Page 49 of Reckless Vow

“I married you, didn’t I?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

I think he knows I was referring to tonight, begging him to fill the loneliness, but his commitment, even in jest, feels somehow significant.

“Scoot over.” He lifts the blanket and slides in beside me.

He snakes his hand under me and rolls me on top of him. I tense, the feel of his solid body awakening every dormant cell in me. What’s going on?

“Relax, Brook.” He slides me to the other side of him. “Let’s keep you on this side, near the bucket.”

He manhandles me on to my side, so my back is to his chest, and covers us both. He’s not exactly spooning me, but being this close to him gets my mind firing in all different directions.

Well, one direction really. My body is fully awake after grazing across his, feeling every dip and valley of his amazing anatomy. And the package. Holy shit.

For some outlandish reason, my mind goes to this morning, and as much as I told myself to ignore it, I can’t. “Who is your darling?”

He makes a sound, like a snort or a disbelieving huff, I’m not sure. Not really the way to alleviate my insecurities.

“Good night, Brook.”

Shit. Why am I seeking reassurance? It’s not like we’re in a committed, monogamous relationship. I can’t expect that there are no women in his life.

Women would be acceptable, understandable, but if there isawoman… Does she know he married me? That he’s here with me? I focus on that last thought.

He’s here with me. He left the gala to care for me.

There is no way I can sleep now. I’m still tingly from the way he slid me across his body earlier. My mind is… confused, filled with feelings I don’t want to feel, and those I don’t understand.

* * *

A heavy weight is pushing me to the mattress and I’m so hot. Burning. I fidget under the burden, and a groan makes me look to my side.

Baldo’s arm is heavy across my chest, our legs tangled together. His face is relaxed, peaceful. It’s so outlandish to see him like that. He looks younger, like the boy who used to kiss me senseless in this bed.

He stirs a bit and I hold my breath. I don’t want him to wake up yet. I want to enjoy this while it lasts.

For sure, once he opens his eyes, we’ll find a way to spoil this rare moment of belonging.

He fidgets again, his hand instinctively finding my breast, cupping it. Okay then.

And is that…?

His hardness digs into my hip. Well, good morning to me.

Baldo flicks his finger back and forth over my nipple, and it salutes him eagerly. I stifle a moan and hold my breath.

“How are you feeling?” he rasps.

His eyes are still closed, but he doesn’t stop his gentle grazing.

“I think I’m hungry, so that’s a good sign.”

“Give me a minute.” His sleepy voice spreads through my chest and between my legs. “I’ll make you some toast.”

I squeeze my thighs together. Does he know he’s playing with my nipple? And why am I so hypersensitive to his soft touch? I didn’t even know I had erogenous zones around my breasts.

But then my body has been betraying me for years.

As if last night shifted something between us, Baldo kisses my temple, and while it’s not a lustful display, it certainly doesn’t feel brotherly.

---