Chapter 44
Riggs
Whiskey doesn’t hold the same appeal it once did. The smooth amber liquid sits untouched in front of me while I wait for Zoe to finish getting ready. She was all smiles when she got home from shopping with Calla yesterday. I was a little worried about sending them off alone together, but I should’ve known my wife could win over Calla. It’s impossible not to love Zoe.
The therapy session with Jamar this morning has given me a lot to think about. Zoe swears she’s happy with our relationship, but it’s the way we got married that bothers her. There’s an easy solution to that. I just have to figure out a way to make everything perfect before I set my plan into motion.
I push my glass to the side when I hear Zoe walking down the stairs. My wife deserves the best of me. I enter the living room just as she clears the bottom step. My breath falters. She’s gorgeous. Her dress is light blue, making her eyes look like the water in the Caribbean. Its elegantly simple style accentuates her natural beauty. I don’t usually pay attention to shoes, but her heels are tall like the ones she wore in Vegas, making me think about fucking her in only those later tonight. They’re covered in bright orange flowers and tie around the ankles with a big cloth bow. Definitely, fuck me shoes.
“Wow.” I let out a whistle.
She smiles. “You look pretty ‘wow’ yourself.”
“Would it be bad if we skipped the party and got right to you riding my cock?”
Zoe swats at me with her handbag. “Considering it’s your party, we probably shouldn’t miss it.”
“It’s Titan’s party,” I correct.
She steps close to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I promise to let you do whatever you want to me when we get home.”
I groan. “You’re not making it easier.”
“Then try not to think about the fact that I’m not wearing anything under this dress,” she whispers.
“I’m an old man. Are you trying to kill me?” I joke.
She palms my cock through the front of my slacks. “I promise it’ll be worth the wait. Oh, and I have another surprise for you.”
The tip of my cock weeps at her announcement. “I can’t wait.” I mean it. I can’t.
She takes my hand, leading me toward the door to the garage. “Our friends and family are waiting.”
I follow her, keeping my eyes glued to her ass the entire time. My wife is so fucking sexy. She’s also a master at teasing me.
The hotel ballroom is packed with people by the time we arrive. I don’t make it three steps before someone grabs me to shake hands and discuss the merger. Zoe stands by my side, greeting everyone with a smile. If she feels uncomfortable, it doesn’t show.
Daniel Eisman stops us as we make our way to the bar. “Riggs Malone, let me meet your new young bride.” If he wasn’t important, I’d lay his ass out for the sneer that accompanies the word young.
Zoe stiffens on my arm, plastering a fake smile on her face.
“Dan, this is my wife, Zoe. Zoe, this is Daniel. He’s the former CEO of Rev Sports.” I try to keep the disgust out of my voice when I introduce them. The guy may not be the CEO anymore, but he is on the board of Titan, so we will have to work together.
He takes Zoe’s hand, kissing her knuckles. From the look on her face, she wants to jerk her hand away, but she remains cordial.
“If you’ll excuse us, I see someone I need to talk to,” I say, wanting to end this encounter before he says something that jeopardizes our working relationship.
He claps me on the shoulder. “You’ll have to introduce me to some of your wife’s friends,” he says with a grin that makes my skin crawl.
I give him a humorless chuckle, pulling Zoe toward the bar where Kenny stands with Calla.
“That guy is gross,” she hisses when he’s just out of earshot.
“I know. He isn’t usually so bad, but I guess he’s been drinking.”
Zoe frowns. “Don’t make excuses for him. He’s not a good guy and doesn’t deserve defending.”
“You’re right.”
When Zoe and I walk up to Kenny and Calla, they startle and stop talking. “Hey,” Kenny says, holding his empty tumbler toward me. “Let’s get a drink.”
I turn to Zoe, who waves me away. “Go. I’ll be fine here with Calla.”
I glance over my shoulder and see Zoe leaning close to Calla with a worried look on her face as she says something. I’ll have to ask her about it when we get home. I thought the two of them were getting along better after yesterday, but they both wear tight expressions.
“Good turnout,” Kenny says, drawing my focus back to him.
I look around the room. “Yeah. I can’t believe we pulled this off.”
“You and Rick pulled it off. I’m just a pretty face.” The way he says it, full of sarcasm, puts me on alert.
I turn to my friend, giving him my full attention. “You okay?”
He shrugs. “I’m just having a pity party. Ignore me.”
I place a hand on his shoulder, squeezing. “You’re my best friend. I can’t really let it go.”
“I don’t deserve your friendship.” He faces me, wearing a look of anguish.
“What’s wrong?”
He closes his eyes, shaking his head. “You’re like a brother to me.” His words are so soft, I barely hear him.
My pulse pounds in my ears. “Alex, talk to me.” I never call him by his first name, but I’m worried. The use of his last name feels too lighthearted for the weight he seems to be carrying. “You’re not going to do something to hurt yourself, are you?”
He shakes his head no, tossing back the rest of his drink. “I’m afraid what I’ve done is going to hurt us all.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t listen to me.” He gestures to the room. “Sometimes it’s hard to be surrounded by so many beautiful people. It reminds me I used to be one.”
“Alex–“
“Hey, guys,” Calla says, interrupting whatever my best friend was about to tell me. “Rick’s about to start the auction, so we should find our seats.” She takes my best friend’s arm, leading him to the rows of chairs set up in front of the podium.
I turn to Zoe. “What’s that about?” I point to Calla and Kenny.
She shrugs, but doesn’t meet my eyes.
“Zoe?”
“I think Calla has a little crush on Alex. I told her she needed to steer clear of him because he’s your best friend.”
I snort. “That’s ridiculous. She’s known him almost all her life.” True, they haven’t spent any time together since Gretchen and I divorced, but there’s no way she’d have a crush on him. “He’s my age.”
Zoe rolls her eyes. “Yeah, because that matters.”
“I’m being serious, baby. I’m worried about him. I think his accident messed with him more than he lets on. He was about to tell me something before we were interrupted.”
She takes my arm. “Let’s put our worries aside and enjoy the evening.” She points to where her mom and Stone sit. “They saved us seats.”
I glance to where Kenny sits with Calla. He’s smiling, no longer sad. If anyone can cheer him up, it’s Calla. She can be very charming when she chooses.
I follow Zoe to our seats, making a mental note to see if Kenny wants to go for a ride. We usually have our best conversations after a long ride. It’s been a while since I got my bike out on the open road. It will be good for both of us.
As we settle into our seats, Piper, Titan’s newest hire, and her boyfriend, our reigning champion, stop by to visit with us. “Piper, this is my wife, Zoe,” I say, introducing them.
Piper grins. “Zoe, it’s so nice to finally meet you. Riggs was impossible to be around before you two got married,” she teases.
Zoe smiles. “It’s hard work, but someone had to tame him.”
“I know all about taming a Titan man,” she jokes. “This is Jesse.”
Zoe shakes hands with Jesse. “Nice to meet you.”
He smiles, nodding politely, making me chuckle. Piper really has tamed him.
Rick taps on the podium. “Good evening, everyone.”
Piper leans forward, whispering something to Zoe before excusing herself and Jesse to find their seats.
“What was that about?” I ask.
Zoe shrugs. “I’ll never tell,” she whispers.
I squeeze her thigh. “I’ll just have to use my masculine wiles to get it out of you later.”
It’s late by the time the party ends. Seeing Zoe interact in my work world further cemented the fact that she belongs with me. She really is my perfect partner.
“I’m going straight to bed,” I tell her, heading up the stairs.
“You better not be planning to go to sleep,” she pouts, following behind me.
“Oh, I’m going to bed. I just don’t plan on going right to sleep.” I start stripping out of my suit the minute I walk into the bedroom.
Once I’m down to my boxers, I turn to face Zoe. She’s standing in the doorway, watching me. I motion for her to come closer, and she does. This is what I’ve been looking forward to all night.
“Help me with my zipper,” she says, turning her back to me.
I comply, placing chaste kisses along her spine. “You’re so soft.”
She turns, holding the dress to her chest. With her eyes trained on mine, she drops the dress. It pools around her feet, leaving me with an uninterrupted view of her smooth skin. She steps out of it, kicking it to the side. My cock pulses at the sight of her in nothing but her sexy heels.
I drop to my knees, kissing above her slit. She leans into my touch, tugging on her nipples. I love how she’s grown into her sexuality. It’s hard to believe this wanton sex goddess before me was a virgin when we got married. I move her leg so it rests over my shoulder, and she has to balance on one of her sky-high stilettos. I spread the lips of her pussy with my fingers, loving the way she opens for me. So delicious.
“Riggs,” she moans as I drag my tongue through her wet folds.
I lick her until she’s ready for me. Once she’s on the verge of orgasm, I rise to my feet, moving her to the bed. I shed my boxers, then move over her. Her wet heat envelopes the head of my cock, sending tingles throughout my body.
“I love you,” I say, pressing forward until my cock is fully seated inside her.
We move together, using our bodies to express our love. The feel of her skin against mine and the taste of her kisses on my lips have me racing to climax. Not wanting to come before her, I reach between us, giving her clit the attention it needs to send her over the edge. When she tightens around me, I let go, giving in to my own release and coming undone.
“So fucking perfect,” I moan.
“I love you so much.”
This isn’t how I planned to ask her for a redo, but I don’t care. “Our life together is perfect. I want to marry you again. This time, with all our friends and family present.”
She kisses me hard. “I want that.”
I pull out of her, moving to my nightstand. I pluck out the small velvet box, dropping to my knee. “Will you marry me again, Mrs. Malone?”
“Yes!”
I pull her to me, kissing her inner thigh before putting the diamond ring on her finger. She cups my face, leaning forward to seal our promise with a kiss.
She pulls away, giggling.
“What?”
“I’m not sure which story we’ll tell the grandkids. Will it be the drunken marriage in Vegas or the naked, post-sex proposal?”
I chuckle. “I don’t care what we tell them. Just as long as we have them together.”
Everything has fallen into place.
Finally.