Page 99 of Coerced Queen

I grab a radish from the salad bowl and pop it in my mouth.“What’s going on?Are we eating outside?”

“You bet,” Livy says, slapping my hand when I reach for a cherry tomato.

My gaze is drawn to my wife’s ass in her tight jeans.I focus on that irresistible sight even as I nick an olive from the salad before Livy can strike again.“Isn’t it a bit early in the season for outside dining?”

Anya smiles over her shoulder at me.“We switched on the mushroom heater.”

I glance to where the patio heater glows red in the fast-descending night.“Are we celebrating something?”

“Life,” Livy says.

She snatches the bowl away before I can steal a piece of feta cheese and carries it through the back door.She made an effort with her clothes and make-up.A flowing maxi dress reaches her ankles.She paired it with golden cowboy boots and big hoop earrings.The gray strands that escape her updo frame her pixie face.Her coral-red lipstick matches the color of the flowers on her dress.

My knee is stiff tonight.I pushed myself extra hard with the exercises this evening because I’m determined to walk without this damn cane at Anya’s party.For now, however, I don’t have a choice but to lean on it as I limp my way over to my gorgeous, alluring wife.

Burying my head in her neck, I inhale her summery fragrance.“You smell delicious.”

“Mm, so do you.”She tilts her neck to give me better access.“Did you enjoy your shower?”

“I needed it after that workout.”

She turns and braces her hands on the counter behind her.“You’re overdoing it.I’m worried you’ll injure yourself.”

Unable to resist, I cup her hip and glide my hand to her tight ass.“Don’t worry about me.”

She looks cute in a white cropped top with daisy earrings.Her red hair cascades in wavy curls down her back.I wrap those glossy strands around my fist and arrange them over her shoulder.She looks so goddamn beautiful and innocent standing there in that small white top and sexy jeans with those tiny white daisies in her ears.I put my other hand on her waist where a silken strip of skin is bared above the waistband of her jeans.

She cranes her neck to meet my gaze.“If it’s your job to know what I need, it’s my job to worry about you.”

“Wrong.”I want to kiss her.I need her.My voice is hoarse with the lust that instantly fires through my veins.“It’s my job to worry, or did you forget?”

She grabs hold of my shoulders and leans backward, escaping that kiss when I aim for her lips.

“You can’t carry the whole world on your shoulders, Saverio De Luca.Sometimes, you have to let someone else take care of you for a change.”

I nuzzle her nose.“You’re good to me.If I failed to tell you that I appreciate you, don’t let there ever be any doubt about it.”

Livy reenters, smiling as she waves a finger at us.“No hanky-panky in the kitchen.Our guests are about to arrive.”

“Guests?”I ask, holding Anya’s gaze, letting her read the intention in mine.

Because I still want her.

Because I’ll always need her.

A cute flush turns Anya’s cheeks a pretty shade of peach even as she shrugs nonchalantly and makes innocent eyes.“Surprise.”

My lips quirk.I may be permanently aroused around her, but Anya isn’t unaffected.Her breasts heave with her quickened breathing, and a vein throbs in her pale, slender neck.

“Is that right?”I drawl, taking great pleasure in my effect on her.“Who did you invite?”

The sound of the doorbell interrupts our game.Sadly.

“Can you get that?”Anya asks, flustered.“I quickly want to check on Claire.She’s sleeping longer than usual.”

I hover another moment, caging her in, making her understand that if she goes, it’s only because I allow it.

A sweetbrrrcomes through the monitor on the counter, almost as if Claire is trying to blow bubbles.

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