Page 116 of If You Claim Me

“Shh, darling, unless you want our neighbors to know how lovely you sound when you’re being fucked.”

She shudders, pulsing around me.

“Little menace, are you coming for me already?” I whisper.

She nods, lip sliding through her teeth.

“Maybe you do want them to know how well I take care of my precious bride.” I pull my hips back, sliding out to the ridge, then slam back in.

She sucks in a breath, legs trembling.

“See that couple in the kayaks on the lake?” I nod to the water, and her gaze follows mine. “I’m sure we look like a sweet couple, just enjoying the view.” I gather up her shirt, twisting it, exposing her from the waist down. “But they can’t see your gorgeous cunt dripping pretty cum down the inside of your thighs the way I can, and they can’t hear the sweet sounds you make when I fill you up, can they, darling?”

“N-n-no.”

“But you wish they could, don’t you?” I kiss her cheek.

“Oh my God,” she groans on a whisper.

“It’s okay to admit it, darling.” I pull out and slide back in. “I wish they could see how stunning you are when you’re stretched around my cock, but then I’d have to end them because you’re mine, aren’t you?”

“I’m y-y-yours,” she stammers.

Birds flutter in the trees above us, squirrels skitter away, and the easy laughter from next door has disappeared. Quiet, scandalized whispers follow. “They know, darling.”

She makes the most beautiful mewling sound.

“We should give them something to talk about, shouldn’t we? Maybe we can help spice up their sex life.”

She moans, wantonly, perfectly. I kiss her cheek.

“Hold on, darling, we’re going to make a scene.”

She scrambles to grab the railing as I grip her hips and pound into her. Our skin makes wet slapping sounds, and Mildred’s moan makes the birds take flight, expressing their displeasure at the disturbance.

She comes, my name the most glorious, desperate whimper,and I fuck into her one last time, holding her tightly as the orgasm rushes through me. We’re both panting and sweaty, neither of us giving a shit about being quiet.

Our neighbors’ sliding door closes with a bang.

“I hope they took notes.”

Mildred giggles, and it’s the most beautiful sound. “Who’s the menace now?”

“Me.” I carry her back inside and keep her in bed for the rest of the day.

CHAPTER 30

DRED

It’s everything I can do not to groan as I drop into a crouch and slide the book back onto the very bottom shelf in the fiction section of Toronto Central Library. I shut down the memories that accompany every ache and pain. It’s a real shock to step into reality after the weekend away with Connor.My husband. And my thighs don’t lie—it was one hell of a weekend.

Annulling this marriage isn’t an option anymore since we consummated the hell out of it on every surface available.

I grip the edge of the trolley with one hand and the shelf with the other and grit my teeth as I stand, my quads screaming. I might need to join Essie for yoga classes if I plan to survive the next year.

On the upside—or the downside, depending on what part of my body is commenting—Connor is on an away series for the next four days, so my poor thighs will have a chance to recover. I finish shelving the rest of the books, then return to the front desk.

My stomach lurches when I see a familiar figure standing there, talking to Dorothea. I leave the cart next to the return bin and rush over, palms already sweaty. “Mr. Grace, this is unexpected. Is Connor okay? Is Meems?” She was finewhen I left this morning. Tired, which is common these days with the strain on her heart, but she was happy. Every doctor’s appointment is status quo right now. She still doesn’t qualify for surgery, but her heart is holding on.