Reclaiming My Wife

by Jessica Blake

  It didn’t seem to matter to Jillian, or maybe she just didn’t know. Her eyes were as big as saucers as she walked in. The cold mask was gone, and I could read every emotion on her face.

  I loved every minute of it.

  “Hungry?” I asked softly as she practically licked her lips when a waitress walked by with a tray of food.

  “Very, but I guess it’s not very proper to grab something to eat as soon as you walk into a party, is it?” She laughed.

  “Sweetheart, I’m a rancher. Nobody expects proper from me.” I grabbed one of the small plates off the next tray that walked by and handed it to her. It was something ridiculous like shrimp on a cracker, but she practically moaned as she popped it in her mouth.

  I wanted to hear her moan like that when I touched her.

  “Brendan Ward. I certainly didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Not after last year.” I turned to see Phil Roberts, the CEO of Roberts Automotive, walking toward me. Phil’s company made everything from tires and engines to fuzzy dice and new car scent sprays. “How are you?”

  The man was twenty years my senior and often acted like he was a decade younger. He had his fair share of scandals, including bedding the sister of his wife, but I was fond of the guy. “Trying to expand my ranch,” I explained as I reached out and pumped his hand. “Gotta follow the money. Phil, this is my wife, Jillian.”

  “Wife?” He took a step back in surprise but recovered quickly. “I’m surprised a marriage to you didn’t make the front pages. My dear, I don’t know whether to congratulate you or offer you my condolences. As it is, you are a stunning woman, and my home is open to you if you ever need a break from this cad.”

  “Sounds like you’re the cad,” Jillian teased good-naturedly as she let him kiss her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Phil. What did my husband do at the event last year?”

  “Blessed out this pompous idiot for refusing to donate money to the charity. Some young money dick who felt it was better to pay for his date’s plastic surgery than to donate to a worthy cause.” Phil grinned. “By god, it was worth it to see Brendan knock that kid out. I’m surprised you got invited again.”

  “Probably a mistake,” I said lightly.

  “No doubt. I don’t suppose you’re planning on entertaining us again this year? From the looks of things, it’s going to be a rather boring affair.”

  My gaze shifted to the man approaching us, and I stiffened. Dennis Blackwell. “The night is still young,” I murmured. Jillian slipped her arm through mine and squeezed it in warning. I gave her a reassuring smile.

  “Phil, I need to speak to someone. Do me a favor and show Jillian around? And keep your hands off her while you’re at it.”

  “Brendan,” Jillian protested, but I gently pushed her toward Phil. I wasn’t sure if Dennis knew that Gordon had hired a private investigator or not, but I certainly didn’t want him to make a scene in front of her.

  “It would be my pleasure, and I make no promises. A woman like Jillian was born to be touched.”

  “I don’t think so,” she retorted, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as Phil led her away. I liked the man, and I didn’t think he’d make any moves on my wife, but if he did, I had a feeling that she would be able to handle herself just fine. Hell, when it was all over with, Phil might even learn a thing or two about respecting women.

  “Ward,” Dennis said stiffly as he approached me. “I didn’t think I’d see your face around here. I thought you didn’t like parties like these.”

  “I’m networking, Dennis. Same as you. Plus, I thought my wife might enjoy an evening out.”

  “Hmm. I’d like to offer you a deal, Ward. You and I both want the same thing but not for the same reasons. That land is my inheritance. I’ve earned it, and I’m not about to stand by and watch my father sell it to someone outside the family. If you want to expand your ranch so badly, I can help with that. After some research, I’ve discovered that the protected lands next to you only take about half of what the park actually owns. The other half, the half that borders your land, can be bought if the price is right. I imagine that with the money you’re offering my father, and some political pull from me, we can both achieve what we want. What do you say?”

  I clenched my fists but controlled my temper. Inherited lands? Dennis didn’t give a damn about his father’s ranch, and we both knew it. “Protected or not, I would not stoop so low as to take away the only park within fifty miles of our county. This was never about expanding my land. This is about protecting my ranch from whatever it is that you intend to do with your…” I sneered, “inheritance.”

  His beady eyes narrowed, but his face remained slack. This was a man well practiced at deception in public. “Have it your way, Ward, but I have a feeling that you’ll regret getting in my way. I’ve taken down more powerful men than you, and in this case, it’ll be as easy as snapping my fingers. My father respects family. Do you really think he’s going to go against my wishes?”

  “Your father respects character more than he respects family, and I’m sure that he knows exactly what kind of man you really are. If he didn’t, you wouldn’t be worried.”

  He smiled coldly. “Tell me, Brendan. What kinds of secrets are you hiding in your closet? How is your wife going to react when I reveal them one by one? Your bed is going to be awfully cold once she runs from it.” He laughed as he added, “Again. Maybe I’ll take a crack at her. Is she the good little cocksucker that I imagine she is?”

  I shifted my shoulders to coldcock him, but a hand on my arm stopped me. It was Phil with my anxious looking wife at his side. From the look on Phil’s face, I knew he’d at least heard the last part. “Dennis. How are you? I hate to interrupt, but I think Senator Baxtor was looking for you,” Phil said easily.

  Dennis grinned. “Of course. He and I have much to discuss. Jillian, you look absolutely delicious this evening. I hope you’ll save me a dance before the night is over.”

  “Dennis,” she greeted coldly before she pressed her lips in a thin line.

  As he walked away, Phil sighed. “Please tell me that you haven’t made Dennis Blackwell an enemy. He might seem like a bumbling idiot, but he has friends in high places, and he’s far more cruel that anyone gives him credit for,” Phil said loftily, but there was worry in his eyes.

  “You leave Dennis to me.” I put my arm around Jillian’s waist and kissed her on the head. She leaned into me, resting her arm against my chest as she looked up at me.

  “Can we dance?” she murmured.

  Nodding my head to Phil in thanks, I let Jillian lead me to the dance floor and swept her into my arms. Although the music and atmosphere were different than the little country hoedown, we moved with each other almost effortlessly.

  “You do realize that he’s just using me to get to you, right? Get into another fight at an important function. Lose his father’s respect for you,” she asked as she looked at me with concern in her eyes.

  My grip tightened around her waist. She wasn’t dancing with me as much as she was distracting me. “I know.”

  “Then why did you almost take the bait?” Those beautiful eyes nearly glowed as she looked up at me. “We might still be legally married, but we haven’t been husband and wife in a long time. You don’t need to protect me.”

  I pressed my lips to her forehead. “You’re important to me, Jillian. Whether he said it three days after we were married or a year after our supposed divorce, it wouldn’t have mattered. That never changed.”

  She didn’t say anything as she dropped her gaze and closed her eyes. In silence, we swayed to the music. When she was in my arms, the rest of the party faded away. For a moment, I could pretend that she wasn’t just in it for her reputation or that I wasn’t using her for land. Tonight, we were just a man and a woman enjoying the sensuality of the music. As we danced, I moved closer and closer until our bodies were pressed up against each other’s. Not suitable for the gala, but certainly suitable for my needs.


  I needed her.

  The song ended, and I reluctantly led her away. “I could use some champagne,” she said in a soft voice. Her eyes were unreadable, and I couldn’t tell if she was feeling the same thing as me or not.

  Nodding, I followed her to the edge of the crowd. Accepting two glasses of champagne, I handed her one. On impulse, I opened my mouth to ask her to share my bed tonight, but we were interrupted by Harry. He walked slowly toward us in an expensive tuxedo and a black cowboy hat. Although it had only been a week since I’d seen him last, he looked like he’d aged years.

  The man was not doing well.

  “Don’t you two look like a beautiful couple,” he said with a smile. “Mrs. Ward, you are a sight even for these old eyes. Absolutely beautiful.”

  “Mr. Blackwell.” She tensed beside me, and my stomach turned. The mask had returned, and she was readying herself for a performance. “You say the sweetest things, but it’s mostly the dress. The clothes make the man, right? Or in this case, woman?”

  Harry tipped his hat slowly. “It’s more than the dress, my dear. It’s the flush you wear when your husband touches you and the twinkle of love in your eyes. No one in this room could ever mistake you for anything other than desperately in love. I’m so glad things are working out.”

  Was that love in her eyes? I ached to ask her, but she was studiously ignoring me. “I’m afraid most of what you’re looking at is my reaction to the party. I’ve never been to anything so fancy before. I feel like a princess tonight.”

  “Not a princess,” Harry protested. “A queen. Brendan, are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’m surprised. You don’t usually like to go to these things.”

  I shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable under his direct stare. “Unfortunately, the job calls for it. My investors like for me to make an appearance in the world from time to time, and I couldn’t resist an opportunity to give Jillian a nice night out.” I hated myself for even involving her.

  “And showing her off. I’m afraid that I’m on my way out. It’s far past my bedtime, but it was lovely to see the two of you out. Enjoy the rest of your evening, my dear, and Brendan, we’ll be speaking soon.”

  “Yes, sir. Can I call you a car?”

  He waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve already taken care of that. No need to worry about me. You two just enjoy yourselves.”

  As soon as he was out of sight, Jillian pulled away from me and downed her champagne. Harry’s words had clearly gotten to her. “Do we need to stay much longer now that he’s gone?” she asked as she pulled at her dress.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I think the crowd is getting to me,” she muttered as she avoided eye contact. “If you have more elbows to rub, I’ll just get some fresh air.”

  “I just need to make a contribution, and then we can be on our way. If you want to wait outside for me, I’ll just be a few minutes.” I handed her the tag for the car from my pocket. Once again, the moment for us was gone, and I was with the woman who was only being forced to be my friend.

  She might have thought that the night was over, but we were only just beginning.

  I let her have her space while I drove us home, but once we were safely locked inside our hotel room, I confronted her. “Your mind is spinning, but you’re not letting me in,” I accused as I shed my jacket and tie.

  “I’m just not used to big parties like that,” she said coolly. The ice princess was back, and I wanted to make her melt. “There’s no need to make a big deal about it. I was willing to stay as long as you needed me to stay.”

  “You’re lying to yourself if you think that’s true. What’s wrong, Jillian? Did you decide that you liked dancing in my arms a little too much? Did you let your guard down for a second and consider letting me in?”

  Her lips tightened in a thin line, and I knew that I was right. As she turned away from me, I reached out to lightly touch her arm. “Jillian? Just tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m thinking that we should go to bed.”

  “Excellent suggestion.” Whirling her around, I pushed her up against the couch and lowered my head to hers. I was prepared for her to push me away or turn her head when I kissed her. I even told myself that I could walk away if she wasn’t ready. What I wasn’t prepared for was the way that she melted against me. The way her mouth eagerly opened to accept me.

  It was just supposed to be a persuasive kiss. The kind that got her thinking about how nice it would be to submit, but it was hot and desperate from the very start. A moan caught in her throat, and it drove me wild. I wanted to set it free. To build on it until her screams of pleasure were bouncing off the walls.

  “Tell me you want me,” I demanded as I dipped my fingers beneath the line of her dress that scooped along her back. Her whole body shuddered.

  Her mouth opened just a little as if she were just as shocked by her reaction. “I do want you,” she whispered.

  “Give me tonight, Jillian. Give us tonight.” I wanted to drop on my knees and beg.

  After a moment of excruciating silence, she nodded, and I descended. Pulling her dress up, I lifted her easily to perch on the back of the couch. Her legs widened to accommodate me, and I stepped eagerly to press against her. She clawed at my shirt, just as wild as she’d been before, and soon she had the buttons undone and was pressing her hands against the naked skin of my chest. Her touch nearly destroyed me. After all this time, she still had so much power over me.

  I wanted to tell her to take things slow. I wanted all night to love her, but I couldn’t slow down. I wanted to devour her, and I knew that even once we’d both found our satisfaction, it wouldn’t be enough. I’d want her again.

  Again and again.

  With a flick of my wrist, I unhooked the dress from the back of her neck. Tugging the fabric down her chest, I freed her breasts. Growling, I took a step back to admire her. Displayed on the back of the couch, her legs open for me and her body bared to her waist, she looked so sultry and just as vulnerable. Desire tightened in my belly, and I had to fight to keep from freeing my aching cock and sliding into her.

  “Brendan?” she asked in a small voice.

  “I’m right here, baby.” Always. Gently, I wrapped my hand around her bare throat and pressed my lips to her shoulder. As I pushed her back slowly, I skimmed my kiss down her body, over the slopes of breasts and the tight points of her nipples, until she was arched over the couch, and I could dip my tongue inside her naval.

  Her dress was still bunched around her waist, but she was completely bare to me. Pressing my hands on her knees, I anchored her to the couch and briefly touched my lips to her bare sex. She was soaking wet for me, and with just the barest pressure from my tongue, she arched against me. Her guttural moan ripped through me, and I lost all sense of control and devoured her. She writhed and fought against me as I licked my way through her orgasms, giving her no time to rest, until she was begging and sobbing for more.

  Cuffing her wrists with one hand, I pulled her up as I freed my cock. “Bed,” she whimpered. “For fuck’s sakes, Brendan, I need you inside me.”

  “We’re not going to make it to the bed, sweetheart,” I panted. “But I’m going to give you everything you want and more.”

  As she buried her head in my shoulder, I leaned over her and cried out hoarsely as I plunged inside her. The air around us was so heavy that I could barely breathe, but that didn’t slow me down. I had been damned the moment that I laid eyes on her, and nothing had changed that. Relentless, I surged through her. I wanted release. I wanted relief. I wanted the peace that only came with me being inside her body, but more than anything, I wanted to force her to feel the storm inside of me.

  We rose together, chanting each other’s names, locked onto each other’s embrace until there was nothing left for us but the plunge into that dangerous and sweet release.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Jillian

  I didn�
��t remember making it to the bed. Maybe Brendan had carried me. After giving into him last night, we’d fallen exhausted onto the couch and slept intertwined. There were flashes, twice, maybe three times, where I remembered him waking me up with his lips and fingers until he was buried inside me again.

  I was satisfied, beyond satisfied, but the smell of sweat and sex clung to the air. Desperate for a shower, I eased out from under his arms and headed to the bathroom.

  Quietly closing the door behind me, I turned on the light and stared at myself in the mirror. Satisfied looked good on me. With my hair tousled about my shoulders from his fingers and my lips still slightly swollen from his kisses, I practically glowed.

  And tingled. Damn it, I wanted him again. What was it about Brendan? Why couldn’t I ever get enough of him?

  Telling myself that I’d feel more normal and less like a sex-crazed lunatic after a shower, I turned on the water and stepped inside. The heat felt good on my skin but only intensified my desire. As the steam curled around me, I considered changing the temperature so a nice dash of cold would calm me down, but the curtain opened, and the object of my desire stepped inside.

  “Morning,” he croaked as he pressed up behind me and placed a kiss against my neck. His hard cock nudged between my thighs. “Shower. Good idea.”

  “It sounds like you have more in mind than a shower,” I whispered. “Or rather, feels like.”

  “Can’t be helped. Want you.” He reached out for the shower gel and squirted some on my breasts. As his hands started to roam my body, I bit my bottom lip and placed a hand against the tile to steady myself.

  “I already washed those parts.” My objections were half-hearted. His touch ignited me, and I was powerless to stop him. His movements were slow, unhurried, and nearly drove me mad.

  “Being thorough,” he muttered. “Last night. Messy.”

  Last night had indeed been messy in more ways than one. My thoughts were a jumble, my emotions a tangled mess.

  As he washed me, his hands moved down my abdomen, skipped over my sex, and moved straight to the outside of my thighs. I opened wider to give him room to work and sighed when those fingers danced along the skin of my inner thighs, but once again, he stopped just short of giving me what I wanted. “You missed a spot,” I managed through my frustrations.