Page 77 of The Devil's Pawn

My heart rate slows.It’s okay. He doesn’t know I already have a job offer on the table. I can turn this to my advantage.

“Zenith’s mission statement aligns well with my beliefs. They’re a commercial company, but they don’t make all their decisions using the mighty dollar as a guide. When I interned, they were looking at a project in Malawi in Africa. It aimed to build a model sustainable village using the latest techniques. If it’s successful, they plan to roll it out to more locations.”

“That’s a fine objective.”

“It is.” I nibble my lip. “So, I can apply for a job with them?”

“Let me talk to Christian,” he says. “He runs the building and architecture side of our corporation. I’d like to know his take on this company.” He runs a lock of my hair through his fingers. “If they’re getting my wife, then I want to know they’ll appreciate her.”

A wave of relief rushes through me. It’s not a no. In fact, it’s almost a yes. Christian won’t find anything bad about Zenith, which means, as long as I can make it look as though I applied, interviewed, and got the job after I married Alexander, I’m home free.

The fact the job requires me to spend some time in Africa? I’ll keep that nugget to myself for now. WhatAlexander doesn’t know can’t influence his decision. When he finds out, he won’t like it, but hopefully by then it’ll be too late.

“Thank you.”

Warmth creeps into his eyes in a way I haven’t seen before. Curving a hand around the back of my neck, he leans over me, his lips mere inches from mine. I breathe in the scent of his cologne, the urge to press my legs together engulfing me.

Everything I’ve done since I arrived has been futile, but for some inexplicable reason, I’m not as devastated as I thought I would be. If Alexander delivers on the job front, will it really be so bad to be his wife and to make Oakleigh my home? No, I don’t believe it will.

Besides, my attraction to my husband isn’t in doubt. By resisting him, I’m only making myself suffer.

“Have we negotiated a truce?” I could be mistaken, but there’s a hint of hope in his tone, in the way he breathes the words.

“Let’s see if you deliver on the job front first.”

“Duly noted.” He runs his nose along my cheek, breathing in deeply. “I promise I’ll keep you occupied in the meantime.”

His lips brush over mine, light as a feather. My stomach twists and convulses. On autopilot, I entwine my fingertips into his soft, wavy hair and pull him closer, opening my mouth beneath his. An electric tingle shoots down my spine, and my clit pulses with excitement.

Too embarrassed to ask him for what I want, I raise my hips, hoping he’ll pick up on the urgency of just how much I need him to touch me there.

He breaks away from my mouth, kissing my neck instead.Ohh, I like that. Shivers race through my body, and I grind my hips in a circle, desperate for friction.

“Please,” I whisper, my voice needy.

“Are you still mad at me for sending Emma home?” The rich, velvet quality of his voice causes another violent clench of my abdominals.

“Yes.” I’m not as mad as I was, though.

“Even if, by being here, she’d take you away from me. From us. From this.” He burrows a hand between my legs, urging my thighs apart. Without waiting for an answer, he kisses me again, his tongue sliding along my lower lip.

I whimper, thrusting my hips up into his hand. He rewards me by rubbing my clit with the fleshy part of his palm. I see stars. Actual stars flickering and shimmering behind my eyes.

God, that’s good. So… good.

The shift in our relationship is mind-bending. I’m unbalanced, confused, but the overwhelming feeling is hunger. Crazy, blinding hunger at what this man, my husband, is doing to me.

Beads of sweat break out on my forehead. I writhe, my lungs working overtime to keep up with the pace of my breaths. He delves into my underwear, sliding a single finger through my folds. I squeeze my muscles as tightly as I can, grinding myself greedily against him.

He slides two fingers into me while his other hand works the buttons on my dress.

This is it. I’m finally going to lose the title ofvirgin.

Slipping his hand into my bra, he lifts out my right breast, releasing a heavy sigh as he does. “You have the most beautiful tits, Little Pawn.”

Lowering his head, he sucks on my nipple. The combinationof his fingers inside me, his tongue flicking and swirling around the peak, and the press of his thumb against my clit, and I explode. Wave upon wave of pleasure rolls through me. My body seems to sink into the mattress, my legs weightless, my blood on fire. The throb of my climax pulses through me, tapering off into rapid tremors.

“Stunning.” He angles my chin. “Open your eyes.”

---