Chapter Fourteen

“G ood news! She’s finally… asleep.” Reynolds’s heart fluttered in his chest when he found an exhausted Susan passed out in the kitchen chair. Her legs were still properly crossed, her head resting on the table as she slept with a serene calm on her face.

He took a moment to etch her image in his mind so if this all went south.

In her hand, the small, broken hair clip she fought with earlier. Her hair cascaded in thick, chestnut-colored waves down her back and over her shoulders.

His hands itched to run through it. To feel the silk of her hair between his fingers. The softness of it as she rested her head on his chest after… what exactly ?

Every day, the idea of him and Susan becoming far more than platonic co-parents after this was all said and done gained traction.

For weeks, he focused on being the best father, the best spouse-friend, and the best man he could be. It kept his thoughts on point and his lust in check.

The closest they’d come to physical contact were mostly chaste kisses, fist bumps, and falling asleep next to each other, fully clothed, on the couch and in each other’s beds as Audrey slept close by. Seeing Susan in such a peaceful moment, knocked the wind out of him once again and turned his thoughts, naughty.

A silent curse before he pulled his tired mind above his beltline, but his sweats didn’t help hide his reaction. “Don’t screw this up, Rey.”

Susan sparked his interest the moment Lucy showed him a photo of her sister. There would never be a more gorgeous woman in his life, but it wasn’t her perfectly smooth skin or her long, presently bare legs that pulled him in like a siren’s song.

Her grace and fierceness piqued his interest far more. How she gave everything she had, and yet, when he asked her to tell him more about their lives after the car accident she shut down.

Reynolds recognized her deep wounds. The time had to be more than exhausting, especially when she carried the majority of the responsibility to keep her family from being torn apart. Yet, when it came to how it all affected her she quit sharing.

And that bothered him, because whatever lingered kept her from opening up.

Something that could easily be his worst fears.

Her uncertainty about being a mother.

Yet, Susan’s only hesitation had been her worrying that she wouldn’t be enough for him. For Audrey.

That she was broken.

Not once had she expressed doubts about taking care of a baby like his mother did.

He dismissed his worries. Comparing Susan to his mother was like comparing Emily Blunt as the bitchy assistant in The Devil Wears Prada versus Emily Blunt as that ultimate soldier in Edge of Tomorrow .

Two polar opposites. Very different women.

One shallow. The other, fierce.

Guess I have a thing for Emily Blunt.

Eyes closed, Susan snored for a few breaths, then settled back into soft breathing as the coffeemaker turned off.

As much as he’d love to stand here and stare at her, she’d fall out of that chair when she hit REM. “Susan?”

“Hello, husband,” she mumbled without opening her eyes.

Again, he tried to wake her more, but she responded with a sweet mewing sound.

The sound imprinted on his brain, and he hoped to hear her make that noise again for all the right reasons.

“Susan?” Gently, he scooped her up and waited for her to open her eyes. Nothing. She’s exhausted.

“Taking you to your room now, Susan.” On the way through the living room, her berry-scented hair hit his nose, and his mouth watered. He wondered if she used a body soap to match that shampoo. That only verified the fact he should never wear these particular sweats out in public with Susan smelling like this.

With a quick peek, he checked on Audrey, who slept in her bed. “Be right back,” he whispered. “Gonna put Mommy to bed.”

Odin sat regally in the doorway, his normal scowl gone, but keeping a watchful eye over the newest resident. A job he took quite seriously because whatever room Audrey was in, the curmudgeon feline stayed close by.

Reynolds planned to lay Susan down, cover her up, and leave, but when he stepped into her room, that possibility went right out the window.

Strewn with notebooks, binders, paperwork, and textbooks, Susan’s entire bed was covered. “She got it all organized.”

He didn’t dare move a page.

After finally getting Audrey to sleep in her own room, moving her to the crib in his could rile her up again. “Sofa chair for me, then.”

On the way to his bed, he quietly kicked a few escaped bits of clothing toward his clothes hamper. “Susan, your bed is covered with your work. I’m laying you down in mine.”

“Your bed?” She nodded. “Finally.”

What. Does. She. Mean?

He ignored her response and kicked his scrubs into the clothes hamper. Steps away from tucking her in and she nuzzled his neck and inhaled. “You smell good.”

His mouth suddenly went dry. “I had a shower.”

Her hand slipped between his unbuttoned shirt and slid up to his bare shoulder. “I bet you taste even better.”

He froze, unsure how awake she was. Waves of lust washed over him as he struggled to keep a tight-fisted grip on practicality. “Susan?”

After a deep inhale, she sleepily opened her eyes, her fingers threaded through his hair. “You are the sexiest, most wonderful man I’ve ever met.”

She kissed him. Not a sweet, lingering kiss as they’d shared a handful of times. Not the kisses on the cheeks they’d given each other for the past seven weeks.

No, this was hungry. Wanting. Like he was the answer to a craving she denied herself for too long.

Her touch turned off his brain and sent his thinking straight into his pants, which did little to hide that fact. A few steps forward and his knees ran into his mattress. “Susan.”

“Hmmm?” Her thumb traced along his lower lip.

“What are we doing here?”

Wide awake, she slowly slid from his arms, keeping her body flush to his. “Having you across the hall, sitting next to me, it’s been really hard keeping my hands to myself. I don’t want to anymore. Husband.”

When he heard about the responsible, practical Susan, he never processed how intensely sensual she could be. “I see.”

Since she walked into his life, many thoughts of her originated below his waistband.

His hands tentatively rested on her hips. “What are you talking about here? Does this fall under our kissing adjustment?”

She shrugged. “I mean, we didn’t specify where to kiss.”

Holy shit. “How handsy do you want to get?”

The soft touch of her finger running along the edge of his chin sent a shudder of desire up his spine.

For too long, he wished to be a breath away from her. Closer. Seemed like every day, every moment since they first met, she occupied his every thought.

Desire swam in her green eyes as her breathing quickened. “Fair question. We are married. Seems like anything is fair game.”

“Anything?” Shit, why did I ask that? His mouth watered at the idea of kissing her, touching her, tasting her.

With nimble fingers, she unbuttoned his shirt, kissing his skin after she exposed each inch. “Let’s complicate things.”

“Okay, but how far do you want this to go?”

Her fingers paused, but then continued, pushing the shirt from his body. “What are you comfortable with?”

“N-n-not sure. What are you comfortable with?”

“I’m comfortable with all of it.”

For a brief moment, he believed it could be. “Sex?”

“Yes.” Her voice cracked with a bit of uncertainty. “Or maybe we slow down a bit. Some mutual exploring?”

“Exploring. Well, that’s not sex so not as complicated, right?” Desire made the lie so easy to believe.

“Correct.” She pressed against him, her hand wandering lower. “Being this close to you I can’t stop thinking about you and me together. Naked.”

“I’ve thought about that, too. A lot.” Constantly.

“Glad I’m not the only one.” In one smooth move, she shed her nightshirt and tossed it over her shoulder.

She now stood before him topless and wanting.

As he pulled her closer, his restraint evaporated. “You’re not the only one.”

The sweet scents of her hair, and her skin, overwhelmed him. His hand moved up her body, cupping her breast. “You naked in my bed is one of my top three favorite dreams.”

A low moan escaped her as she slowly stroked the length of him over his sweats. “I can feel that. What are the other two?”

“You on the kitchen table. You against the wall.”

“I’d like to do naughty things to you in that secret library.” Her breathing quickened as his thumbs moved up the sides of her body, grazing her nipples.

“That could happen.”

She gasped at his touch. “Touch me.”

Every brain cell stopped working. He forced his practical brain through his lips. “What does this exploring involve? Because I don’t think I have any condoms. That feels so good.”

“We don’t need condoms for exploring, right?” She arched into his hands.

“For pregnancy prevention, no.” He kissed the valley between her neck and shoulder, relishing the softness of her skin. “I’m snipped.”

After his marriage, he never wanted there to be a chance of him fathering a child, but when she didn’t stop after he confessed about his vasectomy, he wondered why.

Then she grabbed his ass, and he didn’t care.

“I trust you’ve been tested.” Her hands slid up his hips and gripped his back.

“Yes. All good.” As vivid as his fantasies were of them, nothing prepared him for the real thing. His senses electrified, he willed himself to stay this side of a caveman.

“Then… I think… we should get to know each other a bit more.”

The instant her lips touched his, Reynolds wrapped his arms around her waist, inhaling her sweet scent. He brushed his lips against hers. His tongue slid along the seam to coax her mouth open. When it did, he heard her give a slight moan as her fingers threaded through his hair.

How did we get here? Two months ago, I was cursing the foster care system, and now, I’m married with a baby, and my sexy wife is climbing me like a tree. Life is weird.

“What do you want to do, Rey?” She slid down his body, resting on the edge of his bed. Her eyes leveled with his waistband, and she licked her lips. “Because I know what I want to do. To you.”

He crawled forward as she lay back. Hovering over her, he appreciated her seductive stare. Running his thumb along her lower lip, he took her in. “I want to make you fall apart.”

A hard flush of pink to her cheeks. “Be my guest.”

“ Merci. ” His finger traced along her collarbone to the tender pulse point of her neck and he placed a gentle kiss there. Then allowed his fingers to explore her naked breasts before flicking her nipple with his tongue.

The sweet smell of her skin, the silk of her touch pulled him in. Any reservations about keeping things uncomplicated, dissolved.

Gently, he worshipped her body, listened to her gasps as he teased with his tongue. Then Reynolds moved to her unattended side and took her into his mouth.

Susan rested her hand on the back of his head. “Don’t stop.”

As if I could. Continuing to lick her nipple, he rolled the other between his thumb and forefinger, feeling it harden and swell. “You are so beautiful, Susan.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

“Do you want me to explore you more?” Please say yes. If she didn’t, he’d take the coldest shower known to mankind.

“Yes, more, but—” She reached down and cupped him. “You need to be explored as well.”

“Do I?” I would love that, but I’d last about two seconds.

“You’re so hard. Thick. Big.” Her praises only stroked his ego as her fingers danced along the waistband of his pants before sliding underneath and pushing them down. “And I bet you’re delicious.”

The thought of her lips around him almost made a very messy situation. He needed to slow things down, but it was the equivalent of trying to stop a fast-moving train on a dime. Instead, he slipped off the bed, kneeled by it, and pulled her toward him. “You first. Lie back.”

“Such a gentleman. I’m gonna love being married to you.” She leaned back on her elbows as he positioned between her knees. His hands slid up her thighs until they reached the waistband of her shorts. A couple of small pink belly scars momentarily caught his attention, but his lizard brain dismissed the observation. “Anything on under these?”

“Nope.” A confident answer.

“Good.” He started at her knee, placing kisses up her inner thigh while his thumb traced a similar line up the opposite leg.

Nuzzling the bend where her thigh met her pelvis, he inhaled the sweet scent of her and his mouth watered. “Tell me if this is too much.” Please don’t let it be too much.

“I will. Talk dirty to me.”

“Really?” She’s amazing.

“Really.” A wicked smile spread across her face as she watched him. She grabbed a pillow to prop herself up slightly so she could play with her breasts as he explored her.

Reynolds might not have been with many women, but he always appreciated a lover who knew what got her off and had no trouble showing him. “You’re so fucking sexy, showing, telling me what you want.”

“We learned about each other today,” she purred. “What else do you want to know?”

“What else do you want me to do?” So many sexy scenarios tumbled through his brain.

“I like oral, giving and receiving.”

“Noted.” His fingers inched toward her intimacy, and as controlled as she tried to be, her anticipation hitched her voice.

“I like… um… fingers. I like… creative positions. Impromptu moments. Sometimes restraints or role-play.”

“What did I do to deserve you?” As he fanned his fingers over her inner thighs, his thumbs ran up her seam. When Lucy mentioned Susan having a healthy sex life, he really underestimated what she meant. And he couldn’t be more thrilled. “Tell me more.”

For a moment, her lust shifted to longing. As if his words meant more to her than she could properly explain.

Sitting up, she tenderly kissed him, like she savored the moment for her future memories. “I… like you. A lot.”

When she pulled back, he immediately noticed her tears and he panicked. “You okay?”

“I’m wonderful.”

Was she going to say she loved me? He shook it off because that was insane. “I like you, too.”

Susan smiled and brushed her lips to his. “Now, give me more wonderful, Dr. Reynolds.”

Her quick dismissal of her emotions concerned him, but when she lay back, lust swam in her eyes once again.

“More wonderful it is.” His thumb slid over her shorts and immediately found her clit. “Do you like that?”

“Yes.” The fire in her eyes flickered as she gave him an excited whimper while her fingertips grazed her peaked nipples.

With slow strokes, he teased her over her shorts. His mouth watered to taste her, but would it be too much? “Can I keep exploring?”

“I’ll hate you if you stop.” The desire on her face told him she wanted him on the most carnal level.

With his thumb still working its magic, his finger moved under the fabric and touched the warmth of her excitement. “There you are.”

“I am! Oh… that’s… good. More.” Susan arched her back when he ran his finger along her, then pushed the material aside. He’d imagined having her sweet taste on his tongue so many times, and now, she was more gorgeous than he could have ever imagined. “Susan, I need to taste you.”

“Taste away.” The moment his lips met her wanting skin, she gasped, “Oh gosh… that’s… amazing.” She fisted the sheets while his tongue danced, savoring her wetness.

“More?”

“More!”

Resting his hand on her lower belly, he lifted her mons, revealing that perfect bundle of nerves. Instantly, he licked her clit for the first time.

Susan exhaled. “Oh gosh! That’s… that’s…”

Reynolds didn’t wait for her to elaborate. He put his mouth on her and sucked, savoring the feel, the flavor of her. It was more than he could have imagined, especially when she panted his praises. “Oh… feels so good… Reynolds… so good.”

A soft thump and a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye caught a second of his attention. She’d tossed the pillow behind her before arching her hips toward his greedy mouth. “Don’t stop eating me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Starting at the top of her lips, he dragged the flat of his tongue up her before returning to caress her clit with his tongue and sliding two fingers inside. “Like that?”

A wanting whimper as she watched him feast. “Yes, keep going. Please. Keep going.”

His tongue teased, dancing around her bundle of perfection as his fingers moved inside her to a torturously slow tempo. “Still good?”

“Yes. So good. Tell me what you’re doing.” Her eyes never wavered from his.

“You like that?”

“I like hearing what you want to do to me. How you want to do it to me.”

Glad to know she’s got a freak flag. As tightly wound as she could be, he worried about this part of their relationship. Of course, he didn’t think he’d have to worry about it today, but why question it now?

“You taste so good. I might have to explore you again.” As he intimately tongued her, she rolled her nipples between her fingers. “And again.”

“And I might have to find out how delicious you are.” Her eyes darted down, and she licked her lips.

That alone almost had him climaxing like some randy teen looking at his first pair of boobs. “I bet you’re good at it.”

“One way to find out.” She began to sit up, but he stopped her by kissing her and slowly lowering her to the bed again.

“Wait. Wait. I’m not done with you.” Working his way down, he took his time with each needy breast. His fingers slid down her body to find her wetness.

Her hips moved in time with his strokes. “Reynolds, please. I need your tongue on me.”

“Absolutely.” Licked her sweet honey. Sucked her clit. Knowing she was close, he pushed his sweatpants off his hips and fisted himself as he feasted on her.

Her fingers threaded through his hair as he sucked on her clit. “Oh. Yes! Yes!”

She dug her nails into his shoulders, rocking with his increasing tempo.

His hand pumped as his mouth intimately kissed her, and her words of approval increased their speed.

“Reynolds, I’m… I’m…” She tightened around his fingers, her hips moving faster as he nibbled her with a technique he’d perfected.

“Yes, Reynolds. Yes!” Her muscles gripped his fingers like a vise and bathed them with her orgasm. Her hips thrust and her thighs squeezed around his wrist.

As soon as her grip relaxed, he sat back and boldly stroked himself.

With pink still in her cheeks, she sat up and kissed him without pause, sweeping her tongue into his mouth. She sucked on his bottom lip as her free hand cupped his balls.

He gasped at her eager attention. “Susan. Don’t stop.”

“Love watching you. So sexy,” she coaxed as their hands sped him straight toward his own release.

Leaning in, she whispered as her fingers worked their magic, “Come for me, Reynolds. I want to see you fall apart.”

And he did.