Page 90 of Married to Lies

“Good.” He leaned down, kissing my cheek before grazing his teeth over my neck.

Once I adjusted to the size of him, he started to thrust inside of me. Long, slow strokes at first that ended with his hips grinding against me and whimpers passing from my lips.

I needed more. I pressed my feet into the mattress, trying to get leverage. Wrapped my legs desperately around his hips to pull him closer. And then I outright begged, “More, husband. More!”

He answered by driving hard into me, the pace unforgiving, overwhelming. Every bit of friction driving me closer to an end I knew was coming but couldn’t imagine withstanding.

And I was right. I shattered around him.

Pieces of me fell away, replaced by white light and shouts of my release. He grunted out his own release, pressing into me until each wave had passed. And when they did, I was a wet, soaking mess beside him on the bed, still in my wedding dress.

I was a wife, yes. But even better, I was his.

Each minute spent together had stripped away another layer of my protective defenses. When he returned from his trip, I would tell him everything. I wanted there to be nothing left to keep us apart.

40 Quentin

I should have been more relaxed than ever with my beautiful wife asleep beside me, my part in saving the company completed, but my heart gripped tight with panic. Everything had felt so perfect today, from the way Rei looked at me walking down the aisle to the way she teased me at the dinner and our evening making each other feel good.

Why wouldn’t my body let me enjoy it?

A small voice in the back of my head reminded me that I’d never had this much to lose before.

A million possibilities flashed through my mind that all ended in Rei getting hurt somehow. A former employee using her to exact revenge against me. Jasper’s cult members holding her hostage for information. Worse yet, everyday things I had no control over—a drunk driver taking her as a casualty. A mass shooter finding her in a coffee shop, a movie theater, a sporting event. Nowhere was safe for her but right here with me... and I was leaving in the morning.

I carefully peeled myself from the bed so as not to wake her, and fumbled through the dimly lit house to find my pants, cell phone in the pocket.

Sitting on the couch, only my underwear for clothing, I sent out a text.

Quentin: How do you do this?

Within moments, a response came.

Bryce: Are you asking me for advice on... consummating your marriage?

I smacked my forehead.

Quentin: No. How do you walk around with your heart outside of your body knowing all the evil that’s out there?

Bryce: Round-the-clock security helps.

I parted the front curtain, seeing the security detail’s vehicle parked in front of the house. It gave a small sense of relief to know protecting Rei wasn’t fully on my shoulders.

My phone vibrated again in my hand.

Bryce: What’s worrying you?

I shook my head at the screen, not sure how to answer. Writing was usually easier than speaking, but here I was, a grown man still fumbling for the right words.

Quentin: I just got everything I wanted and now we’re leaving for a trip.

Bryce: You’re saying you’d rather hang out with your wife than the four of us?

A wry smirk lifted my lips.

Quentin: No contest.

Bryce: I don’t want to leave my girls either.