Page 69 of Like You Love Me

“I know, babe, even though we’re not talking about it, I know we’re both thinking about it. But you’re right; everything is going to be okay.” Cupping her chin, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. They shared a savory kiss that tasted of sweet wine. When London drew back and gazed at her, Bianca’s body heated with love. It hurt her to see him going through this. But things would get better.

London tossed a hand in the air. “Okay, enough of that. I’m going to enjoy this time.”

Bianca added, “I think we need to start coming out here more often. We are too close not to, and your sister has done such an amazing job of decorating this place.”

“Yes, she has. I will give Camille her props. She is quite talented.”

Bianca agreed between sips. “I wonder if she’s ever brought a guy here?”

London groaned under his breath. “I don’t even want to think that she and some guy was inthishot tub together.”

His words caused Bianca to chuckle. London splashed her, and Bianca splashed him back, and then they shared an intimate smile. He reached over for the wine and refilled both of their glasses, and then he gave a toast.

“To love and family.” They tapped their glasses together.

“I love you,” Bianca told him.

His expression softened. “And I love you more.” London leaned forward, kissing her, and Bianca needed no further encouragement. She needed her husband, maybe now more than ever. She lowered the wine glass to the side and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck, and he deepened the kiss. Their tongues danced a sensual rhythm until she felt intoxicated by desire.

“Oh baby,” she moaned, lifted her leg, and straddled his lap.

London cupped her behind, and she ground her hips against his erection. He reacted with a husky groan and raised his hips from under the water long enough for Bianca to lower onto his thick shaft. They both moaned with pleasure. She looped her arms around his neck and started rocking her hips. London gripped her behind, spreading her cheeks apart and started thrusting upward. She closed her eyes and quickly got lost in the sensation of his deep strokes.

“That’s it,” Bianca whispered and ground her hips. London’s upward pumps became strong and increasingly intense until she was powerless to do anything but follow his lead.

“Oh, damn,” he exhaled and drove even deeper, and she was coming to the finish line all too soon. Her back arched, and her head lulled to the side while his passion devoured her. As he stroked deeper, she felt a sensation so intense and incredible that suddenly she couldn’t breathe. The pleasure was too much and not enough. Her stomach quivered when his lips captured her nipple and sucked the sensitive flesh into his mouth. Bianca cried out as she rode his lap and within moments felt an orgasm rip through her that caused her to cry out his name and shudder her release.

“Mine,” London growled as his grip tightened and he exploded inside her.

Chapter 17

London slipped out of bed trying to make sure he didn’t awaken Bianca. He stared down at her, laying on her stomach, sleeping peacefully. The blanket was at the middle of her back, leaving her bare shoulders and slender neck exposed. He breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time in weeks, Bianca had slept almost the entire night. He was glad to see his wife was on a path of healing. A soft sigh escaped her lips, causing his body to stir and tempted him to climb back in bed with her. Instead, London quietly slipped out the room, carrying his pajama pants and slippers, and shut the door softly behind him. He headed to one of the bathrooms at the end of the hall and padded across the pea-size black and white checkered tiles. It was chilly in the house; London descended the stairs and stopped to adjust the thermostat. Whistling, he headed into the kitchen and over to the Keurig. While London waited for his cup to brew, he reminisced on the previous evening.

They’d had a fantastic night that hadn’t happened in quite a long time. And he was thankful they had taken the time to spend together. With Caleb’s death and Troy’s upcoming trial, there was no telling when or if they would get a chance to do this again. He pushed that ridiculous thought from his head. He wasn’t going to start accepting defeat. Not yet. He was innocent, and he felt confident his attorney would be able to prove it. The police had nothing, and if they had any incriminating evidence, they had not disclosed that information.

He pushed the thought aside, reached for the coffee cup and brought it to his lips. As he gazed out the window at the snow starting to melt. He remembered all the summers he and his siblings spent here with their great-aunt. He used to love searching for frogs and chasing fireflies. The thought caused him to smile. There had always been so much love in this house.

He walked over to the refrigerator and looked inside. French toast and bacon would be perfect to start the morning. London removed all the ingredients from the fridge, then moved over to the pantry and grinned when he found an unopened bottle of maple syrup. He finished the cup of coffee, then reached for a large mixing bowl and began making the French toast batter the way his grandmother had taught him using vanilla and cinnamon. Once golden brown, she smothered with the best maple syrup he’d ever tasted in his life. They didn’t make it like that anymore.

London was cutting a loaf of bread into triangles when he heard TLC singing. Curiously, he followed the “No Scrubs” ringtone to the family room, where he spotted Bianca’s cell phone that she had left on the coffee table. He reached down to retrieve it, and even though he didn’t recognize the number, he hit Talk and brought it to his ear.

“Hello?” At no response, London repeated, “Hello?”

“Is Bianca there?”

“My wife is unavailable,” he responded with a hint of attitude. “But this is London. Can I help you?”

There was a pause before the caller replied, “Hello London. This is Collin.”

Uneasiness settled at the pit of London’s gut as he recognized the man he hoped never to see or hear from again. “What the hell are you doing calling my wife?”

“I’m calling to tell her it’s too late.”

“What are you talking about?” London asked and hoped like hell he wasn’t trying to blackmail Bianca again.

“She knows the truth.”

“She? Who is she?” he demanded.

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