Page 86 of Axe-identally Married
His back was to the door, and he was shirtless, wearing only a pair of gym shorts. At the sound of his name, he whipped around, his eyes widening and his mouth dropping open.
I blinked, taking him in. The cut muscles of his chest and abdomen, the V that led straight to his waistband, and—holy shit—the massive erection tenting his shorts.
“What are you doing here?” he choked out.
“Sorry.” I squeezed my eyes shut, both embarrassed and intrigued. I was a doctor and had seen some things. But what the hell was happening in his pants? I’d never seen such an impressive show of desire. “I wanted to check on you. You seemed upset.”
“I’m not,” he said softly. “Just frustrated.”
“I shouldn’t have come in,” I said, lowering my head and stepping back.
“No,” he said firmly. “Come in. I want you to see this.”
Swallowing thickly, I obeyed, stepping over the threshold. I’d been in his room dozens of times, but tonight, an awareness I’d never experienced hit me as I padded across the hardwood floor.
“This,” he gritted out, fisting himself over the fabric of his shorts. “This is how hard my wife makes me.”
I gasped at the sight. All the muscles in his abs clenched, his eyes hooded, and his large hand wrapped around whatever that bulge was.
My inner muscles tightened, and at the same time, my legs turned to jelly.
“Take a good look. This is every day of my life. Every single night, I lie in bed next to you, dreaming about what it would feel like to touch you, to taste you. To sink my cock into you and fuck you through that fancy headboard.”
My nipples puckered, turning to sharp points I was certain would cut right through my sweater. My heart was racing, and a fire ignited below my skin.
“Every morning,” he gritted out, “I wrap my hand around it and hate myself. Because you’ll never be mine. I will not mess things up for you. I will not hurt you in any way.”
“Cole,” I said, overwhelmed by a mixture of need and confusion.
He was so sad, so desperate. I itched to go to him, touch him, give myself to him fully. To experience what it would be like to be his wife in every way.
He was fully stroking himself now, the act making my mouth water. His body was massive and strong, and yet his words were soft and vulnerable.
“We promised each other honesty,” he said, forcing the words out. “So here it is. Every day I fall a little more in love with you. I love your laugh and your smile and how incredibly funny you are. And fuck, do I love your body. The things I want to do to you.” He bowed his head. “I’ll honor our agreement. You’vedone so much for me, and I don’t think you even realize it. So I won’t do it. I won’t touch you and risk ruining everything you’ve worked for.”
My body was an inferno now, begging me to jump on my husband. To throw all our rules and boundaries and the friendship we’d built straight out the window. How could I control myself whenthisman was standing here, looking likethat, and sayingthosewords?
The attraction I’d been feeling earlier was nothing compared to the simmering volcano of lust inside me now.
We stared at one another, silent. There was nothing left to say. He’d declared himself.
This was the fuck-it moment. The one I’d read about in so many books.
He’d made it clear: He wouldn’t touch me. He wouldn’t be the one to make the first move.
So now it was my turn.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cole
Eyes flashing, she walked slowly across the room, like a lion stalking a gazelle, never breaking eye contact.
I’d done it now. Fully crossed that line. She should slap me. I deserved it.
But as I drank in her gorgeous face, I had no regrets. There was no way I could have lived with this secret much longer. What I told her was the absolute truth. I was falling in love with my wife.
When she stopped in front of me, she gently cupped my cheek. Then, head tilted, she whispered, “I want you too.”
