Page 93 of Snapshot

“I just got out and dry.”

“Come on, Trouble,” I singsong. “I missed you so much. Me and my magic schlong want to take a bath with you.”

She breaks out in a cackle, then covers her eyes. “I did not say ‘schlong,’” she grumbles.

Taking her hand, with her eyes still covered, I pull her towards the tub. Barely tugging at the top of her towel releases it to the ground. “But you did say magic, right?”

She opens her eyes and rolls them. “Is your ego asking?”

“Perhaps.”

Using my shoulder as leverage, she steps over the ledge and settles into the warm water. Sinking down until her neck is covered, she moans appreciatively. Then, she scoots forward, making room for me behind her.

The water level rises to the brim with both of us seated, a mere inch away from spilling over. “Lean back.” I trail kisses from her ear down her neck, nipping at her shoulder. “Thank you,” I murmur against her skin.

“For what?”

“After business trips, I usually return to a house. This time, I’m returning to a home.”

“You’re returning home to a hot mess express of a wife who just humiliated you in the media. I gossiped like a schoolgirl about my boy toy to a fucking rat of a human being.”

“Embarrassed me?” I ask, smirking into her neck. “I didn’t actually read the article. What else is in there about me and my dick?”

“Nothing. Just that you’re well-groomed and have long, thick fingers and know how to use them,” she mumbles hurriedly.

I burst out laughing. “None of that is embarrassing for me. Flattering, actually.”

“There’s a forum on Reddit of women who say they’d be willing to—and I quote—‘skull and crossbones emoji’ me if it meant they’d have a chance with you.”

“Hence the need for security.”

“Dex—”

“Len, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. What do I need to do to make you feel safe?”

She turns her head so her lips are close to mine. I’m just grateful she’s in my arms. Naked, wet, warm. All I want is to taste her lips, but the worry lines on her forehead are keeping me from claiming what’s mine. “Just be here with me as much as you can. Help me do a good job at all this. I don’t want to let you down.”

“Okay.” I run the back of my fingertips across her chest, grazing her nipple, then dipping below the water line down her stomach. Something primal in me takes over when I touch her like this.Mine, mine, mine.The beast in my chest chants. No one gets to hurt her. No one gets to touch her. I waited so fucking long…She’s mine.“The article doesn’t bother me, baby. But you did let me down.”

“How?”

I wedge my hand between her thighs. “I’m your husband now. I take care of you.” I slip my fingers between her center, and she moans. “You stay wet for me andonlyme.”

Her breath quickens as I tease her entrance, just slipping the tip of my finger into her warmth.

“Next time you get into trouble, or you need help, you call me first. Not Finn, not your dad, and most fucking definitely not Alan.” I slip my finger fully into her, and she groans. But the moment she registers my words she clamps her legs shut so hard she makes a wave in the water, causing it to slosh over the side.

“You read my texts?” she asks, her tone devoid of arousal and instead borderline pissed. She turns her torso so she can look me in the eye.

“No. A notification popped up on your phone right when I walked into the bedroom before…”

“What did it say?”

“It was from Alan, and he said he was glad you called him.”

“And then you got so pissed you had a panic attack?” she asks in a whisper.

“No, Len. I have a lot of stress that causes panic attacks…more often than I like to admit. But yeah, I don’t love that you called Alan today instead of me.”

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