Chapter Nineteen

WHAT. THE. FUCK. JUST. Happened.

Valerian raked his hand through his hair as icy cold water blazed down his naked body. He was still horny as hell, and only two things kept him from fucking his wife again and again like his wildly throbbing cock was craving for.

First: it was only less than 24 hours ago that he had torn through his wife's hymen, and he had already fucked her the entire night. Only a monster would wake her up for another round of sex, and...

Secondly: what the fuck just happened?

Valerian had always enjoyed sex.

Camelia might have been his only lover for the past eight years, but monogamy had never been detrimental to his libido. Sex had always been good between them. He had never found it lacking...until now.

He had no idea why, but everything was just different with Poppy.

Sex with her should've been boring, considering she was a virgin.

But instead she had blown him away without even trying.

The sight of her in her gown, with her small, pert breasts looking like they had been about to pop out any moment—

A part of him had wanted to wring her neck for daring to wear something like it...while the rest of his body only wanted to know how much longer it had to wait before he could get her naked and his cock inside of her pussy.

Get a fucking grip, Rossfield.

He had married Poppy because he liked her. Wanted her. But he shouldn't let himself forget that he had also liked and wanted Camelia for eight years.

Just play it cool with her.

He needed to protect himself from betrayal. He had to make sure Poppy wouldn't ever get under his skin. Or at least that was the plan...until he walked back into the bedroom after his shower...just in time to catch his wife as she suddenly threw herself in his arms.

Her legs locked around his waist even as she was careful to only grip his shoulders.

"How long have you been up?" Valerian asked.

"Not much."

She didn't seem to be lying, but the way she was gazing at him with shiny bright eyes made Valerian feel wary.

"What is it? You look like you have something to say."

"I do."

"So?"

"I'm not sure if I should tell you."

"You should."

"Then..." His wife took a deep breath. "I think I'm in love with you."

His knees actually buckled slightly, and a rueful smile curved over his lips. "That bad?"

"No. Of course not." But he was lying through his teeth, and he had a feeling she knew this.

"I think I'll take it back—"

His whole fucking being bristled the moment he heard her say the words. "Fuck no."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

Valerian knew the way he was acting made no sense at all. But he didn't give a damn. "You can't take them back."

"B-But—"

"You already said what you said," he spelled out grimly. "So just learn how to fucking deal—"

Poppy suddenly cupped his cheeks. "You got it all wrong."

"Did I? Really?"

She nodded vehemently. "I'm taking the words back because I realize I don't think I'm in love with you—"

His chest tightened upon hearing this. Was he actually feeling...hurt?

"Rather, I'm sure of it. I am in love with you."

Fuck.

"But don't worry," she assured him. "I'm not expecting you to say it back. I just wanted—no, I just needed to say it."

His wife laid her head against his chest, and even though she didn't say anything else, he heard her heart saying it all the same.

I love you.

And that was why he was fucked.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

It didn't make sense at all when he thought of how he only had marriage to his ex in mind for the past eight years.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

It was like he had learned nothing at all from Camelia's betrayal.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

But with his wife in his arms, there was no escaping the truth.

He might be in love with her, too.