Page 139 of If You Claim Me

Her toes curl against my side, her voice breathy as she lifts her shoulders from the couch. “I left the door open.”

“Everyone is asleep.” I kiss my way along the inside of her thigh.

“They might not be.” She bites her bottom lip when I suck her skin.

“Then they’ll know I take care of my wife’s needs.” I continue my path to the apex of her thighs. “And you look so lovely spread out like a feast for me.”

“Such a good villain.”

“Every moment of every day.”

Mildred sinks back into the couch, eyes darting between me and the door as I drop open-mouthed kisses on her skin. I suck and tease until she’s pleading in desperate whimpers.

“So sweet when you’re begging for my mouth.” I lap at her, and she writhes under me, hands in my hair, nails biting into my scalp. “So beautiful when you’re coming on my tongue, wife.”

Mildred bucks and moans, body shaking as she comes in waves. And I can’t get enough. I nab a condom from my walletand roll it down my length, then fit myself between her damp thighs.

Our gazes lock and her eyes flare as I sink into her, filling her, claiming her.

“You feel so good.” Her fingers skim my cheek.

“Like heaven,” I agree.

She wraps herself around me, pulling me closer, my body pressing her into the couch. Her soft skin under my fingers, her warm breath breaking against my lips, the scent of strawberry and vanilla, and the taste of her on my tongue.

We kiss and fuck and cling and pant.

She comes again, gorgeous, unguarded, and mine.

I want her to stay. For this to last.

I want to love her for the rest of my life.

CHAPTER 37

CONNOR

Mildred and I spend Christmas Eve morning handing out care packages to those in the local unhoused community. She knows every person we greet by name. She introduces me as her husband, and every time, they tell me how lucky I am to have her. Of course I agree.

After the library closes at noon, we stop at the group home to drop off presents for the kids. It’s clear Mildred is particularly excited to see Victor and Everly, and so am I.

Mildred hands me a box. I glance inside. “Where did you get all this?”

“Ceddy gave it to me. He found it in the storage shed with the holiday stuff, and I said we could put it to use.”

“I doubt everyone in here is a Terror fan.”

“Toques and hoodies are always welcome. So are baseball caps and T-shirts. They won’t care what team it is, just that it’s new and the logo is cool.” She grabs one of the elf hats from last year. “Come here.”

I bend and pucker my lips. She kisses me and ruins my hair with the elf hat, and I don’t even care.

When we enter, Mildred barely has time to set the boxes down before Everly attaches herself to her like a koala clip. “Iwasn’t sure if you were coming today, ’cause now you’re married and have family events to go to and stuff.”

Mildred hugs her tightly. “As if I would miss Christmas Eve.”

Victor appears, wearing a smirk. “Hey, Connor. Nice elf hat.”

I dip my chin. “I think it suits me.”