Chapter 34
WORTH
I’m married.
Again.
And it’s to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Mya is sitting beside me now, her flawless skin gleaming under the restaurant’s candlelight, the silk of her dress catching every shimmer in the room. Her lips curve into a smile as she listens to Tiana, completely unaware of how undone she makes me just by existing.
My wife.
The words don’t feel real. Mya might’ve married me out of obligation, to help me save face, but that doesn’t change the fact that she wears my ring now. That she signed my name beside hers. That she’s mine in ways I can’t quite define.
We share a last name. Soon, we’ll share my home.
And maybe, if the universe ever stops toying with me, we could even share more.
I glance around the private dining room.
Half the restaurant is closed off for us—a ridiculous display of wealth and indulgence, if I say so myself.
Still, I went through with it, because Mya deserves it.
And we need privacy. Anyway, it worked out, because she hired a damn opera singer to entertain the four of us for the evening.
A string quartet plays softly in the background while the opera singer takes a break before the next piece. It’s excessive, over-the-top, and entirely Mya, to try and get a reaction out of me.
I’m slouched casually in my seat, sipping from my glass, as if the night means nothing. But deep down, I care too much.
Dinner passes in waves of laughter, wine, and conversation. It should feel like any other night, except it doesn’t. Not when Mya is close enough that her perfume teases me every time she moves. Not when I can feel the warmth of her thigh through the layers of fabric between us.
She laughs at something Griffin says. I look at her, and all I can think about is the faint tremor in her breath when I touched her last night. The way her body fit so perfectly against mine, like it’s meant to.
I drag in a breath and rake a hand through my hair, trying to ignore the heat crawling under my skin.
“Worth!”
Griffin’s deep voice pulls me back. He’s watching me with a knowing look in his eyes that makes me want to wipe it off his face.
“You good, man?” His eyebrows are raised. “You’ve been staring into the void for a solid minute.”
I blink. “Just thinking,” I mutter, clearing my throat.
“About?”
“Business,” I lie easily, lifting my glass.
After dinner, we make our way back to the penthouse suite. Mya’s quiet beside me, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her eyes trained outside the window.
When we reach the hotel, Griffin and Tiana barely say a word and just exchange quick goodnights and disappear into their rooms.
That leaves the two of us standing in the living room, alone.
Mya starts down the hallway, her steps hesitant. I follow, watching the way her shoulders tense with every move closer to our door.
I move up behind her, close enough that my breath stirs a strand of hair near her ear.
“Are you nervous?” I murmur.
She doesn’t answer, but I see goosebumps rise along her bare arms. Her breathing stutters, and I have to resist the urge to smile.
When we reach the door, I scoop her up in one motion.
“Worth!” she yelps, clutching at my shoulders. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying my wife to bed,” I say simply.
Mya squirms, but she doesn’t tell me to stop.
I walk over the threshold and set her down on the edge of the bed. “Stay there and don’t move.”
Her brows knit. “What are you—”
“Just wait.”
I step into the walk-in closet, unzip my suitcase, and pull out a neatly-wrapped package. When I return, Mya’s still sitting where I left her, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Here.”
She looks between me and the gift. “What is this?”
“Open it and see.”
Mya’s fingers work carefully at the paper, unfolding it layer by layer until the album cover appears. Queen – A Night at the Opera.
Her mouth parts in shock. When she removes the record, she sees it’s signed by the entire band. “No. No way. Worth… How did you even get this? It’s impossible to find.”
I shrug. “Had an old friend track it down. Turns out it was being auctioned.”
Her eyes widen. “Auctioned? How much did you pay for it?”
I tilt my head, considering how she’ll react. “A hundred.”
She blinks. “Dollars?”
“Thousand, Mya.”
“You’re joking.”
I meet her gaze, dead serious. “I don’t joke about Freddie Mercury.”
“Worth!” she gasps, clutching the record to her chest. “Take it back. That’s too much. I can’t accept this.”
I shake my head, stepping closer until I’m standing in front of her. “I can’t. That’s not how auctions work. And I want you to have it.”
Mya looks up at me, eyes shining. “Why?”
“Because you said you wanted it.”
“So?” Her voice cracks, somewhere between a laugh and a plea. “You don’t have to buy me stuff, Worth.”
I shrug again, but my voice is softer this time. “Maybe I like giving you things.”
“You really shouldn’t.”
“Probably not. But I did anyway.”
She just looks at me, like she’s trying to convince herself this means nothing.
And I let her, because if she realized how much it actually means, I’m not sure either of us could pretend anymore.
Mya runs her fingers lightly over the sleeve of the record, as if afraid it might disappear.
“Thank you,” she whispers, staring at it like it’s the most precious thing she owns, like the designer dress she’s wearing and the diamonds at her throat don’t even register.
“My dad would freak if he saw this.” A tiny smile tugs at her lips. “He’s probably dancing in his grave right now.”
Something tender twists in my chest. “I hope it makes you feel closer to him when you listen to it,” I murmur.
She looks up again, and for a moment, the world goes quiet.
I shrug off my tux jacket, draping it over the armchair.
Then I tug loose the bow tie at my throat, the silk slipping through my fingers before I undo the top buttons of my collar.
When I turn back, she’s still sitting there, unsure what to do next.
I reach out and gently take the vinyl from her hands, setting it on the nightstand beside the bed.
“Come here,” I say quietly.
When Mya hesitates, I lift her by the hand until she’s standing in front of me, and I turn her around.
My fingers find the first button at the back of her dress. The silence between us grows heavier with each one that slips free. Only the sound of fabric and unsteady breathing fills the room.
I shouldn’t want her this fiercely. As much as I keep telling myself that I’m closed off to feelings, every inch of her tests my control.
When the last button loosens, the gown slips off her shoulders and slides soundlessly to the floor. Her arms twitch, as if she’s unsure whether to cover herself or let me look.
“Mya,” I whisper. It’s half prayer, half warning.
She turns slowly to face me, her head tilting up, breaths shallow. I let my hands linger at her waist, fighting the urge to pull her closer.
“You should know, I’m trying very hard to be a gentleman right now.”
Her lips curve. “Then you’re doing a terrible job.”
I laugh. “You’re such a brat, you know?” I step closer and let my hands roam down her body, past the curves of her breasts, the soft skin on her stomach.
“Tell me you don’t want this.”
When I reach her waist, I guide her gently back onto the bed, drawing her toward the edge of the mattress, and part her legs. Mya lets out a breath that trembles through the quiet.
“Mya, tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll stop.”
I lower myself to my knees before her, hands braced on either side of her thighs. And I wait.
“I want this, don’t stop,” she breathes out and relief floods me as I let out a rough exhale.
For a moment, I admire what’s mine, what I can’t seem to get enough of.
The sight of her like this, flushed and waiting, makes my cock stand at attention.
Neither of us mentions that we shouldn’t be doing this, that it’s all pretend, that it’ll hurt more when it’s over. Because in this moment, it’s real.
I slip my hand under her thong, finding her wet heat. Mya arches her back and lets out a small moan, squirming beneath my touch. She’s so warm and ready for me, and I can’t help the smugness I feel at being the one to make her writhe for me.
“Ready to beg already, Kitten?”
Her response is nothing more than a shiver.
The pad of my thumb circles her clit and she lets out a big exhale.
That’s when I give in, leaning closer, tasting her with hunger, taking my time until she’s shaking.
I suck and lick Mya’s clit, humming from pure ecstasy as I get drunk on her taste.
Every sound she makes shreds what’s left of my control. It’s chaos disguised as pleasure. Each time I touch her, I lose myself in her completely.
It’s sick.
“You’re even more irresistible as Mrs. Miller.” I ease two digits inside her pussy, pulling my mouth away to watch her come undone.
“God, Worth,” she breathes, and pride coils low in my chest, possession igniting inside me.
I meet her dazed eyes. “I’m the only man who can touch you like this. From now on, this pussy belongs to me. You are my wife. You wear my ring. You share my name. You sleep in my bed. And whenever you start to forget that, remember the way you feel when I make you come.”
She lifts her chin, meeting my gaze head-on despite the tremor in her voice. “Those things might be yours now, Mr. Miller. But my heart still belongs to me.”
I don’t dignify her comment with a response—because she’s right. And I don’t want to admit that some selfish part of me does want to claim that too. Even though what’s left of my heart isn’t something I can give.
So instead, I let my thoughts drown in her, focusing on every breath and tremor that gives her away. I savor each reaction until her body tenses beneath my hands.
“Fuck, yes,” Mya screams as she climaxes hard on my tongue.
Making my wife come with my mouth has officially become my favourite pastime.
When Mya’s breathing steadies, I rise slowly, straightening from where I’d been kneeling. My pulse is still hammering, my skin hot. I start to undo the buttons of my shirt, one by one, until the fabric slides from my shoulders.
Mya doesn’t look away. Her eyes follow my every movement, dazed, lips parted like she’s forgotten how to breathe.
“I want to fuck you now, Mya. Will you let me?”
For the first time, I see no hesitation in her eyes. She nods slowly.
“Get on your hands and knees, Kitten.”
She obeys.
Her delectable ass is now on display for me.
“I can’t wait to make this mine, too,” I say, rubbing her ass cheek with my palm.
She squirms at the touch, but settles into it quickly, as I rub up from her entrance to the tight hole.
“But tonight, I’m going to fuck your perfect cunt, wife, and you’re going to take every single inch.”
I pull myself out of my briefs. I’m so hard, it aches. I need to feel the inside of Mya right now.
I let the tip glide over Mya’s clit, teasing her and myself as I get her ready to accept my cock. She moans and writhes.
Just as I’m about to slide in, my phone starts vibrating on the nightstand. I ignore it.
Mya wiggles her ass, begging me to get inside. “Please, Worth.”
I doubt I’ll ever get tired of hearing her plead for my cock.
“Say it again.”
With a frustrated sigh, she repeats. “Please, Worth.”
“Please what?”
“Fuck me.” The attitude is clear in her voice.
I growl, grabbing my length and slapping her on the clit with it. She yelps.
My phone begins vibrating again. For God’s sake. Who could be calling me right now, when I’m about to fuck my wife for the first time? I ignore it again. Mya doesn’t even notice the sound, too entranced in my teasing to care.
She’s so wet, her arousal is leaking down her thighs. The vision is to fucking die for.
“Please, Worth. Fuck me. Please.”
“That’s more like it, Kitten.”
I start pushing inside her as my phone buzzes with a call for the third time.
I growl out loud. “What the fuck?”
Mya, still breathless, finally notices the ringing. “Maybe important.”
Reluctantly, I push off the bed, leaving her on her hands and knees as I grab my phone off the nightstand.
It’s Brianna.
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I answer immediately, my pulse slamming through my chest. “Brianna, sweetheart. Is everything okay?”
Her voice trembles. “Mom came by the house. She just left.”
I freeze. “What do you mean she came by?”
“She just showed up, knocked on the door, and demanded to see me. Maggie wouldn’t let her in.”
My heart threatens to claw its way out of my chest. “Put Maggie on the phone.”
There’s a faint rustle, then Maggie’s steady voice comes through. “Hi, Worth. Don’t worry, I sent her off.”
“How dare she show up unannounced,” I snap, pacing the room. “How’s Brianna?”
“She’s fine. A little shaken, but you know your daughter—she’s stronger than we think.”
I drag a hand over my face, anger and guilt churning in my gut. I should’ve been there. I promised I’d protect her.
Mya approaches quietly, her hand coming to rest on my back. The slow motion of her fingers calms me instantly, pulling me back from the edge.
“Let me talk to Brianna again,” I manage.
There’s a pause before I hear her small voice. “Hi, Dad.”
“I’m coming home, Piglet. I’m so sorry that happened and I wasn’t there.”
“Don’t worry, Dad,” she sighs. “I’ll be fine. Please don’t ruin your plans for me.”
“The only thing I care about is you, Bri,” I tell her firmly. “I’m coming home.”
When we hang up, I’m already reaching for my suitcase, pulling on the first pair of pants that I find.
Mya’s watching me, concerned. “What happened?”
I tell her everything, the anger that hasn’t left my chest since I heard Brianna’s voice comes roaring back.
“We should leave right now, then,” she says.
I nod, dialing my pilot. “We’re leaving within the hour.”
Mya disappears down the hall to wake Griffin and Tiana while I wait for the call to connect. My reflection stares back at me from the dark window.
This night was supposed to end with my wife in my arms. Instead, it ends with the reminder of the one person who still holds the power to ruin my happiness and take my daughter away.