Page 13 of Love and Forgiveness (Rough & Ready Country #6)

Izzie isn’t looking directly at me now. Instead, she’s staring at my lips.

I lick them and watch her face flush, and her eyes dilate.

My body is inches from hers, and I’ve got my arm on the couch behind her.

I let it slip down until it drapes over her shoulders, gauging her reaction intently.

Her face relaxes, and her eyes offer an invitation.

This is a far cry from the right place at the right time, but I doubt I’ll get another chance like this.

And I can’t let things finish on that damn parking lot memory.

Scooping her into my lap effortlessly, I go for her mouth before thinking.

Time and distance have done nothing to lessen my soul-crushing thirst for her.

Her lips part with a sigh, and I ferociously claim her with my tongue, sweeping into her mouth and devouring her hot, velvety sweetness.

My arms wrap tightly around her, and she drops the pillow she cradles, freeing her hands to thread through my short-cropped hair.

She pulls me frantically against her, enveloping me in her rosewater perfume.

Her deliciously familiar, juicy tongue mates with mine, and it’s as if the hurt, pain, and angst of the last year evaporate. It’s just my wife and I loving each other. Passion wells to overflowing inside me, and I growl against her lips, wanting so much more of her. Everything.

My hand slips under her skirt, and she damn well parts her legs, leading me to her hot core. Fuck yes. My fingers find her lacy, dripping panties, and my heart’s pounding faster than when I run six miles.

“Fuck,” I moan, pressing my forehead against hers while my fingers cover themselves in her slippery arousal. “You need me, baby. It’s bad. Admit it.”

Her eyes are hooded and flooded with desire, and she lets out the most adorable whimper as my fingers glide through the womanly folds I know so well.

I moan again, closing my eyes and savoring the feel of her silky, inviting heat.

I’d started to think I’d never be inside her again, touching her like this.

But my forefinger and thumb aren’t nearly enough.

“You need my tongue. And my cock. Don’t you? ” She nods, her legs relaxing more.

The feel of her yielding to me after so long sets every inch of my body on fire, and all I can think about is making her scream my name and dig her nails into my back.

I could pull her skirt up over her ample hips so easily.

Let her ride me while I suck her tits. Yes, grasp her waist tightly and grind her down over my hard rod until we fade into the same oblivion.

The irony is excruciating. She’s my legal wife, she’s pouring honey for me, and this is the first chance I’ve had to touch her since before the UAE—away from lawyers, mediators, judges, therapists, and our children.

But fuck! It’s in my brother and sister-in-law’s cabin while watching their newborn baby sleeping in the nursery next door. Bad idea.

Izzie’s breath comes in little pants now, and I want nothing more than to sink into her again.

Fill her with my love. Lose myself entirely in her.

But every action comes with consequences, and I can’t bear the thought of these consequences.

How could I extricate my soul from hers again?

Last time, we had the distance of the UAE and oceans to help with the separation. And that still nearly killed me.

I hear the sound of a big engine and gravel as Travis and Faith pull up into the driveway, parking the Chevelle in front of the house.

What fucking awful timing! I pull my hand out of Izzie’s panties, reflexively licking her arousal off my fingers to hide what we’ve been up to.

Fuck, that’s a mistake. Now, I’m rock hard.

Her eyes are dilated, and her jaw goes slack as she watches me, swallowing loudly.

I’ve longed for her taste for so long, and it undoes me.

I have to have her—the one option out of my reach.

She scrambles off my lap, and I jump to my feet.

Turning my back towards the front door, I adjust my Levis so I don’t look like a damn pervert.

My hand comes to my neck. Rubbing it, I look down.

I feel angry at the temptation, how she opened herself up to me with one look.

And I’m disgusted by the way I didn’t hold back, didn’t even hesitate.

The front door opens, and Travis and Faith come through carrying groceries.

Taking advantage of the interruption, I offer, “Faith, honey, let me help with those.” Rushing over, I grab the bags and motion for her to sit down.

Instead, she heads straight to Izzie, hugging her.

“Trav and I were surprised to see your car here when we pulled up.”

Izzie smooths her skirt, motioning for Faith to sit down. Her cheeks burn, and her lips look puffy from mine as she excuses, “I was just leaving. Wolfe’s handling security at the museum now, and we had to go over a few things.”

Handling something. That’s for sure.

Travis gives me a questioning look with his eyebrows raised. I shrug. So, he beelines for Izzie, wrapping his arms around her, still holding grocery bags. “Long time no see, Izzie. What do you think of Ryder?”

“He’s adorable,” she replies with a huge smile, “And he looks so much like you. It’s crazy.”

“A lot’s happened since the last time I saw you. Don’t be such a stranger,” Travis encourages.

“I’m sorry, Trav. I’ve been so busy with the new museum job.”

“You’re the director now, right?”

She nods with a strained smile.

“Nice. I’m proud of you.” The room goes awkwardly quiet, and I look down at my watch.

“I’ve got to get back to work,” I grumble, grabbing the briefcase and paperwork. Nodding at Izzie cooly, I say, “I’ll be in touch.”

Outside, I put on my cowboy hat and let out a long, pained sigh, adjusting my jeans again. I shouldn’t have left her there with my brother and his wife, but she can handle herself. After all, she’s still my wife and their family, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.

I hear the door open behind me, and she follows me out.

I breathe hard again at her mere presence and wait to walk her to her car.

My thoughts swim through thick clouds of desire.

I lean an arm against the Toyota, half-caging her like the other night.

But I can tell by her eyes that she’s conflicted.

“Please stop this, Wolfe. What if Trav and Faith see us together?”

I step back, dropping my arm and feeling the sting of her words. Incredulously, I ask, “Me together with my wife? Is that so bad?”

She whispers fiercely, “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it has to stop. This has to stop. We can’t do this again.”

We’re both playing the same fucking game, even if she won’t admit it. “Do what?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Fall back into the same old patterns. The same vicious cycle. And all because we’re horny? It’s time for both of us to move on, and you need to sign the divorce papers because I can’t take this anymore.”

Her words shouldn’t hurt so much, but they find their mark mercilessly, carving a hole where my heart beat a few moments before.

How can she talk about divorce when there are so many emotions raging between us?

So much passion and love? But then who am I to talk when I can’t decide whether or not I can forgive her for doubting me?

This was so much easier when I had myself convinced she didn’t want or love me anymore.

I state the obvious. “You need me, and you want me, Izzie. Admit it.”

“That may be the case, but it doesn’t mean anything. And it doesn’t mean we should be together,” she hisses defensively.

“Baby girl, I’ve never felt you wetter or more ready for me. If we were at my place or yours, we’d be making love right now—”

“Which isn’t going to fix anything.”

“Are you sure about that?” I ask questioningly, digging soul-deep into her with my eyes, trying to figure out what the hell’s going on inside her gorgeous head.

“Why do you assume we’d fall back into old patterns?

We’ve both done a lot of growing since the separation.

I’ve finally settled down the way you want me to.

Things are already very different. Why can’t you see that? ”

“Have you, though? Really?” She eyes me seriously

I hesitate before replying. “Yes, more or less.”

With an explosive sigh, she exclaims, “It’s too little, too late. Besides, you’re still not leveling with me. Of course, I don’t know why I should expect any different from you. You couldn’t even be bothered to attend marriage counseling with me over Zoom.”

“I told you. I hated the therapist.”

“Yes, but you’ve never explained why.”

I reply angrily before I can catch myself, “Because he’s everything I’m not.

Good looking, smart, educated, licensed.

I’m a fucking brute compared to him, and I know it.

I couldn’t stand you looking at him, confiding in him, fucking being in the same room with him.

It’s bad enough that you abandoned me while I was still overseas and served me divorce papers when there was absolutely nothing I could do to save our marriage.

But to have you flirting with him while you claimed to want to salvage our marriage?

Hell, no. You never even tried, Isadora, not in any way that mattered.

And now I see no amount of convincing’ll change your mind. ”

Shock leaves her eyes as wide as two dinner plates and her mouth hanging open. But I’m done.

I walk away without looking back. Fuck this shit. If she wants signed divorce papers, she’ll get them. Then, I’ll wrap up this job and be done with her. Done with her tight skirts, button-down sweaters, sexy black heels with scarlet soles, and panties dripping with thoughts of me.