The Marriage Mistake

by Natalie Knight

  It clatters to the aquarium floor.

  “Shhhh!” Lock whispers, again through laughter. “And it was your idea.”

  “Well, it was awful,” I say, this time remembering to be quiet.

  “Do you want go back?” he asks.

  “Absolutely not.”

  I let go of the window, dropping quickly and less than gracefully into the aquarium below.

  My landing is rough, and I turn to make sure he didn’t see, but his face, peering down at me and choking back a laugh, tells me otherwise.

  “Well, let’s see how you do,” I say, my voice full of confidence even as I struggle to stand.

  He laughs, disappearing from view for a moment before pulling himself up in one fluid motion.

  He drops down beside me, landing with uncanny silence, crouching like a superhero.

  I roll my eyes, scoffing. I can’t let him know it, but truthfully, I’m totally impressed.

  The way this guy pounded shots of tequila tonight, I was expecting a full face-plant.

  “Well?” he asks.

  “Well, what?”

  “How’d I do?”

  I shrug noncommittally. “Eh.”

  His laughter is seriously fucking charming. “Okay, okay, not so easily swayed. Got it.”

  He grabs my hand, leading me into the dark room before us.

  “I know what’ll get a reaction from you,” he says, stopping. “Stay right here.”

  He disappears instantly, leaving me to peer into the blackness.

  I hear his footsteps echo across the room, followed by the sound of switches being flipped.

  Since it was my idea to break into the 3D aquarium, I know what I should be expecting.

  Still, when the display flips on, my breath catches in my throat.

  I’m completely surrounded by colorful fish, swimming about in the most beautifully designed tanks I’ve ever seen.

  Hammerheads, Great Whites, and Tiger sharks circle around me, their tales whipping wildly about.

  The tentacles of countless jelly fish hang over my head. They tangle around each other, desperately trying to catch the herring that dart around.

  At my feet, I spy catfish so realistic I’m surprised I can’t feel them bumping up against me.

  It really is like I’ve been transported to the bottom of the ocean.

  My own personal paradise.

  “Isn’t it fucking awesome?” Lock asks, pulling me back to reality.

  I look over, catching the look of wonder on his face as well.

  “Fucking gorgeous,” I say.

  He walks over to me, his body passing through holographic fish along the way.

  “This was a really good idea,” he says when he’s only inches away.

  “Yeah, I know,” I say, looking away and trying to be snarky.

  In reality, I can’t stop looking at his mouth. I’m surrounded by the ocean and everything I love in it. But somehow, I can’t take my eyes off of Lock.

  For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I’m in control.

  I peer over to his face again. I see his eyes studying my mouth, as well. They linger on my lips for a second before traveling lower. They travel down the length of me, so intent I can practically feel it.

  When his eyes finally make their way back to my face, there’s a glint in them that wasn’t there before.

  I know he’s about to kiss me the same way I know that the fish to my right is a nurse shark: with absolute certainty.

  I take great pleasure in beating him to the punch as I dive in close to him and press my lips against his. Before he can so much as lean in, I’ve claimed that mouth of his as mine.

  No surprise or hesitation festers within him. He doesn’t so much as pause. He just kisses me back intently.

  This isn’t an exploratory kiss. It’s not sweet and tentative.

  Not testing boundaries, either.

  This kiss is well-established, and it has no boundaries.

  My hands are on him before I even think to move, exploring his abs and his chest and running roughly through his hair.

  There isn’t a part of him that I don’t want to touch.

  His hands find me as well, matching mine with their single-minded intensity.

  They run up to my tits, down to my ass. One hitches on the hem of my dress, sliding it up, even as the other tears at my neckline.

  The fabric of my dress gives with an audible rip, my tits spilling through without its support.

  I have only a moment to be glad I didn’t wear a bra today before his mouth is on my boobs. He bends at the waist, taking my nipple firmly between his lips.

  One of his hands claims the other breast, groping, pinching.

  I throw my head back, moaning loudly, staring wildly at the holograms that still swim around us. “Fuck!”

  Then I reach down, wanting to feel him as well.

  My fingers graze his cock, and I hear him inhale sharply around my hardened nipple. He’s completely stiff, his cock throbbing in my hand.

  I reach down with my other hand, frantically trying to unfasten his belt, needing to actually feel him in my grip.

  I’ve barely gotten it unbuckled when he lifts me, pulling my legs around his waist as he does.

  He carries me easily over to a display table. It’s covered in pamphlets and aquarium maps, which he quickly swipes away with one stroke of his hand.

  He settles me onto it, kissing me once more before dropping to his knees.

  Slowly, reverently, he slides down my thong.

  Or maybe he’s just trying to make me crazy.

  Either way, I’m tense with anticipation by the time he drags it over my feet.

  “Lock,” I moan.

  He spreads my legs open, pausing for a second to admire my pussy.

  A sound—half moan, half growl—escapes his mouth; it sends chills racing through me.

  And then his mouth meets my skin, kissing frantically up my thighs and stopping occasionally to bite at some of my more sensitive skin.

  I reach out, twining my fingers through his hair.

  Lock’s tongue slithers out of his mouth and glides up and down my pussy lips before it slides into me. I gasp as it teases my wet, little hole.

  Slow and taunting a moment ago, he doesn’t hesitate here.

  He licks the length of my slit again, savoring me before he slides his tongue up to my clit.

  I’m fucking dripping wet as he flicks his tongue across me, eliciting a moan and driving my fingers to pull tightly on his hair.

  “FUCK!” I yell again, completely lost in what he’s doing to me.

  He fits his lips over my clit, sucking gently while he reaches up with one hand.

  I cry out when his fingers slide into me, my pussy tightening around them in reflex.

  He thrusts deeply, fucking me better with his fingers than some men have with their entire cock. As he moves them, he matches their pace with his tongue, seeming to know how to find every nerve.

  I press one hand against the table, supporting my weight on it as I raise my hips, thrusting back against him.

  With every movement, his fingers thrust deeper into me, and I scream out in pleasure, moaning loudly, no longer concerned if we’re caught or not.

  I feel heat building in my core, fucking fireworks preparing to explode. I pull his head harder against me, grinding myself against his face.

  He picks up on my imminent rupture, redoubling his efforts as I feel my orgasm build.

  Finally, it’s all just too much.

  I come hard against him, my hips thrusting, hand clinging roughly to his hair. Unintelligible sounds spew from my mouth in a rush. My hearing dims, my eyesight blurs, every sense seems to shut down in awe of his touch.

  I can barely even hear myself screaming his name as I ride through this crashing wave of pleasure that seems to go on forever.

  By the time it’s passed, my entire body is shaking. And when I return to the moment, I’m lying on the tabl
e, trying to catch my breath.

  What a fucking winner I landed tonight. It’s hard to find a man that can make me come so hard and so fast, especially with just their mouth and a couple of fingers.

  He’s every fucking woman’s dream—and I have him.

  Chapter 30

  Lock

  2:17 AM THREE YEARS AGO

  “Mmmm,” Sammi moans as I pull my fingers from her dripping pussy. I stare deep into her green eyes as my cock throbs hard for her sweet, little cunt.

  No woman has had this effect on me before, but Sammi fucking Brighton has me under her spell. Any mate would tell me I’m loony, but I mean it.

  “I want you, Lachlan!” she cries out.

  What else am I to do but deliver the lady what she’s ordered?

  As we’re standing face to face, I position my cock right at her slick little hole and look her right in the eyes as I slide myself inside her.

  The suspense all leading up to this moment was all so incredibly worth it.

  Her tight little pussy has my head all fuzzy as I thrust in and out of her. She just feels so fucking good. And her little moans and whimpers are driving me even more wild.

  I pump in and out ferociously. I’ve never had a more euphoric experience with anyone. Here I am, latched to the first girl I flirted with at this conference, and I’m perfectly okay with that.

  Sammi pushes me down forcefully onto the table behind me. I take her lead and slip out of her to scoot up on the furniture.

  Quickly, she climbs over me and shoves my cock back into her pussy, full force and full length. I nearly cum right then and there.

  Sammi rocks her hips back and forth, all while grinding her pussy against my body, stimulating my throbbing cock inside of her. She grabs her tits and tosses her head back, moaning wildly.

  I stare at her face and then to the ceiling above us. Three dimensional hammerheads are swimming all about, creating such perfect fucking ambience to an already amazing moment.

  Sammi’s face stays extended upward, marveling at the view herself.

  “God. It’s a fucking shame this isn’t a reality for us. Why can’t we just see this view in person?” Sammi comments.

  “Well, you know, doll. People just aren’t taking care of the planet. And that affects the fuck out of the oceans we work so hard to study and protect. It’s a damn shame, ain’t it?”

  “Yes! It really is!” Sammi says, excitedly as slaps down on my chest still grinding those hips against me. Her pussy is so satisfying, I barely feel the sting.

  “We need to come up with a global plan to save the oceans. The ocean life should look like that projection above us! Not some bullshit dumpster,” I suggest.

  “Ooh! We can totally do that. Samira and Lachlan save the fucking oceans together. I love the sound of that,” Sammi continues, her words growing much more…sultry with each breath.

  She’s close. And so am I.

  “Let’s save the fucking oceans, Sammi! Let’s do it!” I shout as I thrust into her from below. Her pussy tightens and relaxes around my cock.

  “Aaaahhhhh!” she screams, gushing cum all over my dick. Who knew that a new Save the Fucking Whales campaign would get this girl off. But it actually did.

  Sammi fucking Brighton, the most passionate marine biologist on the goddamn planet.

  As she pants and winces on my cock, I thrust into her a good few more times before finally, I erupt as well, unloading streams of cum all into her wet cunt. Her eyes widen and pierce through me as the last load glides itself deep inside her pussy.

  My mind clears, and I sit up as Sammi lifts herself off of me. I push her messy, dark hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear.

  She really is a gorgeous gal. I can’t believe my small talk with her through the night got us to this very moment.

  Shit, I’m still pretty damn sure this is all in my head and that I’ll wake up in the morning wishing I’d talked to her the moment I saw her.

  “Lachlan?” she says, getting my attention. Apparently, we’re back to a full first name basis. Good to know.

  “Yes, Samira?” I return.

  “I hope I don’t forget this,” she admits in her hazy, post-orgasmic, drunken state.

  “Don’t worry, babe. You won’t.”

  “But how do youuu know? You don’t know me and my friend Jose very well,” she goes on and starts giggling to herself. She’s so fucking cute I can’t help but chuckle with her.

  I trace her hair line with my finger and turn her around, laying her head in my lap, just admiring and petting her.

  “That may be true, but I know this was fucking special,” I say. I’m trying not to get too into this. After all, we did just meet.

  “It really was. Thank you so much for being my company all night. I’ve never been to one of these before. I was just so nervous, I guess.”

  “Trust me, hon. You’re fine. You’ve been amazing company to me, as well. And I can’t wait to talk with you even more after the conference. Can I give you my number?” I ask, like we’re back to being awkward teenagers after a kiss during a game of spin the bottle.

  “Yeah! Fuck, yeah! And I’m gonna call you as soon as I’m back home and settled. We can check up on each other and shit,” she says, still very insistently drunk.

  “Fantastic. Hand me your cell, and I’ll add myself in,” I tell her. She slaps her hand around the table and doesn’t find it.

  “Hold on,” she says.

  Sammi gets off the table and fishes through her purse on the floor to grab her phone.

  “Aha!” she shouts as she holds it up above her head. Again, cute. But drunk.

  I take the cell from her hand and add my number and my name into her contacts. I’m damn giddy that I’ve just made such a great connection with this gal. But I’m doing my best to not seem over-enthusiastic.

  “There you are, babe. I’m all in. Just shoot me a text when you’re up for it, eh?”

  “Abso-fucking-lutely!” she assures me. “I want to thank you, Lock.”

  “Thank me? For what exactly?”

  “For being here. For spending the last few hours with me. And especially for that cock. Holy mother fuck, that cock!” she starts spieling on.

  And here we go with the monster cock comments. If I’ve heard them once, I’ve heard them a million times.

  “That cock is so fucking huge. Like…I won’t forget that cock, right? How the fuck could I?”

  “I certainly would hope not. And even if you did, I definitely won’t forget tonight,” I reply.

  “You mean that?” she says in a high-pitched, sweet voice. I’ve tickled her once again.

  “Of course I mean that. Say, how about you give me your number as well, just in case?” I try to suggest. By the time I actually get the words out, Sammi is off the table, darting for the restroom.

  Shit.

  Well, there’s no way she’d blank on a night like this. It’s too fucking significant.

  I head over to the bathrooms myself, making sure she doesn’t pass out naked in one of them and embarrass herself in the morning. Despite the discomfort it brings me, I walk in to the ladies’ room.

  There she is, on the floor, praying to a toilet.

  “Come on, babe. Let’s get you back to your hotel,” I coerce her as I peel her off the cold, tile floor. She grunts and nods.

  I hold her stable and walk us back to the hammerhead room, much to my own dismay, getting her clothes back on her.

  As I care for her and hail us a taxi, she says one more time before her words turn into exhausted babbling noises, “I really hope I don’t forget tonight. You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met, and I deserve to remember that.”

  “You will, doll. You will,” I say, kissing her forehead before easing us into our cab.

  Chapter 31

  Lock

  3:30 PM SATURDAY

  I’ll admit that a lot of the time I’m an idiot. I know I should be thinking things through more, that leaping
in head first isn’t always the best course of action.

  But it’s how I’ve always lived my life. It’s how I will always live my life. I don’t have time to sit back and smell the roses. Not when there’s some new adventure around the bend.

  It is what it is.

  But bringing Sammi here to the Aquarium was fucking genius.

  I think.

  What better way to make her remember than bringing her here where it all began?

  A move like this either makes me the dumbest smart person of all time or the smartest dumb person of all time.

  Truthfully, I don’t know which one it is yet.

  Looking at her now and seeing that wistful look in here eyes gives me hope. It’s like she’s piecing the puzzle together in her mind’s eye.

  It’s like she’s remembering that she loves me.

  That’s right, Sams. Remember everything, darl. Please.

  She turns her head to look at me.

  Her lips begin to curl upward into a smile.

  I swear I can see this sparkle in her eyes.

  I’m about ready to jump into the fucking air, I’m so ecstatic. After all of this craziness, she’s finally rememberi—correction: she remembers.

  I’m so glad, I could crack open the champagne. It’s time to fucking celebrate.

  I open my arms, and I’m leaning forward to hug her. I’m about to reaffirm my love for her.

  And then she steps back and punches me in the face.

  I take it all back. Every bit of leeway I gave myself. I am the dumbest dumb person of all time.

  I’m barely registering what the fuck is going on, and she’s already storming out. She’s moving like a woman on a mission from God.

  I hear the sound of giggling behind me. I turn around to see a bunch of teen Thai girls pointing and laughing at me.

  “Thanks, ladies.”

  I begin my chase after Sammi. We’ve come too far now to let things revert back to the same tired routine that they have been these last several years.

  She makes it all the way down the Chao Phraya, which is farther than I expected.

  “Sammi, stop. Just stop.”

  She doesn’t.

  I run up in front of her. My hands reach out and grab her shoulders.