To Be Your Wife

by Rae Kennedy

  I rake my fingers over Tuck’s head, massaging his scalp with my fingernails and he makes more sleepy noises. I continue to stroke through Tuck’s short hair and listen to the sound of the storm outside for a while. The rain pattering on the ground and against the window drowns out everything else.

  Tuck groans a little louder as his arms tighten around me and he starts to roll his head against my fingers.

  “Court?” he says in a low, throaty voice.

  “I wasn’t trying to wake you,” I whisper.

  “Mmm.” He buries his face into the crook of my neck. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to surprise you.”

  A tingle trickles all the way down my right side to the inside of my thigh as he kisses behind my ear softly. I lift my chin to allow him more access and he presses open-mouthed kisses all along my neck. His hand slides down to my grip my hip, finding no panties there, he moves to palm my ass.

  “You’re naked,” he practically growls into my neck as he lifts his thigh higher between my legs.

  I grind against his leg, needing some friction there. He pushes back against me and I moan as we dry hump each other—though, I don’t know if you can call it that, as I am so wet I know he can feel it on his thigh. It's more like a slip-and-slide than a grind.

  Tuck kisses down my collarbone and to my breasts. He kisses one pert nipple before circling it with his tongue. It makes my breath catch, but I also realize after sliding down my body, his leg is no longer providing the relief my aching pussy needs.

  “Tuck—” I moan.

  He slips his hand between my legs and cups my sex. “Is this what you need?” he asks, continuing to lick my hard nipples.

  “Yes,” I gasp.

  He circles my clit and the sharp pleasure shoots up my spine. He sucks on my nipple, gentle at first, then harder, more. Almost my entire breast is in his mouth as he slides a finger inside my wetness.

  “Oh, fuck.” I can hardly catch my breath.

  He sucks harder. Then, circling my throbbing clit with his thumb, he sinks two fingers in me.

  I’m breathing loudly, my heart is pounding, all the blood heats my skin. Tuck tugs on my nipple and releases it with a pop sound. He comes up to kiss me with his swollen lips, still pumping his fingers into me. His thumb slows on my clit, giving long firm strokes along the side of it.

  I hold his face to mine, kissing his lips, sucking on his tongue and biting his full lower lip.

  “I want you to come on my fingers, Court,” he says, panting, his finger-fucking becoming more vigorous. “Just like I used to make you do every night you were in my bed before I had you.”

  “Oh.” It’s hard for me to form words as his fingers keep moving against and inside me, never letting up. “Did you like that, babe?” I manage.

  “God yes. I had to try so hard not to come. Just watching you come and feeling it on my hand had me so close every time.”

  “Yeah?” I’m so close, the tension building beneath my skin. “Tell me what it feels like. When I come on your fingers.”

  “Fuck.” Tuck’s voice is so deep and raspy I almost erupt at just that word. “You are so soft and wet. Inside, you’re hot and tight.” He curls his fingers inside me and I cry out when he hits just the right spot.

  “And your clit”—his thumb rubs harder against it and I shake—“it’s so hard. It gets so big I want to suck on it.” His lips brush mine as we both breathe raggedly. “And when you come, your pussy becomes so drenched, it drips down my hand. Then you clench around my fingers so tight—”

  “Oh fuck, I’m coming—” I spasm around his hand, my eyes rolling back.

  “Look at me,” he pleads.

  I lock eyes with him as he strokes me through the last waves of my orgasm.

  “So hot. So perfect,” he says reverently.

  I try to slow my breath. “Did that get you close?” I ask. Reaching between us, I find his cock hard and huge, resting against his stomach.

  “Yes,” he breathes heavily.

  I thumb his tip while gripping tightly and he grows even harder in my hand. “Do you want to come in my mouth or my pussy?”

  “Mouth. Fast.”

  He wasn’t lying when he said he was close.

  * * *

  I try to be quiet as I slink out of the bathroom. The sun is starting to warm the horizon through the window in Tuck’s room. Tuck’s large figure stirs under the covers and he sits up. His hair is just long enough on top to have the tiniest bit of bedhead and his left dimple appears as he gives me a half-lidded smile.

  “I woke up thinking I had the most amazing dream last night.”

  “Yeah?” I crawl over the comforter to him. “Wanna tell me about it?”

  “Mm. It involved you climbing into my bed, naked. Kind of like you are right now.”

  I kiss him lightly on the lips and he pulls me down to lie with him.

  “If I’d known you were coming up early, I would have tried to get out of work today.”

  “You still have a while yet before you have to leave, right?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got some time.”

  “Good.” I snuggle closer to his side, all my skin pressed against his.

  “Do you want to...go on a run?”

  From the way his hand is roaming over my backside, that isn’t what I expected him to suggest. But since I get up early to work on the ranch every morning, I haven’t been running much lately.

  “I’d love to.”

  * * *

  Tuck is in his usual position to my right and just behind, letting me decide on the route and duration. The ground is still damp from last night’s rain, the earthy scent rich in the air. Heavy cloud cover lets only a few faint rays of sunlight through, keeping it warmer than normal. It’s humid and I’m already sticky and sweaty all over.

  Everything is still and quiet as we run down the street, soft rubber tapping the pavement and the occasional bird’s song in the trees overhead the only sound.

  This time of day is usually quiet, but in the summertime, the town feels almost dead. I guess with the absence of twenty thousand university students, this college town is quite small—almost as small as my hometown. I never considered staying here after graduation, but I do like it here. I love the little downtown and the farmer’s market and the fact it’s halfway between my family and the city. It would make perfect sense as a compromise for me and Tuck. I also did my student teaching here so I do have a few contacts...

  Dammit, Court! You just bought a fucking house!

  I try to focus on my breathing the rest of the run and not these ridiculous meandering thoughts. I keep the run on the shorter side since I’m already so out of shape—that and I’d like a little more time with Tuck, maybe in the shower?

  We walk up the little steps to his front porch, breathing heavily, and stretching our calves and quads as we go.

  I lean into a deep hamstring stretch and catch Tuck staring at me. His eyes are dark and focused, roaming over my body.

  “You are so hot,” he says, then bites his bottom lip.

  “Yeah, hot and sweaty.” And gross. I wipe sweat off the back of my neck.

  “I want to eat you out.”

  I blink at him as he steps closer, invading my space with his broad frame.

  “That came out of nowhere,” I say.

  “Not really. I’ve been thinking about it the entire run.”

  I imagine Tuck on his knees, water cascading down his back, his face is buried between my thighs in the shower.

  “I’ve only got about half an hour before I need to leave for work.”

  “Let’s get inside, then.” I take his hand and he follows me in. My heart-rate increases with his devilish smirk.

  Tuck starts stripping before we even make it to his room and as soon as we are behind his closed door he starts divesting me of my clothes, lifting my shirt over my head and shimmying down my jogging shorts.

  I step toward the bathroom but he grabs my w
rist.

  “Where are you going?” he asks, cocking his head.

  “I thought we’d go get cleaned up and I could help you with your hunger problem.” I glance down and his erection is clear in his shorts, straining to be free.

  “I don’t want you clean,” he says low.

  “But I’m super sweaty and smelly,” I protest.

  “Uh-uh.” He steps toward me so my breasts touch his bare chest. He’s hot through my damp sports bra.

  “You smell good.” His lips are at my cheek, his breath warm. “I bet you taste even better.”

  His hands are on my hips, thumbs hooking through my panties and he slides them down, kissing my cheek and neck, licking my salty skin.

  “On the bed. On your hands and knees.”

  Tuck telling me what he wants and how he wants it makes my whole body tingle and warm. My pussy is already wet and pulsing as I get on all fours. I’m aching with anticipation as I wiggle my ass in the air.

  His hands go to my thighs, spreading them wider. His thumbs make circles on the soft inner skin there, inching up to where I’m throbbing for him.

  He lightly skims over the outside of my pussy then up to knead my butt. His touch is so good and I’m about to beg for more when he spreads my ass cheeks and my pussy. Then his hot, wet mouth is on me.

  I go down to my elbows and press my face into the mattress to stifle my moans. I’m sure Haley’s awake by now. But Tuck doesn’t seem to care about being quiet. He laps me up vigorously, smacking his lips, humming and sucking, all while murmuring his appreciation of my pussy.

  I can’t hold still, squirming against the pleasure. He holds my hips to him, not letting up.

  “I love how you taste,” he says before taking my clit between his lips and coaxing the orgasm from me in seconds.

  I’m coming down from the third wave of pleasure rippling through my body when I hear the wrapper tear open behind me. My legs are wobbly.

  “Are you going to be late?” I push out the words between shallow breaths.

  “Mm, guess I better make it quick then.” He slips two fingers in, finding me soaked and ready for him. He slides in a third and I grunt in surprise. He leans over me, lips at my cheek, his hand caressing my side and breasts softly as the other penetrates me faster. “I promise to take you slow later.”

  “Tuck,” I whisper.

  “You want my cock inside you?”

  “Yes, please.”

  My pussy accepts him greedily. His erection stretches me as it inches inside, going deeper and deeper, reminding me how large he is. It’s like I’ve forgotten just how big he is and how good it feels when he fills me up, as if it’s been a year instead of a week since I’ve had him.

  Once he’s fully seated, I press my butt back against his hips, urging him even deeper. He groans and then starts to pull out and drive back in. A perfect, steady rhythm. He’s going deep and hard, hitting the perfect, toe-curling spot. I’m hot liquid, electricity pulsing to every extremity with each push. I can barely catch my breath but I meet his rhythm, pushing against every thrust.

  Then he picks up his pace. His balls slap against my pussy as he pounds faster.

  “Yes. More,” I say, panting.

  “You want it harder?”

  “Yeah.”

  He thrusts harder, faster. His balls hit my clit, smacking it over and over, sending a zing through my body each time.

  “How’s that? Do you like that?”

  “Yes.”

  My pussy clenches around his cock as my climax ebbs from my belly to my toes.

  He grips my hips tight. “Yes, fuck. Come on my cock. Oh, Court I’m—" He shudders into me with a few more thrusts before we collapse on the bed, his slick front on my back while we just breathe. My lips are tingly and I wish we could lay like this all day, Tuck pressed on top of me, inside me, kissing my salty skin and telling me how beautiful I am and how in love with me he is.

  * * *

  After an impressive two-minute shower, Tuck kisses me goodbye, a tie hanging loose around his neck and buttoning up his shirt as he walks out the door. Then I do something I never do—I get under the covers and go back to sleep.

  When I wake a few hours later, I decide to throw the sheets and our running clothes—which ended up scattered around the room—in the wash along with a few of Tuck’s shirts and boxers I find in his hamper.

  Haley gets back from class early in the afternoon. She insists we are going to make dinner and it “will be fun.” We go to the store and get stuff for panko and parmesan-crusted lemon chicken and Caesar salad. She puts me in charge of the salad and I feel good about it. But then she buys canned anchovies for the homemade dressing and when she sees the look on my face she nervous-laughs. She assures me it will “be easy.”

  When we get back, I remove the laundry from the dryer while Haley busies herself putting away the groceries. I make the bed all nice and pretty—even though we are totally going to mess it up later.

  As I’m putting Tuck’s boxers away in his underwear drawer, my hand bumps something hard. Hard and curved and velvety. I pull out the little black box—a box anyone would recognize. What the fuck? Why is he hiding this? I should put it back and leave it alone. But I’m too curious.

  I open the box slowly. I don’t know why, but I’m sure it can’t be what I think it is. It’s not a beautiful engagement ring. No way.

  It is.

  It’s gorgeous. It looks like an antique with a large oval-cut diamond surrounded by a halo of tiny diamonds. It sparkles, every facet catching even the tiniest glimmer of light as I stare at it. I want to take it out, touch it, try it on—but I close the box, put it back, and close the drawer quickly before I can be caught with it.

  So...Tuck has an engagement ring. That doesn’t mean anything. Right? Right. It could be a family heirloom or...or, I don’t know, but it doesn’t mean he’s planning to ask me to marry him.

  But what if he is?

  CHAPTER 22

  The pounding of the metal mallet reverberates throughout the small kitchen as Haley flattens the chicken cutlets. She coats the thin pieces of meat in seasoned flour, beaten eggs, and then into a mixture of parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs. She does one, then repeats it. And repeats it again.

  Tuck is not going to ask me to marry him. No way. It’s too soon. That would be crazy. I mean, what would we even do? I just bought a house in a different town, for Christ’s sake. Why wouldn’t he tell me to wait to buy a house if he was planning to propose? Does he expect me to sell it? Would I have to move? Quit my job? I’d have to at least finish out the school year first—

  “Court? Hello-o.” Haley is waving her hand in front of my face and I realize she’s been talking and I haven’t heard a word.

  “Are you ready to start the dressing now?” she asks.

  “Um, yeah. Let’s do it.”

  She ends up measuring the ingredients and I add them to the food processor. She directs me to pulse it until the dressing is the right consistency.

  It was actually pretty easy. I probably could not recreate it on my own because, well, I’m me, but it isn’t as complicated as I first imagined.

  “Who taught you how to make Caesar dressing from scratch?” Even my mom just uses the stuff from the bottle.

  Haley’s face falls a fraction and I know what she’s going to say. I immediately regret my question.

  “Cade showed me how to make it.”

  Shit. I should have known. “I’m sorry, Haley. I didn’t mean to bring him up.”

  “It’s okay.”

  I scrunch up my face. “I feel awful.”

  “Really, it’s fine. Saying his name doesn’t suddenly make me remember him. I never forget about him. He’s constantly on my mind. It doesn’t make me as sad as it used to, to think about him. I have a lot of wonderful memories with him I don’t want to forget. I don’t want to forget how he made me feel. Because of him, I know what it’s like to be in love, and I know what a real, meaningful rel
ationship looks like.”

  She looks at me, her eyes shiny, a small smile at her lips.

  “You and Tuck have one.”

  “One what?”

  “One of those relationships. The kind everyone wants. I don’t think I’ve told you how glad I am you two are together. You make Tuck so happy. Ever since Dad died, Tuck has been taking care of everyone around him and I am so grateful he finally has someone who will take care of him.”

  My throat is constricting and the insides of my eyelids prickle. I look around for an onion to chop so I can blame the tears on something else, but there are none so I just wrap my arms around Haley and squeeze her tight.

  * * *

  Tuck rests his hand on my knee under the table throughout dinner, smiling at me between taking bites. I smile back and try to stay involved in the conversation but all I can think about is that little black box in his drawer. If he asks me, what am I supposed to say?

  I don’t want to say no—but I can’t say yes.

  Can I?

  Haley picks up her plate and glass to take them to the sink. “I’m going to go hang in my room and stay out of your hair,” she says to us with a smile, sneaking me a wink before she turns.

  “No!”

  She stops abruptly, giving me a confused look.

  “I thought we could all hang out together,” I say, trying to sound cheerful. Tuck wouldn’t ask me in front of Haley, right? So, I’ll just keep her around and I won’t have to worry. No, he definitely would wait until we were alone. He’d probably plan some big, romantic thing.

  Holy shit, is he planning a whole big thing?

  “Court, are you okay?” Tuck’s warm hand is over mine and he looks concerned.

  Fuck.

  If we spend the evening together I know he will figure out I’m freaking out. I’ll probably break down and end up telling him I found the ring. I need to get my mind off that thing.

  “I need a drink,” I say. “Do you guys want a drink?” I look between them hopefully. “Let’s watch a shitty movie and get drunk.”

  “If you want a shitty movie, all you have to do is let Haley pick it.”

  Haley flips Tuck off.

  We make up a drinking game for the horrible eighties slasher movie we find to watch. One shot every time there’s gratuitous nudity. Two shots every time someone dies—three if they’re a virgin.