Red (A Brett MacLean Duet)

by J. M. Walker

  Was it? Was our love strong enough to get through this?

  At first, I would have said yes but now, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

  ***

  (Evvie)

  “The kids miss you,” I told Brett later that evening. I had stayed at the hospital with him, trying so damn hard to make that connection with him again.

  “I miss them too,” he whispered, brushing his nose into the crook of my neck.

  I shivered. “What are you doing?”

  His lips moved along the length of my jaw. “Just kissing you. That’s all.” He pinched my chin, turning my head to meet the soft impact of his mouth.

  I breathed in his air, taking everything that made up my husband, down deep into my lungs. He was the reason I wouldn’t stop fighting. I did it for our kids but I also did it for me. I needed him. He was my one. My only. He was mine.

  I would fight Claire and Roxane for our happiness back. They wouldn’t win no matter how hard they tried.

  “What are we going to do about Claire and Roxane?” I asked Brett in between kisses.

  “I don’t want to talk about that right now,” he murmured, placing a gentle peck on my nose.

  “We need to,” I told him, placing my hand against his chest. “Brett.”

  He huffed. “I want to kiss my wife. Is that wrong?”

  “No.” I cupped his cheek, the dark stubble scratching at my fingers. “But we need to figure out what we’re going to do. Our kids don’t know anything.”

  “We’ll sit them down and tell them.” He kissed my mouth. “I promise.”

  “We need you to get better so you can come home. I need you beside me in our bed.”

  “Hmm…I can think of something else I need right now.” He nipped my chin.

  I laughed, pushing him back. “That is not something we can do. Not here. And especially not until you feel better.”

  “That will make me feel better. I don’t need my arm to make love to my wife.” He leaned in for another kiss but I placed my hand over his mouth instead. “Evvie,” he said, his voice muffled.

  “Stop.” I poked him in the chest. “You had surgery.”

  “I’m fine.” He cupped my nape, pulling me toward him.

  Before I could stop him again, he covered my mouth with his. I sighed, melting into him.

  His tongue split my lips, sliding inside and dancing along my own. The kiss deepened. I gripped his shirt, tugging at the material when I had a moment of clarity.

  “Brett.” I broke the kiss. “We can’t do this. Not here.” But God, did I ever want to. I didn’t care where we were. I just wanted him.

  He blew out a slow breath. “That kiss made me feel better, Evvie.” He turned me in his arms and pulled me back against his chest. “I can only imagine what your pussy will do to me the next time I’m inside it.”

  I shivered, squeezing my thighs together.

  Brett whispered dirty words over and over again in my ear. Promises of passion. Nights filled with lust and desire. Everything that made up him and me. Our marriage was strong but our love was even stronger. I just prayed it would last through everything we were about to face. No matter the cost.

  “I love you, Evvie,” Brett murmured, brushing his mouth along the shell of my ear. “I promise you that. I love you so damn hard.”

  “I love you deep,” I whispered, my eyes growing heavy.

  Brett

  I STEPPED INTO my house for what felt like the first time. I was at the hospital for three weeks before they let me out, and I hadn’t seen my kids since before the accident.

  Once I was over the threshold, the scent of cookies and the sounds of my children graced my senses. It was home and it was mine.

  “Brett.” Evvie came into view, standing at the entrance to the kitchen. “What are you doing here? I was supposed to pick you up in an hour.”

  In three long strides, I was on her. I cupped her nape and captured her mouth in a hard, bruising kiss.

  She gasped, taking in everything I had to give her, and snaked her arms around my neck.

  Before I got carried away, I released her and kissed her forehead. “I wanted to surprise you so I had Baxter drive me.” Since I had a meeting with him anyway, it worked.

  “Oh.” Evvie brushed her hands down the front of her, smoothing out her dress. “Well, I’m glad you’re home.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed my cheek. “The kids are in their rooms.”

  “I’ll go see them.”

  “Okay.” She stepped back into the kitchen but not before I noticed the tears.

  “Hey.” I walked up behind her and gently grabbed her arm. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She smiled up at me. “Nothing at all.” She laughed. “God, I’m being silly. I’m happy you’re home but…”

  “What?” I frowned, the anxiety coursing through me, twisting and gnawing at my stomach. “Evvie, do I have to kill someone? Did some bastard hurt you? Is it your job? Tell me please because the thoughts going through my head right now aren’t making this any easier.”

  Evvie laughed even harder. “No. God, no. None of that. Like I said, it’s silly and doesn’t make sense. At all.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Go see the kids. We can talk after.”

  “No.” I pinched her chin, forcing her head back. “Tell me.”

  “Fine.” She took a deep breath. “I was enjoying going to the hospital to see you. Not because you where there but because it was just you and I. Like back when we were dating. I love our children. Please don’t get me wrong. But I need you. I need you and me time and we haven’t had that in so long. Maybe that’s why this whole thing turned out the way it did. I don’t know. God, I’m being selfish, aren’t I?”

  “Not at all.” But it got me wondering if maybe she wasn’t right. “I need to make a call.”

  “What?” She frowned. “Right now?”

  “Daddy!” Eddie ran into the kitchen, barreling into me.

  “Hey, buddy.” I ruffled his hair and crouched down to his height. “How are you?”

  “Good.” He hugged his arms around my neck. “How are you? You got in an accident. Was there a lot of blood? Did someone die?” With each question, his eyes got wider. Hopeful.

  “I’m fine.” I chuckled. “Sore though.”

  “Can I see your scars?” he asked, folding his hands together in front of him. “Please.”

  “Alright, Eddie.” Evvie laughed. “That’s enough. Your father needs to rest.”

  “I need my family,” I told her. “And I need you.” I kissed her softly on the mouth, brushing my lips down the length of her jaw to her ear. “I’ll take care of you later. Whatever you want. If you want to get out of here, I’ll call up Anna.”

  “But what about your injuries.”

  “Fuck my injuries.” I pinched her chin harder. “I need you. You hear me, Evvie? I need my wife and I will have you. However, I want you. Do you understand?”

  She gulped. “Yes.”

  “Good girl.” I kissed her again. “Now I’m going to go see Patrick and Miracle.”

  “Okay.” She blew out a slow breath. “I’ll make you some food.”

  My stomach grumbled.

  We laughed.

  She blew me a kiss and I went in search of our other children.

  ***

  (Evvie)

  Brett was back. I had my husband back. It was surreal in a way after everything we had been through. We still had to figure out what to do about Claire and Roxane but for now, I was going to enjoy him.

  Warm lips caressed mine. My eyes fluttered open, landing on Brett crouching in front of me. I looked around me, realizing I was on the couch. “I must have fallen asleep.”

  Brett smiled.

  “What time is it?” I asked, looking around the room at our sleeping children. Miracle laid on the other end of the couch while the boys took up both ends of the love seat.

  We had been watching a movie but clearly it was boring enough to put us
all to sleep.

  “It’s late,” Brett murmured, brushing his thumb along my bottom lip. My heart stuttered.

  “I’ll put the kids to bed,” he said, picking Patrick up off the couch.

  I nodded, gently nudging Miracle.

  She yawned, rubbing her eyes and slowly rose from the couch. “Is Dad still home?”

  My heart jumped when she referred to him as Dad and not Daddy like she usually did. Knowing it was because she had been pissed at him, it still broke my heart that our issues had put a wedge between him and our children.

  “Where else would he go?” I asked her.

  “Well before the accident, he left and then you left and we had to stay at Aunt Anna and Uncle Evan’s.” She shrugged. “Are we still playing that game?”

  “Miracle,” I said gently, not wanting to scold my daughter because I knew it had been stressful on all of us.

  Crossing her arms under her chest, she sat back on the couch and waited. Her gaze was hard, her jaw clenching. With a glare that mirrored her father’s, she could put him to shame with her death stares.

  “Miracle.” Brett came back into the living room. “It’s time for bed.”

  “Are you leaving again?”

  Brett’s jaw clenched. “That depends on what your mom wants.”

  “What do you want, Mama?” Miracle grabbed my hand. Her piercing blue eyes flicked back and forth. “Tell me.”

  Although she was almost fourteen, our daughter was wise beyond her years.

  “I want us to be happy.” I cupped her cheek. “I know it’s been hard on all of us. I get it and I’m sorry.”

  “Mama.”

  My head whipped around, finding Patrick standing only a few feet away. He rubbed his eyes.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” I asked, holding back the tears that he was finally talking without me having to force the words out of him.

  “Can you and Daddy tuck me in?”

  “Of course.” I turned back to Miracle. “Please believe me when I tell you that your father and I aren’t going anywhere.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  I hugged her. “I love you, baby girl.”

  “I love you too, Mama.” She released me and walked up to Brett. “I love you too, Daddy,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist.

  “I…” His voice cracked. He leaned down, kissed her head and hugged her to him. “I love you too, Miracle. More than you’ll ever know.”

  Brett

  I HAD SPENT weeks avoiding the situation and what needed to be done. I used the excuse that I was healing from the accident. When in all reality, I was terrified. We didn’t have ten million dollars lying around to just give away. We were well-off, thanks to our clubs and restaurants doing so well, but all of the extra cash we had went into a bank account for each of our children. They were our number one priority.

  Patrick was finally talking again.

  Eddie’s humor came out more now that Evvie and I were moving in the right direction.

  And Miracle no longer looked at me with contempt.

  Evvie and I hadn’t had sex without the hurtful words leaving our mouths in months. It had been raw and passionate but filled with so much rage, it only ever made me fuck her harder and faster. It was also the only time I felt connected with my wife anymore.

  Until now.

  Although I was still in pain from the burn and I had physiotherapy which was shit and hurt like a bitch, I didn’t need my arm to make love to my wife. But she always stopped me. Telling me that I needed to heal first.

  Well fuck that.

  Images of the last time I was inside her, slid into my mind. They sliced into my heart, forcing me to bleed out every damn emotion I had no right in feeling. It was a mix of confusion and anger. But the anticipation on when she would let me make love to her, was absolutely delicious.

  But I was becoming frustrated. The more I thought about it, the harder my body became.

  I let out a low growl and rubbed the back of my neck. I had been home for just over a week. We finally had an appointment set up with Baxter even though he had pushed for us to wait because of the accident. We couldn’t. We had to get this sorted for Storm’s sake.

  A knock sounded on the door to my office. I sat back in the chair. “Come in.”

  Ian stepped into the room. “Shouldn’t you be home? Resting maybe?”

  “I was getting bored and stir-crazy. Evvie kicked me out and told me to do something productive.” Her sass had turned me on, so I tried hinting for more but again she pushed me away.

  Ian laughed. “Sounds like my wife. So how are you feeling?”

  I shrugged. “Better than before.” I flexed my left hand. “Still hurts but it’s getting there slowly.” I wasn’t sure how long it would take for me to get full use of my hand again. The doctors said it could take weeks to months. Good thing most of the stuff I did for work was now done electronically.

  “That’s good. Well I just wanted to check in.”

  “Thanks, Ian.” I wiggled the mouse, the image of my wife popping up on the screen.

  Ian quietly closed the door behind him, leaving me to my dirty thoughts of what I would do to my wife if she were in the room with me.

  My dick stirred, begging, hungry for her. Her pushing me away was starting to piss me off. Pain or no pain, I would fuck her. Today.

  Before I knew what I was doing, my hand moved to my lap. I shouldn’t be thinking about touching myself to thoughts of Evvie. Not right now. Not when there was still so much we had to work through. And especially not when I was sitting in my office.

  Palming my dick, I stood from the chair and headed to the door. Clicking the lock into place, I leaned against the wall and took several deep breaths to try and ease the raging erection in my pants. I didn’t need any unexpected visitors. Unless it was Evvie herself. My cock jumped, liking the idea of being caught by my wife.

  So many fantasies. So many scenes we had yet to act out. She was my ever-willing submissive and I, the Dom. But right now, I would beg at her feet just to crawl back inside the safety of her warmth.

  I let out another slow breath but it didn’t do anything to prevent the raging hard on from happening between my legs.

  Fuck it.

  I trudged back to my desk and slumped down onto the chair.

  Unbuttoning my pants, I pulled out my cock. The tip was purple. A drop of pre-cum coated my thumb as I ran the digit over the head. My hips bucked at the soft contact, imagining Evvie’s mouth sliding down the length of me.

  I needed her. I needed her more than I could ever say.

  Should I call her? Would she hang up on me if I told her what I was doing? She was just as kinky as I was but after everything that had happened, I had no way of knowing if we would ever find that connection again.

  Suddenly my phone rang. As if she could hear me thinking about her, Evvie’s beautiful face showed up on my screen. Shit .

  “Hey, Evvie,” I grumbled into the phone, palming my dick to keep it from exploding.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, not greeting me back.

  “Nothing.” I cleared my throat. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. I called to tell you that I set up an appointment with Matteo for both of us.” She paused. “What are you doing?”

  Fantasizing about you.

  I took several deep breaths before I was able to answer. “I’m trying. I’m trying so fucking hard but…”

  “What?” she asked, her voice coming out breathily.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you and what we’ve done. I know I hurt you and we still have a lot to work through. But I’m trying. I really am. The doctors said I can fuck as soon as soon as I feel better. Well, my beautiful wife. I feel fucking better.” I swallowed hard, my dick twitching against my lower stomach. “I’m so damn hard, Evvie.”

  A soft gasp escaped her.

  What happened next shouldn’t have surprised me but it did. And it hurt like hell.

 
; She hung up.

  ***

  (Evvie)

  I was pissed. At Brett. The whole situation. Life in general. We still didn’t have all of the answers we needed to our questions.

  I kept pushing him away because he needed to heal from his injuries. But maybe I stopped him from taking it further because I was scared. It had been so long. Too long. I wasn’t sure how we would ever find that connection again without anger being involved.

  But I wasn’t mad over what he told me on the phone. No. Instead, I was turned on. It had been so long since we played. Since both of us let ourselves go and just be together as one.

  I didn’t mean to hang up on him. It was a knee-jerk reaction because so many months ago, I would have hung up, driven over to his club, and let him do unspeakable things to me. I hung up out of habit.

  But now, I was scared. Could I go see him, let him fuck me and then just leave right after?

  Before I knew what was happening, I was in my car and heading over to The Red Love .

  I needed to see him. I needed to unleash all of my rage onto the man I married. I needed to take out my pain on him.

  Ten minutes later and I was standing outside his office with my hand raised. I was getting ready to knock on the door when it flung open, revealing a disheveled Brett.

  His eyes darkened, his nostrils flaring. “Say it,” he demanded, his voice deeper than I had ever heard it.

  “What?” I asked, my heart picking up speed.

  “Consent, Evvie. Give me your fucking consent because once you step into this room, I’m going to rip you apart.”

  My body gushed, the need for him so damn strong, I was sure he could smell how much I wanted him at that very moment.

  Taking a deep breath, I didn’t give him my words. Instead, I pushed him back and stepped into the room, slamming the door closed behind me.

  Brett reached around me and clicked the lock into place, his other hand coming up to wrap around my throat. “Say it.”

  “Yes,” I said, tilting my head back.

  Brett growled, crashing his mouth to mine. His hands cupped my ass, lifting me into his arms.