want to break eye contact because that look just about brought me to my knees. So much warmth and affection underneath all the passion. I wanted to indulge in it for as long as he was mine.
He kissed me again, scooping me up in his arms, carrying me to the master bedroom. I touched his arms, the planes of his chest and shoulders, wanting to rid him of all clothes. But where I was hurrying, Hunter slowed us down.
After ridding me of an item of clothing, he covered my skin with kisses. When I was only wearing panties, he took a step back, looking me up and down. All my nerve endings were burning in anticipation, and when he removed my panties too, I jumped right in his arms. He was naked already, his cock wedged between us. We tumbled on the bed, laughing. He pinned my hands at the sides of my head, kissing me so ferociously that I moaned against his mouth.
Life with this man was exhilarating. Being his wife was nothing like I’d imagined, and I meant that in the best possible way. With every kiss, he made me feel alive, adored... claimed. With every day we spent together, I discovered new sides to him, despite having known him for fifteen years, and the more I discovered, the deeper I fell into him.