Page 79 of Rock On

The doors to the balcony were open and there was a cool breeze coming in from the ocean that made me shiver.

“You cold?” he asked. “You want me to close the doors?”

“I love the sound of the ocean, but that breeze is chilly.”

“How about we close them most of the way but leave it open just enough for us to hear the waves crashing?”

“Perfect.” He adjusted the doors and then turned to me, his face shrouded in shadows since the only light was coming from outside the windows. “You sure about this, baby? A thousand percent sure you want to try again?”

“Very, very sure.”

“Then I want you to strip for me.”

THIRTY-ONE

Tommy

In the past, I’d always been the one to take charge during our lovemaking. That wasn’t to say she didn’t initiate or that she didn’t occasionally guide things, but normally it was all about what I wanted. I always made sure she got off first, and usually more than once, but there had been a dominance involved that I was no longer comfortable with. Despite what she said about how much she loved everything we did, I still wanted to try something different this time around.

It wasn’t about positions or kink, but more about the overall dynamic of our relationship. She wasn’t completely comfortable opening up to me, and with how new we were, I wanted to show her she could trust me, but also be herself with me. It wasn’t black and white, but the picture I was beginning to see was that she’d spent most of our marriage worried about losing me. Worried about doing things—or not doing them—to make sure I was happy.

And that wasn’t going to cut it this time around.

I was calling the shots for the moment, but I planned to turn the reins over to her sooner rather than later.

She’d already slipped off her shoes and was sliding down her jeans.

“Slower,” I called out, watching her carefully from where I was perched on the edge of the bed. My stupid knee was pissing me off, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise, forcing me to slow down and let her do more of the work.

She met my gaze curiously but did as I asked. She took her time letting them fall to her ankles and then carefully pulling out one foot and then the other. Standing there in simple white panties and her top, she was a vision. I could still picture her in a bikini, head thrown back, laughing at something I said as we frolicked on a beach in the South of France.

It was entirely possible I enjoyed seeing her half-dressed even more than seeing her totally naked.

I was probably biased, but I didn’t give a shit.

She was mine.

Dressed, not dressed, half-dressed.

It didn’t matter.

All that mattered was that we were here, together, doing something I couldn’t wait to do again.

When she wiggled out of her T-shirt, my eyes were glued to her chest.

I was actually more of a leg guy than a boobs guy, but hers were pretty spectacular. Even in the simple white bra that seemed devoid of lace or anything extra, she was simply stunning. Once upon a time, she’d had dreams of being a supermodel, and the woman standing in front of me could have been one.

Except she’d given that up for me.

She could say she didn’t, or that it happened organically, but I hadn’t given her the choice. We simply followed the trajectory of the path Onyx Knight was forging because there was so much money and excitement involved.

I would have done anything to go back in time.

But she’d just unsnapped her bra and let it fall away while simultaneously using her arms to cover her breasts, an impish smile on her face.

“This what you wanted?” she asked softly. “For me to tease you?”

“Yes.”

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