The Marriage Rival

“I know you will.” I can almost hear her smile over the phone. “Listen, I have to go. I’ll be in LA next week, so I’ll get my assistant to arrange a meeting.”

“Sounds perfect.”

I hang up the phone, clasping it to my chest with a surge of happiness.

“Did you hear that? We signed Katrina Mayflower!”

Haden stares back with a knowing grin. “You, baby. You did it.”

“There’s so much to do. My God, Clint is going to be in heaven editing her pieces, and Maria… she’s her biggest fan.”

“Presley?”

“Hmm?” I murmur, lost in thought.

“Can I at least make you come first?”

I don’t even respond, realizing he’s still inside of me. I place the phone back on the vanity.

This man wants only me at this moment, and I will do every damn thing in my power to please him. I continue to grind him, arching my back as I demand him to blow inside me. My blood is pumping hard, and every single part of me tingles in a mad delight as my body combusts beneath him. I call his name repeatedly, loudly, wishing this moment won’t end.

Haden has a desperate need to control the moment, holding back his impending orgasm until it finally gets the better of him. The grip of his hands is tight against my waist as his body slams into me until his moans slow down and his hips follow suit.

His head falls back against the rim of the tub, both of us out of breath.

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect reunion.

I might have been lost, but all along, home is waiting for me.

I want to go back to LA, start our life as a family in our brand-new home. I desperately want to hold Masen in my arms and make more memories.

But most importantly, I want to begin the road to recovery. Grieve, take the baby steps to empower myself, and soon, grow our beautiful family with the one man who loves me more than I love myself at times.

Haden Cooper, aka my #jerk.

Twenty-One

Haden

Six Months Later…

Marshall has been busting my ass for the last three hours.

We’ve run through the budget, our current shares in the market, and even Lex looked exhausted after Marshall gave us his quarterly projections, which involve expanding the business yet again.

“We’re at capacity,” I warn him.

“We’ve got interest, Cooper. The European market is the romance capital. How’s your Italian?” he jokes, patting me on the back then turning to Lex. “C’mon, Edwards, will you get this guy to relax?”

Lex’s vein on his forehead almost pops out of his head when Marshall mentions Europe. Yes, the market is huge. We are at capacity with staff, especially since we hired a new Editor-in-Chief at Indie Press which cost us a small fortune. Our profit’s high but fuck me—this man pushes my goddamn limits.

There’s a knock on the door, Presley standing with a gracious smile in that hot little red number she is wearing which she knows gets me hard every goddamn time.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen.”

Lex stands, kissing Presley on the cheek. “Aren’t you supposed to be with Charlie? What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

Presley rests her hand on his shoulder, attempting to calm him down. “She’s fine. We had lunch next to the most adorable baby place. She’s home, resting.”