Page 59 of Married to the Frenemy

And when he swipes his tongue against mine, tilting my head to allow him better access, all my defenses crumble. The heat of his kiss ignites a wildfire within me, awakening every desire I’ve struggled to suppress since our wedding day.

I convinced myself this was the only way. That depriving myself of his touch was necessary for me to keep my heart intact. After all, losing him all those years ago absolutely ruined me.

But as he pushes me farther into the room, his hands roaming my body, I want him to ruin me. Want everything he’ll give me, regardless of what kind of devastation he’ll leave in his wake.

He breaks his mouth from mine, his heavy breaths filling the room as he peppers rough kisses along my jawline. When he takes my earlobe between his teeth, a moan slips from my throat.

“Beckham,” I whimper.

I’m running hotter than I have in years, an inferno scalding my veins. I don’t know how much more of this torture I can handle, every inch of my body throbbing with need. I haven’t been with another man since Oliver. I’d resigned myself to a life of no attachments. I had to think about Maggie, put her first, even if it meant sacrificing my own needs.

But now, I want nothing more than to lose myself in Beckham. Pick up where we left off all those years ago.

He did tell me to start putting my needs first.

And right now, I need him. More than I do my next breath.

“What do you need, Haley?” he rasps, his husky tone sending electric currents through me. “Whatever it is, it’s yours.” His eyes lock with mine as he grips my cheeks, not allowing me to escape. “Tell me what you want.”

I wrap an arm around his neck. “I want you, Beckham.” I hoist myself onto my toes, but he keeps his mouth just out of reach.

“You can do better than that, Haley. Tell me exactly what you want from me.”

“I want…” My words trail off as his lips leave a fiery path down my neck.

I close my eyes, losing myself in the feel of his arousal pressing against my stomach.

“I want,” I whimper again.

“Tell me.”

“I want you to take off my dress.”

He pulls back. “I thought you’d never ask.” He slams his lips against mine, his tongue plunging into my mouth.

I thought Beckham’s kiss when we got married was hot. The way he owned me in that moment turned me on more than I thought possible. But right now, as his desperate hands explore my body, his erection pressing against me, it makes one thing abundantly clear.

This isn’t just a kiss.

It’s a claiming.

And I’m more than happy for him to own me in every way possible.

Too soon, Beckham tears his lips from mine and abruptly spins me around. I stare at our reflection in the mirror and he meets my gaze, arching a single brow in question. I don’t hesitate, quickly nodding my permission.

The seconds stretch as he laboriously tugs at the tie securing my dress around my neck, allowing the halter straps to fall to the side. When he touches his lips to my shoulder blades, a delicious tremor courses through me. His eyes focused on mine, he pushes the dress down the rest of my body, leaving me in just a pair of lacy white panties.

“Beautiful.”

His hand roams my bare stomach, the stretch marks I haven’t been able to get rid of over the past four years still visible. I avert my gaze, starting to feel somewhat self-conscious. While Beckham’s body has become more defined and muscular since we were teenagers, I haven’t had the same luxury, my curves displaying the unmistakable signs of pregnancy.

But before I can attempt to hide from him, he whirls me around, holding my face in his hands.

“You are so fucking beautiful, Haley. Don’t ever doubt that.” He covers my mouth with his once more, his kiss consuming me as he walks me backward to the bed and lays me down on the soft sheets, settling between my legs.

“Tell me what you want,” he repeats as he nuzzles the crook of my neck.

“I already did.” I try to force his lips back to mine, but he doesn’t let me.

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