Page 15 of Wife Wanted

Shane

I'm already in the shower with the hot water pouring over my sore shoulders. It's been a long night, nothing went as it was supposed to, and we almost lost a member of our team. It's situations like this that remind me how easy it would be to not come home. It used to not even register that it was an option, but now I have a kid, a wife, people I know who would miss me if something happened.

"Shane, are you okay?" Courtney asks as she comes into the bathroom. "I'm worried."

"This happens sometimes." I speak over the noise of the water. "We have a rough night, and I have to wash it off of me. I have to get the images I see afterward out of my mind."

"How do you do that?" She asks.

"However I can," I admit. I'm not proud that sometimes that means sleeping with a hookup for the night, drinking myself to sleep, or taking a few sleeping pills so I can have uninterrupted rest. I'm so deep in thought, I don't realize the shower curtain is opening until she's stepping inside.

"Maybe I can help you tonight, Shane."

"You don't know what you're saying." I swallow roughly, closing my eyes against the sight of her.

"I do, I might be younger than you, but I know what I want, and what I want is to be what you need. So let me be that for you. If we're going to be married, and I'm going to be your wife, you have to give me the reality." She reaches up, cupping my jaw in her hand. "Life isn't beautiful all the time, there are ugly parts, and we have to show the ugly."

"There's plenty of ugly, but I want you to make sure you can handle it, before I give it to you."

"I can handle whatever you've got, Shane."

I inhale deeply, my nostrils flaring as I reach down, grabbing her at the hips, and pulling her up so that her legs go around my waist. Her heels dig into the small of my back as we fight for purchase against our wet flesh. Quietly we make our way into my bedroom. This is a place I've never had a woman before, not even Rachel's mom. I tell her as much. "Just make sure you want to get as deep with me as I want to get with you."

She nods, her eyes meeting mine. I set her down on the hardwood floor and turn on a bedside light. It casts a soft shadow over the room, bathing us in a comfortable blanket of secrecy. It allows me to go for what I want, and hopefully allows her to the do them.

Pushing her onto the bed, I cover her body with mine, trailing my lips down her neck and chest before taking a taut nipple between my lips. Courtney digs her nails into my back as I work against her body. "What do you like?" I ask as I pull away from her breast.

"I don't know." She says on a sigh as I drag a hand down her body and use my fingers to get her ready for me. "You don't have to worry about protection, I know the agency had us tested and I'm on birth control."

Dipping my head down, I take her lips, pressing her thighs apart with my knees. I hate that I'm going to take her hard, but I need it to help me get through this night. Pressing into her, I close my eyes and throw my head back, allowing her to take away all the destruction and sadness.

Within her, I find happiness and optimism. In the face of something ugly, the wife I wasn't sure I ever wanted shows me the beauty in it all.

EPILOGUE

Courtney

It's been a year - a hell of one - since I met Shane in that hotel restaurant. We've gone from two people who didn't know each other, to best friends. We're partners now, in every single thing. When I have to take care of a freelance project, Shane makes sure he can take Rachel. When I know he's going to have to work extra late, I make sure I can secure childcare for Rachel, whether that be with me, or my mother-in-law.

Now though, we have something else to worry about, only Shane doesn't know it yet, and I know it's going to be even better since this is the year anniversary of us meeting.

"Babe, where are you?"

There's that deep voice I love. "In the bedroom."

"Oh yeah?" I can hear the interest in his voice, he's just dropped Rachel off at his mom's so we can have the night together.

"Yeah." I grin, as I think about how surprised he's going to be.

When he gets to the doorway, he skids to a stop. "Look at you." He rubs his chin, and I take special notice of the wedding ring on his finger. It still never ceases to make my heart pump a little faster.

"Yeah, you like?" I'm wearing his t-shirt. Something that started after our first time together.

"You know I do." He slow-rolls into the room, with a walk full of swagger. As he approaches, he looks down at what I have on the bed. "What's this?"

"A new shirt for Rachel. I think you're gonna love it. It's super cute."

He picks it up, and my heart pounds as I wait for him to read it. He says the words aloud. "Promoted to big sister."

The room as quiet as I wait for what he's said to sink in. It feels like a million years, but when it does, he turns to me, his eyes shining brightly. I nod. "It's true. I'm eight weeks."

He scoops me up in his arms, twirling me around. "I'm so happy, so excited. How is all this happening for us? I love you so much."

I laugh, holding on tight. "Because we took a chance with a woman who seriously knows how to match two people together. Think we should name this one May if it's a girl?"

He dips his head down, taking my lips with his. "Sounds good to me. Little did I know this is what would actually happen when I sent an email that said Wife Wanted."

And little did I know, that email would change my life. "Love you too, Shane. Love you too. Forever, and always."

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