Page 23 of Naughty Desires

I feel her words like a knife in the chest. It never once occurred to me that I was making her relive her biggest nightmare.

“I couldn’t understand it either.” I tighten my grip in case she runs away. “I felt so worthless I couldn’t imagine you would want me. I couldn’t love you that way, Lily, when I didn’t love myself. I was really messed up, but Aiden helped me see what was really going on.”

“Aiden?” Her head jerks up. “You mean Dr. Steadman?”

“A few months ago, he asked me if I knew anyone who could do some custom work for him. I’d been thinking of taking on some side jobs to keep up some of the skills I don’t use on-site, so I offered to take a look. Turns out he wanted me to build him a BDSM dungeon with all sorts of equipment. He’s into that lifestyle.”

Far from looking shocked, she laughs. “Alexis told me all sorts of rumors. I guess they’re true. Rex was looking for a third tonight. I should point Alexis and him in Dr. Steadman’s direction.”

My brain short-circuits after the word third and I scan the bar for Rex, ready to do some damage to his pretty-boy face. “He wanted you and Alexis? The three of you? Tonight?”

“Calm down.” She pulls me close, her soft body pressing up against me. “There’s only one man I want in my bed—the one who gave me a dozen lilies.” Her lips quirk at the corners. “It’s a good thing you decided to show up. I might not have known for certain they were from you.”

My skin prickles in warning, despite her teasing tone. “Who else would have given you flowers?”

“You usually give me roses, not lilies. It threw me off.”

I press a kiss to her forehead. “You don’t like roses anymore. I only just realized that on your birthday when you didn’t like your gift. If I’d known, I would have had the beads made out of lilies or another flower you liked better.”

Lily stills. “The beads were made out of roses?”

“Not just any roses. The roses you dried and saved from the bouquet I gave you on our first date. I wanted you to know that the way I feel about you hasn’t changed.”

“Oh my God.” She covers her hand with her mouth. “I had no idea. I thought they were made of paper. I never wear beads, so I thought you didn’t know me anymore. I feel horrible. It was such a thoughtful gift. I’m so sorry I didn’t appreciate it.” She hugs me tight, and I check my watch.

“Does that mean you aren’t walking away? We are well past twelve seconds.”

Lily laughs softly. “I can’t walk away now after you did something so sweet. How about a bonus round? Tell me more about our kinky dentist, and then I’ll decide.”

“Aiden helped me see I have a dominant side that I’ve suppressed for years, and I needed to reconcile it with my feeling of being less of a man,” I tell her. “I need control, and over the years, I’d lost control of my life. The layoff tipped me over the edge.”

“You want to control me?” Her forehead creases in a frown.

“No, sweetheart. Like you said, we’re a team. But in the bedroom, I like to be in charge.”

She leans in to me and I can feel her muscles relax. “Is that what the box was about?”

“Aiden said he had an idea about how to help us find our way together again. He didn’t tell me what it was. If I’d known about the doctor stuff, I might have suggested something else.”

“I might have to switch dentists,” she says. “I don’t know if I can handle going to see him when he knows so much about us. I mean, what kind of conversation are we going to have? ‘Hi, Lily. Let’s have a look at your teeth. How are those handcuffs working out for you? Did Chris like his cock ring?’” Her body shakes with suppressed laughter. “Not going to happen.”

“Does that mean you don’t want to see the work I did for him in his basement?” I lean down and bury my face in her soft, silky hair. Her scent is intoxicating and I can’t believe I’ve lost a year of holding my wife.

“Maybe not, but if you do any other work, I’d love to see it.”

“Look down,” I whisper. “And then over at the stage.”

“This is you?” She stares at the hardwood floor. “Chris, it’s amazing. Why didn’t you tell me? And how come I never saw you? All those nights you said you were working late, I thought you were with Dan.”

“Dan let me use his shop to build it, and then I transported it here. We installed it when I knew you wouldn’t be working. I wanted to make sure it all turned out. I didn’t want to fail you again. But now I’m thinking I might start up on my own. Your brother’s been downsizing his company, so he’s good with that.”

Her face brightens. “You’ve got all that business experience to run the company plus your skill as a carpenter. It’s going to be a great success.”

“Not without you.” I pull her against my chest and rest my chin on top of her head. “Things might be tight for a bit when I first start up. I need to know you’ll be good with that.”

“I’ll get a third job.”

“You won’t have time for a third job.” My pulse quickens, heat spreading over me. “We have a year to make up in the bedroom, and a box of toys to get us started.”

Lily gives me a slow, seductive smile. “Why don’t we start now? I didn’t change when I left. There’s a naughty nurse hiding under my clothes.”

I had forgotten she left the house still wearing her lingerie, but now that she’s reminded me, there is no way we’ll make it home.

“Naughty nurse,” I whisper, sliding my hand inside her shirt to finger the silky material underneath.

“Very naughty.” She grinds herself against me. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Isn’t there an alley out back . . . ?”

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