Page 47 of Release Me

The fire crackles behind me, the scent of burning wood floating through the air. I drop into the seat beside her, refusing to look at the mantlepiece where a framed photograph of her and Anthony on their wedding day stares back at me.

Fuck him.

I know what I’m doing is wrong, but he doesn’t deserve her.

He never did.

‘Am I allowed to put any clothes on?’ She passes me one of the glasses then motions to her naked body.

‘Absolutely not.’ I clink my glass against hers.

‘That doesn’t seem very fair,’ she pouts, eyeing my crotch.

‘Trust me, sweetheart, if I take my clothes off, this will only end one way.’ I exhale heavily, imagining sinking myself inside her slickness. My dick is rock solid in my suit already.

‘And you don’t want to?’ A sliver of doubt creeps into her voice.

‘I want it more than I’ve wanted anything in my life—which is why I’m not going to take it. Today is about me giving. I won’t take anything, not until you’re one hundred percent sure it’s what you want. And not until you’re a hundred percent sure you’re not going to tell me I can only have it once. Because once will never be enough.’

She inhales sharply. ‘He’ll never let me go, you know.’ A sadness seeps into her tone.

‘Would you ever consider divorcing him?’ The words are out before I can stop them. It’s Christmas for fuck’s sake. I came here to cheer her up, not to depress her further.

‘I can’t.’ She shakes her head. ‘He’ll take Remington Publishing if we ever got divorced.’

‘Fuck,’ I spit, then take a gulp of my drink.

‘Fuck indeed,’ she stares broodily at the fire.

‘Do you feel bad?’ I motion to the space between us. ‘About…’ I don’t need to say the words. Besides, they wouldn’t justify what just happened between us.

‘I would if I were to think about it.’ She shrugs. ‘But I’m pretty sure he’s not feeling bad about me right now. As long as he doesn’t publicly humiliate me, I honestly don’t care where he sticks his dick anymore.’

‘Let’s not think about it. Let’s just enjoy this afternoon.’ I drop my hand onto her legs, running my fingers over her inner thigh.

‘Are you looking for trouble, Rian?’ Her head twists towards mine. ‘Because if you keep going that way, you’ll find it.’

‘I’m always in trouble when you’re around,’ I admit. ‘I’m surprised no one has clocked it, you know.’ A small laugh bursts from my lips.

‘Clocked what?’ She stares at me for a long beat.

‘That I’m fucking obsessed with you.’ It’s my turn to stare at her. ‘It’s so obvious, if anyone were to look for it.’

‘Oh, Ivy seems to have noticed. Avery too.’

Thankfully, I trust my sisters-in-law not to reveal my secret. Becketts loyalty is undisputable. It goes without saying we’d all lie for each other, die for each other, if it came to it.

And if my best friend discovers I spent Christmas with his wife, it might just.

Rebekka’s teeth dig into her lower lip. ‘You know,’ she says after a long pause, ‘I’m kind of obsessed with you too.’

It’s time to lighten the mood. ‘That’s because you know what I can do with my hands.’ I flash her a smile, drain my drink, place it on the nearby coffee table, then roll to my knees in front of her.

‘Now who’s using humour to deflect?’ She cocks her headto the side and reaches for my cheek, rubbing a thumb tenderly over my jaw.

‘You tell me how funny I am when my tongue is buried inside your pretty pussy.’ I arch an eyebrow at her.

She hisses, her eyes gleaming brighter than I’ve seen them in years. ‘Rian Beckett, you have a filthy mouth.’