Chapter 4
chapter
four
Flynn
I’m beginning to wonder if I have more residual damage to my brain than the doctors claimed. A grade two concussion can cause long-lasting problems. Like the inability to stop thinking about my wife’s panty choice.
Basic cotton. But what color? Do they have a little bow right above her belly button? Are there small flowers decorating the fabric?
At least she put on a shirt that covers all the exposed skin from her aerial yoga. Seeing every one of her plump curves highlighted with the clinging fabric had blood rushing so quickly to my dick that I got lightheaded.
I’ve watched her do her yoga before, but never in the same room. I’ve only ever seen her through my laptop screen on her instructional videos. She’s always so damn graceful; her movements languid and seductive. Though I’m likely the only creepy fucker who watches her and thinks that.
She is my wife though. Seems I should have some rights where that’s concerned.
“I suppose we will need to have some public displays of affection to make our love look real,” she says.
“Like the kiss from earlier,” I say.
“Exactly. Sorry about ambushing you like that.” She gives me a self-deprecating smile. “In case my cousin did send someone to follow me, I wanted to make our reunion look as real as possible.”
“Apology is unnecessary. I get it and I agree, we want this to look as real as we can make it.” It will require no faking on my part because fuck if I don’t want to lay her down right now and cover her entire body in kisses.
My wife .
When had I started thinking about Temple Thorne like that? Yes, technically we’ve been married for nearly two years. But while I was finishing up my last tour, my mind was on the mission. Can’t afford to be distracted over there.
Once I was stateside, all bets were off. Temple crept into my mind more and more. Even while recuperating from the last big mission that went a little sideways. It’s what brought the rest of our team home. Dane and Jack and Liam had already gone by then. So it had been me and Cruz, and Beau and Evan, with some new guys rounding out the team.
“Is there any kind of touching you wouldn’t be comfortable with?” Temple asks. “I mean in public, the decent kind or whatever? I’m just going to shut up now.”
I want to tell her she can be as indecent with me as she wants in or out of public, but she doesn’t see me that way.
“You want to know if I have any hard limits?” I ask.
She nods in lieu of giving me any more of her words. Clearly people are still telling her that she talks too much. I, for one, could never tire of her sweet voice.
“No. I’m new to this town, so I’d rather not get arrested for anything pornographic, but everything else, I’m game for.”
Her lips part and she stares at me with her wide blue eyes. Her pink tongue dips out and wets her lips. “I met Mrs. Henderson,” she says.
“Who?”
“Uh… your neighbor. The one behind you in cabin fourteen.” Temple points somewhere over her shoulder.
“You already met a neighbor?” I’ve been here for a month and wasn’t even aware I had actual neighbors.
“Yes, she was very friendly. And helpful. I needed to know if that top center beam was structurally sound for me to use my hammock on it.” Her shoulders lift in a shrug. “She assured me it was and then called me your ‘pretty little wife that you’ve been hiding from the world’. Then she said something about how it must be because of all the baby making we were working on.”
I nearly choke on my own spit. Because in that moment all I can think about is Temple swollen and ripe with my kid. What is it about this woman that brings out my inner caveman? I hadn’t even realized I actually had one of those.
“What did you tell her?” I ask.
“I just laughed and told her that she was right, when you have a husband who looks like mine, there’s no way you can keep your hands to yourself.”
I suppress a groan. She’s obviously trying to kill me.
“Apparently some people in Saddle Creek skip straight over the small talk and jump right into bedroom and reproductive talk,” Temple says nonchalantly.
She’s clearly not thinking about us rolling around in the bed naked, me trying to pump her full of my seed. I needlessly wipe my palms against my denim clad thighs.
“You said something about a party for your grandmother?” I ask.
“Right. You remember how obnoxious my family can be. Houston society meets country club chic.” She rolls her eyes.
“Rick the dick?”
“He’ll be there, no doubt following us around with a microscope. Then there’s his wife, Lotus.”
“His wife’s name is Lotus?” I ask, scratching at the back of my neck.
“Yes. I don’t think that’s the name her mama gave her, but as far as I know it’s her legal name. She’s a real treat, so be excited you get to meet her,” Temple says.
“Maybe we should try to get you pregnant. That would end all of the suspicions about our marriage,” I say.
Temple’s gasp is quiet and had I not been looking at her pretty face, I might have missed it. She looks… panicked, maybe? It’s hard to tell.
I wink at her to diffuse the tension.
She releases a small chuckle. “We only need to stay one night. We show up for the party, act like we’re stupid in love, and hope Grandma is having one of her more lucid moments so she sees it.”
“What exactly does ‘stupid in love’ look like?” I can’t help but ask.
My wife’s bluebonnet colored eyes find mine. “Lots of eye contact. Hand holding. Probably some kisses. You might want to use a pet name with me.” Again she shrugs. “Real couples do that, don’t they?”
I skip answering her question because I joined the Army right after high school graduation and haven’t had any adult relationships other than with her. I haven’t touched another woman since Temple and I got married. Despite the fact that this marriage was supposed to be in name only, I honor my vows.
“I’ll think of something. Good thing we have the Bluebonnet Festival tomorrow night. We can use that as a dress rehearsal. Make sure we get lots of ‘stupid in love’ activities played out.”
“Oh, a real small-town festival. It’ll be like living in one of those charming holiday movies.”
“Something like that.”
She leans forward and puts her hand on my knee. “Flynn, seriously, thank you for letting me completely tip your life upside down for a little while. I know I owe you. And don’t worry, when the time comes and we need to get divorced, I’ll make sure I’m the bad guy so you can find you a real wife someday.”
With that, she stands and disappears into my bathroom.
I want to call after her to tell her she can’t wear only yoga pants and sports bras in the cabin. I won’t make it.
Too. Fucking. Tempting.
But I decide to wait. We can always discuss clothing requests later.
I go about making sure my bed is ready for her, then grab some extra bedding and bring it out to the living room.
But her words keep echoing in my ear.
I don’t want another wife, real or otherwise. But I can’t tell her that. I hate that she’s so unsure of herself, that it’s so natural for her to assume that I couldn’t possibly want her. Temple is one of those people who stands out in a crowd. A supernova in the midst of fading stars.
Maybe through this experience—while I’m her husband—I can show her just how spectacular she is.