Page 52 of Tangled Vows

“We’ll be fine,” Roni assured him as she sipped her coffee. “I think we’re going to do a little exploring and probably grab lunch while we’re out.”

“If you’re planning to head into the city, there’s a science museum and a trampoline park,” I informed her. Both places were popular among my friends’ kids, and I figured Max might enjoy them too.

“That sounds great. Do you want to join us?”

“I can’t,” I replied with a grateful smile. “My mom has an appointment today, and I need to be with her.” She nodded her understanding. She and Easton had lost their beloved grandmother to cancer and knew the toll it took on someone.

“We’ll catch up later, then,” she said with a wink. Easton didn’t know it, but we were taking him out for his birthday tonight.

The house wasempty and quiet when I arrived home, granting me a much needed reprieve. It was wonderful spending time with Easton’s family, but their visit had turned our arrangement on its head. Sharing a bed with Easton had been … interesting. The last few days had been stressful, and I just needed a break. I needed to unwind and clear my head for a moment.

I shed my jacket and shoes by the door and dropped my purse on the kitchen island before heading toward Easton’s bedroom. A nice long soak in the tub was in order. If Iremembered correctly, I still had some lavender scented bubble bath that was supposed to be great for stress relief.

I pulled my duffle bag out from beneath the bed. It was full of all the personal items I’d cleared from upstairs when Easton’s family showed up. Rifling through the bag, something familiar and bright purple caught my eye.

Bingo.

It wasn’t the bubble bath. It was something better. My ultimate stress reliever. I pulled out my favorite battery-operated boyfriend and glanced longingly at it. I chewed on my bottom lip while I debated on using it. Checking the time, I saw that I had almost an hour before Easton got home from practice and his family was probably just now eating lunch. I had plenty of time.

Grabbing some lube, I stripped out of my clothes and climbed into bed. The thought of doing something naughty while my husband was gone while also recognizing the risk of being caught sent a thrill down my spine. Slipping between the sheets, I settled on my back and took a deep breath, releasing it slowly to help me relax and connect with my body.

Closing my eyes, I imagined Easton here with me, touching me, skimming his fingers across my skin. I followed the trail I envisioned him taking with my hands. It felt good, but something was missing.

Cracking open one lid, I eyed his side of the bed. I wanted to feel close to him, to let his intoxicating scent wash over me as I imagined him consummating our marriage.

No. I couldn’t. It would be wrong. What if I made a mess of his sheets?

I groaned at that thought, my decision made.

Crawling across the bed, I rested back on his pillow, a wicked grin curving my lips with the satisfaction of being on his side of the bed. I was already growing slick with excitement at theprospect of making myself come where he slept. This was by far the most scandalous activity I’d ever engaged in, and part of me hoped he could tell what I’d done.

Adding a small amount of lube to the tip of my favorite toy, I dragged it down my center, shivering as it glided over my clit. Being in Easton’s space, being so close to him yet unable to give into my desires was nearly unbearable. I needed this. If I didn’t do something to sate this need, I would do something rash like try to seduce my fake husband.

I moaned when the head of the toy slid inside me. I worked it in slowly, imagining it was Easton filling me instead. My toes curled when it was fully seated inside me, the vibrating protrusions brushing against my clit as a low hum filled the room.

I worked the toy in and out slowly, my other hand coming up to play with my nipple, wishing it was Easton’s mouth instead of my fingers. My body heated, and my skin flushed at that thought. I grew hotter by the second as my stomach tightened, and my release began to build.

It was too warm under the blankets, so I kicked them off. Relief washed over me as cool air caressed my overheated skin. Goosebumps spread over my arms, and my nipples puckered. I was getting close wrapped in Easton’s scent, imagining his hands and mouth on me. I was so lost in the moment, in my lurid fantasies about Easton, that I didn’t hear the door open.

39

EASTON

My head was a mess. I was fumbling the puck and making stupid mistakes. Coach Bradford threw his clipboard more than once, spitting my name like a curse. I didn’t blame him. This practice was a bust, and it was all my fault.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Shayla. I couldn't get what she'd said last night out of my head.

We just gotta make it through the next year, maybe even less, then things will go back to normal.

My wife was counting down the days until we could divorce, and here I was falling in love with her. Shit, falling didn’t begin to cover it. I was already there.

I hoped I could win her over. The last few weeks, I’d tried to show her who I really was. Not the cocky playboy who liked to tease her, but the man who wanted to give her everything, even my heart.Especiallymy heart.

“What the hell is going on with you guys? Did you eat too much turkey yesterday? You got too much L-trip-to-phan in your bloodstream?” Coach yelled, punctuating every syllable, and guilt twisted my gut. It was like a domino effect. Every time Imessed up, someone else would make a bad pass or miss a shot. I set the tone on the ice, despite Weiss being the captain, and I was failing my team miserably.

After a few more bad plays and lots of grumbling from both the coaches and my teammates, Bradford finally called it a day.

“Bring it in, boys. We’re done.” He gripped his clipboard angrily and tucked it under his arm. “I hope you all get your shit together before the game tomorrow because what I saw out there today,” he fumed, pointing at the ice, “was pitiful.”

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