Page 53 of When You Are Mine

“No, of course not. I hope I have enough food.”

Cam laughed, grabbing her from behind and pulling her out of the dryer.

“Walsh is a big guy, but he doesn’t eatthatmuch.”

“No, of course not.” She tried to laugh, too, and must have come close enough. “I thought maybe he wouldn’t be coming alone?”

Cam hoisted her onto the dryer, making her squeal. He nudged her denim-clad thighs open to stand between them, leaning in to nuzzle her neck.

“Only him, I think.” Cam freed the buttons of her blouse, slipping in to caress her breast with a possessive hand. Kerris leaned into his palm, begging her body to respond the way it had with Walsh. Guilt and shame clenched her muscles tight, ruining any chance of arousal.

It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy sex with her husband. It was fine. Better than she’d ever hoped after what had happened with TJ. And on good days, she could set her guilt aside long enough to enjoy the closeness between her and Cam. If she’d never experienced the lava rush of liquid fire that invaded her body at the mere brush of Walsh’s mouth, it would have been…fine. She wouldn’t have known it could be like that. That compulsive wanting, needing, longing, that connection of soul through a thin layer of skin.

Sitting on the dryer, she closed her eyes against the remembered sensations, shamed that her body was melting from the inside, not because of Cam’s touch, but from the memory of Walsh’s kiss. She knew that would be an unconscionable betrayal, to make love to her husband with the fire stoked by her memory of another man. She pushed Cam away, gentling the rejection with a smile before sliding down from the dryer.

“Baby, not now.” She gave him a quick kiss on his perfect mouth. “I have a million things to do for the party tonight.”

“Sorry, babe.” Cam kissed her neck, drawing the skin into his mouth, sucking hard.

Kerris pulled back, her hand flying to her neck.

“What are you doing? Did you just give me a hickey?”

“Probably.” He watched her, mouth smug and eyes satisfied. “I’ve marked you, babe. Everyone will know you’re mine.”

“This isn’t high school.” She stepped past him and down the hall to the bathroom, inspecting the already-forming bruise on her neck. “How embarrassing.”

“Why? We’re married. People know we fuck.”

“Language, Cam.” She rolled her eyes at his crudity. “You have the worst potty mouth.”

“Potty mouth?” He barked his amusement, leaning over her shoulder and catching her eyes in the mirror. “When we have kids you can get on me for cussing.”

Kerris’s irritation dissolved when he mentioned children. She’d made her choice. She was Cam’s “only.” She belonged to someone, and he belonged to her. And one day, they would have a family. It was her greatest desire. They both wanted to start a little tribe of people they’d do better by than their parents had done by them. She was carving out the life she’d always wanted.

She walked through the cottage door a few hours later, juggling grocery bags and reaching for keys. Hearing steps behind her, she glanced over her shoulder.

“Jo, you’re just in time. Could you grab this bag before it falls?”

“Sure thing.” Jo smiled, grabbing the tottering recyclable bag. “Is all this food for tonight?”

“Yeah. Of all things, Cam wanted Mexican for his birthday. So I’m making tamales, quesadillas, enchiladas, and my soon-to-be-famous guac.”

“Sounds delish.”

Kerris noticed Jo had let her dark hair grow out some, the angles of the bob softening and settling on her shoulders. She followed Kerris through to the kitchen, admiration clear in her silvery gray eyes.

“Kerris, you have really transformed this place.”

“Thank you.”

Kerris ran pleased eyes over the warm tones of the kitchen. The granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and colorful backsplash seamlessly integrated modernity into the cottage’s old-fashioned charm.

She and Meredith had pillaged every peddler’s market, antique shop, and high-end thrift store in the greater Triangle area and beyond. They’d had the best time redecorating the lovely cottage, updating it without destroying its character.

Kristeene had given her and Cam the cottage as a wedding present, making it the first home she had ever owned. That’s what she loved most.

Kerris put the groceries away, leaving out the things she needed to start Cam’s birthday dinner.

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