Chapter Five
Taryn
“I’m going to shower by myself to get all this makeup off. I think I need a brillo pad.” I scratched my cheek.
Stephanie laughed. “You do look adorable.” She winked. “Don’t make me wait long.”
“Why don’t you have a relaxing bath? You’ve had a long day as well. Plus, you won’t have Taffy trying to jump in with you.”
My mutt loved baths—especially if Stephanie was in them with her. We’d learned to lock the door to keep the pooch out.
“I might do that. Lachlan bought me some beautiful bath oils.”
“Okay, since we’re on the topic of Lachlan—”
Stephanie held up her hand. “We hypothesized about our brothers the entire ride home. We’re officially on our honeymoon.” She nabbed her hairbrush off the dresser and started brushing her hair into submission.
“Okay, but I’m worried—”
“Don’t worry. Lachlan told me he was happy for us. He intimated he and Cooper had come to…an understanding. So we can focus on ourselves and forget about our brothers.” She blinked. “They really were amazing.”
“Yeah.” I unbuttoned my jacket. “I’m not saying they’re not. I just…”
Stephanie stepped toward me. When she stood well into my personal space, she helped me out of the very snug jacket. “You love Lachlan. You worry about him. You wish he was closer. I respect all of that. I’d die if Cooper lived anywhere but down the street.”
“He lives across town.”
She giggled. “In Mission City, that is practically down the street.”
“Okay, that’s fair.” I scratched my scalp. “Wigs suck.”
“Yeah, they do. I tried blue and purple in high school. I lasted until the end of first period. Total respect to people who don’t have a choice, but I’m glad not to have to wear them.”
“Lachlan wore one.”
Stephanie pressed a kiss to my cheek. “He’s a good man. Now, I’m getting into a bath. I’ll meet you back here and we can, you know, fuck.” With that, she swept out of the room.
I grinned.
We were a comfortable couple. We’d never had moments where we had to tear each other’s clothes off.
We took our time. And when we did make love, we let our actions speak of our passion for each other.
As I’d said to her in the vow I’d blurted out—I’d known from the first moment I saw her.
Something in that smile she’d bestowed upon me.
Not just relief and gratitude—although those had been there for sure.
No, she saw me in a way no one except Lachlan ever had before.
Even my best friends didn’t know me that well.
I finished undressing, careful to hang everything up.
No idea when I’d ever wear this getup again.
A Halloween party? I turned the water temperature as high as I could, and only as I was scrubbing the makeup off did I remember something about cold cream.
Well, Stephanie would’ve warned me, right? I really should’ve read the label.
Twenty minutes later, looking like a boiled lobster and with skin hot to the touch, I stepped out of the shower and looked into the mirror.
Ha! All the shit was gone. My hair was dark with water, and I was an unappealing red color, but I was clean. I chuckled. The things we do for love. Again tomorrow and a thousand times more in our lifetimes if Stephanie asked.
I grabbed my lotion and luxuriated in the soothing cool against my heated skin.
By the time I was dry—including my hair—I was cooler.
Except the flush across my cheeks when I thought of my wife luxuriating in her bath.
If I hadn’t been wearing the makeup, I might’ve asked if I could join her. We’d done that a couple of times.
And had tons of fun.
Along with splashing half the contents of the bath onto the tiled floor.
I smiled.
How effortlessly she’d slotted into my life.
How easily we fit. Even disagreements never amounted to much.
I wanted her to have everything, and she felt the same about me.
Our way of compromising made our relationship seem idyllic.
Almost unrealistic. I kept waiting to see a dark side.
Some situation that would bring out the worst in her.
Never happened.
That woman who had smiled at me the first time we met was the woman who was—
I stopped in my tracks as I stepped into our bedroom.
Stephanie lay on the bed
Her blonde hair was fanned out on the pillow in that way.
The way I loved so much.
She was posed with her arms above her head. So her breasts were thrust out and her hips were angled. Her blonde curls caught the light in a way that felt like a beacon. An invitation to come home after a long, hard day.
“You take my breath away.” I pressed a hand to my chest. “Always have and always will.”
“I need to record you saying that so when my boobs sag and I have chicken neck, I can play it for you.”
“You’ll be even more beautiful.”
She cocked her head.
I pressed my hand to my heart. “Because of what’s inside.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Sheesh. Way to ruin a moment.” I laughed. “How was your bath?”
“Five-minute shower. I didn’t even bother to wash my hair. I wanted to be here to welcome you.”
“And to think, I used to be excited when Taffy kept me company.”
“I texted Foster—she’s having a blast with Queenie. He and Arnav are looking forward to the next two weeks with the pooches. Basically, he thanked me.”
“You texted Foster?”
“Of course. I knew you’d want to know how our girl was settling in.”
Our girl. I’d worried about what would happen to Taffy if I died. I didn’t worry anymore. “Make sure you thank Foster from me.”
“Already done. I sent him the picture of the four of us. The one my mom took and sent to the family group chat.”
“I haven’t seen that.” I laughed. “We’re both naked and we’re talking about photographs.”
She ran her hands under her breasts and then lazily drew her fingers to her nipples—already peaked in the slightly chilled air of the bedroom.
We’d left the windows open, and the ceiling fan circulated the cool night air.
She pulled her lower lip through her teeth. “Sexy enough for you?”
“I will always love you.”
For just a moment, she held herself still. Then she smiled. “Same goes. Now, please come to bed.”
“Sure.” I tried for nonchalant as I sauntered over and then crawled onto the mattress. I lowered myself over her—easing my leg between her welcoming thighs.
She grinned.
We kissed.
Lazily.
Brazenly.
Then hungrily.
Slow to start was always possible. As was picking up the pace if either—or both—felt the urge.
She rubbed sinuously beneath me.
I smiled against her lips. “Eager?”
“We’re married.”
“I’m not certain married sex—”
“It will be.” Her eyes sparkled in the low light of the bedside lamp. “Because I know you’re really mine.”
“Tad possessive?”
“Maybe.” She pouted. Then grinned. “I’m just glad no one saw how special you are and I get you all to myself.”
She’d said these words before—or ones very similar.
They always warmed my heart.
I kissed my way down her neck.
She rubbed against me.
I took her pert nipple in my mouth.
She grasped my hair to hold my head in place as I continued my ministrations. Her extremely sensitive nipples were always fun to play with. Several times I’d made her come just with my lips, tongue, and teeth.
“No.” She groaned the word. “I want to come with you—”
I nipped.
She sighed.
I resumed my efforts to bring her as much pleasure as possible. That included moving farther down still, dipping my tongue in her navel, and continuing along to the apex of her thighs.
She opened for me as she had so many times before. She was right, though—this time was different. Her scent was as heady as ever, but that intoxication was grounded in love. In affection. In a caring I hadn’t known I was capable of.
I spread her lips and nipped at her clit. To my infinite pleasure, she writhed. Oh yeah, this’ll be easy tonight. I was big on edging and climax denial—but I always gave in eventually. She was just that responsive. That hard to withhold anything from.
As I licked her juices and continued my attention to her clit, I slid two fingers inside. I gave a little twist of the wrist, and I found her sweet spot.
“Jesus, Taryn. I’m coming.”
I hummed my pleasure, all the while keeping up my assault on her senses.
Her thighs tightened, her body went rigid, and she let out a gasp of pleasure. Then she came.
I continued to nuzzle her as the waves of pleasure overtook her. My pussy felt neglected, but I had no complaints. Unless I waylaid her, she always returned the favor.
Eventually, I crawled up her body and gave her a carnal kiss—thrusting my tongue into her mouth.
She grasped my hair and tugged.
I laughed. Then I pulled her into my arms.
Much later she returned the favor.
Our new lives had begun.