Rule's Addiction (The House of Rule 3)

She studied him for a moment as if gauging his temperature. Taking a few steps forward, she poked her head into the suite and very briefly checked on the kids before pulling him into the bathroom with her. She shut the door with a quiet ‘click’. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” he denied.

“Garrett,” she said softly, trying to wrangle an answer from him.

Damn it. “They checked in. I saw them.”

Her brows creased. “Who?”

“The Calderons. The older couple and their whole damn family. That fucker who’s always been so into you is with them.”

Her face lit up with a pleased smile. “Really? I haven’t seen them in years.”

“Yeah, well, the first time isn’t going to be in a bright red bikini—”

“Tankini,” she corrected, looking back to the mirror.

As if it made a damn difference. “Maria,” he growled.

“Yes?” she asked, using that innocent tone that drove him wild.

“Are you trying to drive me insane?”

Her eyes cut to his and she looked at him from under her lashes. “Always.”

He felt the hit just like he always had. Like it was an addiction, a compulsion, an obsession that he couldn’t shake . . . that he never wanted to shake. He grabbed her by the hand and twirled her until her back was against the door and he was standing over her. “Baby?”

“Yeah?” she asked, panting, gratifying him to no end.

“You want to wear the bikini?” he bit out.

“Yes.” Her eyes flared as if they were about to play a game that she liked.

“All right.” He palmed the heat between her legs and squeezed. “On one condition.”

Her hands landed on his pecs, where she was undoubtedly able to feel his heart beating. “What’s that?” she asked as she caressed his chest.

“If he comes to the pool room and sees you, you can greet him—you can even be nice to him, but then you come and sit on my lap.”

“That’s kind of rude and in-your-face,” she accused, but he could tell she was trying not to smile.

“Yeah? You think I give a fuck?” He took a breath. “And two—”

“Two? You said ‘one condition’.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I lied. Two conditions.”

She bit off another spill of laughter. “What?”

“Later. After the kids are asleep, I’m going to peel the damn suit off with my teeth, got it?”

As she studied him, her smile dissolved and her gaze became intent. “Okay,” she agreed seriously.

He ran his eyes over her beauty that had him well and truly addicted. “Baby?”

“Yeah?”

He lowered his head. “I love you.”

She sucked in a breath and lifted her face to his. “I love you, too.”

His lips landed on hers as his arms wrapped around her.

Satisfaction and pure pleasure held him in its grip. Life was good. Marriage was even better. His wife was perfect. Every other thought other than Maria disappeared from his brain as contentment washed over him. He began kissing her the way she liked it best, the way he liked it best, the way that had him happily addicted. Forever.

The End