Page 42 of The Bet

“Don’t work too late.” Ashley drops her hand from my arm and rushes through the room and into the night.

The second the door snaps shut, I slip into the kitchen.Where is that bag of frosting? Shit. I’m so tired I’m losing things.

Even though the bakery has been depleted of baked goods, the scent of flour, vanilla, butter, and sugar will never go away, which is a bitch when I’m pregnant. Right now, I’m a proud birth control supporter, so the smell is inviting rather than nauseating.

A piece of paper on the island draws my attention.That wasn’t there before. Did Ashley forget her grocery list?I rush over and pick it up.

“Sugar, come upstairs. I’ve got a surprise for you. Love, Rich.”

Warmth settles through my veins like a cupcake rising in the oven.What did he leave me?I force myself not to jog to the door that leads upstairs. As I turn the knob, my fingers shake.Stop. It’s not like it’s a new car or something. It’s upstairs above your shop.

I take the stairs two at a time. When I reach the landing, my mouth drops open. The living room is filled with white twinkle lights, and a soft fire is crackling in the fireplace, leaving the space toastyand welcoming. As I take everything in, my eyes adjust to the dimness in the room.

This is where I lived before Rich and I got married. Living above the bakery made getting to work easy. Now, I rarely use the area. I wander around the room, searching for my present. But nothing’s out of place.

I wrinkle my nose.This is weird. Why would he leave a fire going and nothing else? Is this it? Is mom watching Mav and Cadence? Do I have the place to myself tonight?

Excitement zips through me. I love my kids, but a night of uninterrupted sleep after months of every two-hour feedings sounds like heaven. What woman wouldn’t jump on board for that?

I step into my old bedroom.What in the world?The bed is covered with rose petals, there’s a box of chocolate-covered strawberries on one side of the bed, and there are more candles lining the dressers than lights on the Vegas strip.

“Sugar, are you ready to be worshipped?”

“Shit!” I shriek and jump into the air as Rich’s deep voice radiates down my spine.Holy hell.I swing around and gape at him. He’s wearing nothing but a smile – my gaze darts everywhere at once.

The man is clearly happy to see me, and in one hand, he holds a bottle of massage oil and in the other is a pastry bag of pink frosting. “That’s where the icing went.” I smirk and step into his space. “I thought you had to work tonight.”

“I am working. I have to work at pleasing my wife.” He leans down and claims my mouth.

With the simple touch of his lips against mine, my blood rushes through my veins, and my knees go weak. Lord have mercy, the man is a beast. To think at one point, he thought he was too rough and abrasive for me. He’s the perfect combination of hard and soft.

I lean back and blink back a tear. “Thank you for surprising me. It’s perfect.”

“We can’t get away to a spa because you have to work in the morning. So what better way to spend the evening, than to bring the spa to you?”

“God.” I grab his forearms and sway. “You’re perfect.” My gaze dips down to his swollen cock. “And I’m overdressed.”

He grins and flexes, causing his shaft to wave at me.Yeah, I’m just as thrilled to see you.I grind my thighs together to stave off the ache building in my sex.

“Get undressed and get comfortable.”

The desire to melt into a puddle of love and exhaustion nearly undoes me, but I fight through it by running to the bed, leaving a trail of clothes behind me.

After I fall into the mattress, I have the pleasure of watching him stalk across the room like a giant lion hunting his prey. “Close your eyes and enjoy everything.”

When he’s close enough to touch, I snap my eyes shut and wait. Seconds later, a warm stream of oil dots along my breasts, along with my belly, and down to my sex.

I whimper and wiggle into the mattress like a cat in heat. The mattress dips, and his hard body brushes against mine.Pure heaven. How could he know precisely what I need? How is he so per–

The word trails away as his mouth clasps over my nipple, and his hand sweepsthrough the curls above my pussy. I moan and drop my knees to the mattress as I shamelessly beg for his attention.

“So, sweet,” he mumbles against my nipple and parts my folds. When his fingertip brushes against my clit, I raise my hips off the bed, desperate for his touch.

“Please.”

“Please what, Sugar?”

“Drive me wild?” My eyes dart open to find him staring at me.

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