Page 22 of Naughty Desires

Chapter Eight

Chris

Resolved now that I’ve got a way forward, I make my way to Lily’s table. Rex has his back to me, but Alexis sees me coming. She leans over and whispers to Lily, but by the time Lily looks over, I’m standing at the table, my gaze fixed on the hand of the man who is touching my wife.

“Chris.” Emotions flicker across Lily’s face so fast I can barely make them out—surprise, wariness, confusion, and delight. Yes, I saw it, and I’m keeping it. She may be uncertain, but my Lily loves a grand gesture.

“I didn’t know you were here.” She hesitates, nibbles on her bottom lip. “I mean, I guessed the flowers were from you, but I didn’t think you’d show up.”

I almost didn’t, until I realized that was the old me—the Chris who didn’t go after what he wanted, whether it was working with his dad or taking over his father’s business or saying no to med school and college and pursuing his dream of becoming a carpenter. The old me wasted two weeks waiting for Lily to show up at the bus stop instead of going to find her.

“No point making a grand gesture if you don’t get to see how it’s received.” I glare at the dude holding Lily’s hand. Who the fuck touches a woman like he wants to get her in bed when she’s holding a bouquet of flowers she received from another man? And not just any man. Her husband.

“Who is this?”

“Rex Morgan.” She smiles sweetly. “He’s an old friend from high school.”

Old friend, my ass. Rex isn’t sitting here looking at my wife like she’s his next meal because he wants to reminisce about the good old days.

“You done shaking hands?” I grab Rex’s wrist and yank it away from Lily’s hand.

Unfortunately the rock star comes with the wrist. Rex pushes himself to his feet. “Do you know who I am?”

“Don’t care who you are. You’re touching my wife. That’s all I need to know.”

“We’re friends, dumb ass.” Rex brushes his long hair back over his shoulder.

I take in his rust-colored jeans, tight below the knee and poofing out around the thighs, the yellow band T-shirt, and the pointy leather shoes. Christ. If that’s what it takes to be a rock star, I’m glad to be working with my hands.

“We’re married, dumb ass.” I grab Rex’s T-shirt and haul him close so we’re nose to nose. “And unless you’re interested in playing your fucking guitar with your feet, you’re gonna keep your hands to yourself.”

Lily makes a sound, so soft I suspect only I can hear it. But it’s a sound that shouldn’t be shared outside the bedroom. It’s a moan that belongs only to me.

She likes watching me rough up her octopus friend. A lot.

“Sweetheart . . . ” I lick my lips, my voice dropping to a growl as I let Rex go. “Dance with me.”

Her gaze flicks to Alexis and then back to me. “No. But thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”

“One for each month I was an ass.” I hold out my hand. Lily loves to dance more than anything. Our first night together, we went to a bar and danced until we were both so damn hot for each other we had sex in the alley because we couldn’t wait until we got home. “Come on.”

She shakes her head again and Alexis gives her a not-too-subtle kick under the table.

“Rex and I are going to the bar to get a drink.” Alexis holds out her hand to Rex. “Anyone need anything?”

I need my wife to forgive me, but I’m pretty sure that’s not on the menu.

“Twelve seconds,” I say softly. “One for each flower. Give me that long, and if you don’t want me after that, you can walk away.”

She stares at me for a long moment and then carefully places the flowers on the table. This time, when I take her hand, she follows me.

I pull her into the center of the crowded dance floor and slip my arm around her back. “Hands around my neck. If we only have twelve seconds, I want it to be the best twelve seconds we’ve ever had.”

Her arms around my neck are the best feeling in the world. I pull her close and we start to sway.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. For tonight. For all the pain I caused you. For everything.” I rest my forehead against hers and slide my other arm around her. “I want to start over, if you’ll give me the chance.”

She stiffens and pulls away the tiniest bit. “What’s going to change? You don’t seem to get that we’re in this together. You aren’t responsible for keeping us both afloat. I’m here to catch you when you fall, just like you’ve always been there to catch me. It doesn’t make you less of a man. I never resented you when I had to take a second job. I never thought you were unworthy. I was happy I could find work and be there for you when you needed me. I couldn’t understand when you pushed me away. It hurt, Chris. It felt like my father all over again.”

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