Husbandry (19 page)

“What?”

I pointed.

My husband frowned at the offending stain like he had no
idea how it had gotten there. “It’ll come out in the wash.”

Probably not, but I didn’t have the heart to get annoyed
with him. Then all thoughts of laundry dissipated when he pulled his shirt off
and slung it over his shoulder. His bruises were still in the purple phase, but
even they couldn’t distract me from his physique. Although he might not have
been as chiseled as Chad, his firm chest and the intriguing line of hair
disappearing into his waistband had the power to interrupt my brainwaves.

It was disturbing to notice he had a similar effect on my
mother when he sauntered into the house. Then again, could I blame any woman for
staring?

“All fixed.” He delivered the announcement as he passed her
on the way to the stairs.

My mother froze for a second before she regained her
composure. “Thank you, dear. What happened to you there? Your back is all
bruised.”

“A small ladder mishap,” he told her. “No big deal.” He
shrugged it off and climbed the stairs.

For my part, I watched his broad back and jean-clad derriere
move all the way up to the top landing. Pressing the cool, empty glass to my
cheek, I disappeared into the kitchen before I went to get ready for our
driving tour.

I’d intended to have a heart-to-heart with my mother
regarding my marriage while I had her to myself, but there just wasn’t a good segue
into the topic. Although it might have been wimpy of me, I didn’t want to
disrupt the good mood. Thanks to Chuck’s handiwork, Mom was content, and so our
drive was far more pleasant than I’d expected. She loved my neighborhood and
approved of the fact that I had a “real home” unlike my “rambling” brother. I
didn’t want to break the peace.

Upon our return to the house, we were greeted by the sound
of piano music pouring sonorously through the house. I’d already seen the car
in the driveway, so I knew Charles and my dad were home, but Chad was the only
one with my father. They were relaxing in the family room with my dad sitting
on the sofa and my husband standing at the stereo.

Mom sat beside my father. “What are you doing?”

“Huh?” Dad blinked at her. “Oh, Chad here is sharing his
music collection with me. He knows all the old greats, let me tell you. I said
he should get a piano and learn how to play. Bright fellow like him ought to
pick it up fast.”

“Says the man who can play any song he hears. I’ll have to
convince you to give us a recital sometime, Art.” My husband was beaming,
clearly pleased by my father’s praise.

“Speaking of playing,” I said. “How was the golf game, Dad?”

“Terrific. One of the best games I’ve ever played, and you
should have seen the course we were on. Charles has a mean swing. He held back
a bit so the other fellow won by a hair, but that was smart business. And the
whole time, your husband was wheeling and dealing as smooth as you please. He
knew everyone there too. Half a dozen people must have stopped by in their
carts to say hello. Charles knew all of them by name, and he recognized the
course staff to boot. He’s a hell of a businessman. I don’t doubt he’ll make VP
one day.”

“Really?” My mother got a speculative look in her eye.

“Charles is savvy,” I assured her. “He’s got the drive to
succeed and good instincts, which is why he handles all our investing.”

“Maybe I should get his advice on a few of our stocks,” she
mused.

I nodded in encouragement. Although I wouldn’t call my mother
shallow, I knew she valued fine things and financial security. Charles’s fiscal
acumen would be a huge plus with her if she’d give him a chance.

Then Mom looked at my father, and her expression turned
cunning. “Well, while you were off playing, Chuck was hard at work. He took
care of that broken zipper on my train case, and he even fixed the car for us.
Now I won’t have to listen to squeaking all the way home.”

“You were just hearing road noise,” Dad countered. “As for
the luggage, I told you I’d get to it.”

My mother crossed her arms. “When? You said you’d fix it
over a year ago when we went to visit my sister. You could learn something from
your son-in-law. He tackled the problem right away and got it done in no time.
You—”

“Deserve the break.” I interrupted her and gave my father a
placating smile. “Do you remember all the odds and ends you repaired for us
kids over the years? I suspect Nikki still has you over to her place at least
once a week to take care of something. You’re on vacation, Dad. Chuck was happy
to do it, so consider this your turn to relax for a change.”

My father studied me for a moment before his good humor
returned. “I won’t say no to that.”

“This is certainly the right soundtrack for some R and R.” I
turned to Chad. “What song is this?”

Always quick on his feet, my husband launched into a
discussion of the music, entertaining my father and keeping my mom from
stirring things up again. I used the opportunity to head upstairs in search of
Charles and Chuck. At the landing, I nearly collided with the latter.

“Where are you going?” I asked, noting the car keys in his
hand.

At least Chuck had changed into a clean shirt.

He paused and leaned on the railing. “Charles says Art
talked about being in the mood for a good burger. Chad already has sandwiches
made for lunch, but I thought I could use the grill and cook out tonight. All
we need is hamburger buns and maybe some ice cream for dessert. I’m going to
scoot over to the store now to pick some up. Any preferences?”

“Sesame seed buns and Neapolitan ice cream.” Those items, at
least, I could trust him to purchase correctly.

He kissed my cheek before he jogged down the steps. “See you
in a bit.”

I watched him leave before walking into the bedroom, where
Charles sat on the edge of the bed to pull on a pair of loafers.

“There you are.” I shut the door behind me so my voice
wouldn’t travel. “Good job with the golf game. My dad had a blast and is
singing your praises.”

“He’s a good player, and he understood there was more than
one game afoot.” Charles seemed to consider his next words for a moment. “I
really like him.”

“I’m glad.” And I was. Whatever my issues with my mother,
family was important to me. “Now you just have to work your magic on my mom.
The good news is she wants you to advise her on some investments.”

“That’s easy enough. I’m happy to give her my opinion.”

I still stood by the door, expecting him to join me so we
could return downstairs. Instead, he remained seated.

“Aren’t you coming?”

Amusement twinkled in his emerald eyes. “Not yet. Chad asked
me to hang back so he could have a chance to get to know your father.”

“It seems to be working. They’re bonding over music right
now, although my mom tried to shame my father by bringing up Chuck fixing their
luggage and car. I had to referee.”

“It sounds like you could use a break. Come here.”

“What?”

His lips curved into a wicked grin framed by his goatee.
“Let Chad have some more time with them. Didn’t you recently lecture me about
the importance of taking a break and spending time with my wife? And you do owe
me a rain check.”

“On a massage.”

“That and ‘other pleasurable activities’ was the way I
phrased it. I’m cashing in.”

My jaw dropped when my brain finally registered his meaning.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Charles, my parents are waiting downstairs for
us.”

“Chad will keep them entertained.”

I squared off with him, hands on hips. “I’m not giving you a
nooner. Besides, I seem to remember you owing me a rain check for the massage I
gave you in the shower the other morning.”

“Clever girl.” I could see he was pleased with me. “That
means the massages cancel each other out, but you still owe me another
pleasurable activity.”

“No.”

“Then I owe you one. Now do you want to come here, or do you
want to find out what happens if I have to come get you?”

As usual, irritation clashed with arousal when my husband
spoke to me like this. I couldn’t be sure which emotion caused my temperature
to soar, though there was no denying that the shiver down my spine was wholly
sensual.

“You’d better be careful,” I said even as I closed the
distance. “You’re too arrogant for your own good.”

“I prefer confident.” His gaze turned hotter. “Or cocky.”

My nipples tightened into hard little pearls inside the cups
of my bra. This was insane. Yet hadn’t I stripped naked for him inside his
office? Sanity always fled far, far away whenever I was alone with Charles.

He looked me over from head to toe. “Tell you what. I
promise to get you off in five minutes or less. Then we can go down and nibble
on sandwiches with Mom and Dad.”

“Oh, that’s romantic.” Sarcasm dripped from every word.

Charles chuckled. “Screw romantic. You’re wet, aren’t you?
Whatever your sensibilities, your body likes when I take over and challenge
you. Right now, you’re wondering if I can really do it. You’re wondering how
fast I can make you climax.”

He was right, damn him. I wanted to slap him and hump his
brains out, maybe at the same time.

“I promise not to mark you where anyone can see,” he teased
me.

When I still hesitated, he crawled backward on the bed so he
could recline against the pillows. Never taking his gaze off me, he unbuckled
his belt and opened the fly of his slacks. The bulge of his erection was
already too large to miss, and it captured my attention as he reached for his
waistband. Pants and briefs lowered together as he shoved them halfway down his
thighs. His cock sprang up, long and flushed and aggressive with a shiny
droplet of precum already glinting at the tip.

“Here’s what I want massaged, Fila. Tee up.”

My snort of laughter ruined the indignant glare I attempted
to give him. Charles might have inspired mixed feelings in me, but there was no
denying that raw lust and love were at the forefront. He wasn’t an easy man,
but he was well worth the effort.

If I was going to do this, then there was no sense stalling.
Although I felt like a pushover, I shoved my shorts and underwear to the floor
and stepped out of them without removing my sandals. A second later, I
straddled his hips and positioned the crown of his cock at my entrance.

“Don’t shank this one,” I told him.

He laughed as he cupped my waist. “Don’t worry, darling.
There’s nothing wrong with my aim.”

At least he didn’t make any wisecracks about a hole in one as
I sank down to engulf his rigid length. My descent was a bit premature, but the
stretch and burn produced an answering rush of moisture that eased the way.
With three short pumps, I had myself fully seated. A trembling sigh escaped my
lips.

“Would you like a stopwatch?” Charles asked me.

I opened eyes I hadn’t realized I’d closed. “Very funny.”

“You’ll be smiling soon.”

Leaning forward, I crushed his mouth under mine to shut him
up and began to ride. His solid length felt like it reached my throat and trailed
fire between my legs. There was always an underlying sense of risk and
excitement with Charles—something that added to my sense of vulnerability and
made me even more conscious of his penetration. I bounced fast and hard, keenly
aware of my parents waiting down below.

I was in a hurry to get where we were going, but I should
have known Charles wouldn’t turn over the reins so easily. He grabbed the backs
of my calves and pulled my feet toward his head so I toppled onto my back. I
wound up lying on top of his legs with his cock still lodged firmly inside me.
He took a firm hold on my hips.

“You’re not in charge, dear wife. I’m driving.” He used his
strength to work his cock in and out of me. “You always have such big orgasms
when I take away your control.”

“Dammit, Charles.” I pushed myself up so I was propped on my
elbows, but I couldn’t get any leverage.

The position was awkward but erotic, especially since I was
looking along the length of my half-clothed body to where our sexes joined. Our
juices shone and made wet, licking noises where his shaft dipped in and out
between my pouty nether lips.

“The key,” he informed me, “is a firm grip and a clean
stroke.”

I started to retort with something about balls and a 3-wood,
but my thoughts scattered before I could get the joke out. My whole sheath
twitched in a preorgasmic warm-up, offering me a preview of the ecstasy to
come. Charles plumbed me harder and faster until I keened.

I felt the tip of his insistent cock battering the opening
to my womb. “You’re too deep.”

“Am I hurting you?”

“Yes. No.” I didn’t know. The pressure and pleasure and
pinch all combined.

“Then I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. In so deep I own
you.” He watched our sexes slam together too. “Just as you own me. Clock is
ticking, Fila.”

I didn’t grasp what he’d said until he set his thumb to my
clit. He strummed me with rapid flicks and then put pressure on the underside
of the little button. When I didn’t go over, he released a frustrated growl.

“Fighting me, are you? We’ll see about that.”

Everything spun to my left, and suddenly I was
half-suspended off the side of the bed. Charles sat right on the edge with me
perched on his lap. Only the grip of his hands around my lower back kept me
from tumbling to the floor, and the new position shifted his cock high inside
me.

“I’ve still got ninety seconds.” He sounded winded, and he
grunted as he churned his hips beneath me.

My clit was raw and aching—sensitive enough that the
pressure of his cock and the occasional brush of his pubic hair sent zingers
all the way into my womb. Held in the air as I was, I felt like I was flying. I
was completely dependent on him for both support and pleasure.