Taking Chloe (Vaughn)

“I don’t have the luxury to play fair. The gloves came off the instant you left me.”

Chloe heard the pain in his voice. She’d done that. She’d made him hurt. It had never been her intention. She’d only needed her husband back.

Merrick stretched out on top of her and used his knee to push her legs apart. When the head of his cock touched her anus, she moaned. Merrick pushed inside. One slow, torturous inch at a time until finally he’d filled her completely. He kissed her neck and murmured sweet words of love while he pumped against her. His fingers sought out her clit again, only this time he didn’t stop his sweet torment until she’d reached that delicious crest again. Her body tightened as waves of pleasure threw her into another realm. She screamed his name as bursts of rapture splintered her mind.

Merrick went wild, driving into her, grinding his cock deep. With his arms surrounding her, caging her in, keeping her beneath him, he gave his passion free rein.

Chloe flexed her muscles, dragging a curse from Merrick. “Chloe! Oh, hell, baby,” he groaned, his voice strangled with emotion and desire. Three more hard thrusts and he erupted. Hot jets of come filled her ass.

He collapsed on top of her, both of them exhausted and sweating. Chloe thought it was the most wonderful feeling in the world to have her husband’s big, hard body wrapped around her, cock still seated deep. She never wanted the moment to end.

“I spanked you.”

Chloe’s face heated. “Yes, you did.”

Merrick lifted away, pulling out. Already she missed the connection. He turned her over and took her chin in his palm, forcing her to look at him. “You liked it.”

“Maybe.”

Merrick grinned. “No maybes, baby. You liked it when I smacked that pretty little ass.”

Suddenly Chloe was reminded of the pain on Merrick’s face when he’d mentioned her leaving him. Tears came to her eyes as she came to know the truth. She’d deserted him, giving up on their marriage. She’d walked out, and it had hurt him.

“Baby?” Merrick’s voice, so filled with concern, only caused her to cry more. “Ah, hell, I’m sorry. I never should have spanked you. I’m sorry, baby, don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”

Chloe shook her head as she realized he’d misunderstood. “It’s not that,” she said as the tears came in a rush. “You were right, I did like it.”

Merrick stared at her a few seconds before leaning down and kissing the tears away. “I love you, Chloe.”

“I love you, too, so much.”

Merrick didn’t say anything else as he pulled her into his arms and started toward the bathroom. He stood her on her feet and turned on the shower. Once he had the temperature just right, he stepped inside and brought her with him. They were both quiet as the heat surrounded them. She settled against his chest and let the world slip away. For a few minutes they just stood there, Merrick stroking her hair, kissing her cheeks, her holding him close, inhaling his intoxicating male scent.

“Talk to me, angel. Let me in,” he crooned.

“I hurt you. When I left, I hurt you.”

He pulled back and stared down into her face. “That’s what the tears were about?”

Shame had her hiding her face again. She didn’t want him looking at her when she admitted the awful truth. With her nose pressed against his chest, she muttered, “I gave up on us. I shouldn’t have given up.”

“Aww, baby, you never gave up, not really. You were just helping me get my head on straight.”

“It’s been so hard these last months. I never wanted to walk out. I never wanted that for us.”

“I know. And as much as I hate to admit it, I think it was the right move.”

Her gaze shot to his. “You mean that?”

He slid his hands over her shoulders, then on down to cup her ass. “I’ve been such a fool. I figured if I kept busy with work, I wouldn’t have to think too hard about what had me all mixed up inside. I wouldn’t have to deal with it. All I did was make things worse.”

Chloe sifted her fingers through Merrick’s wet hair. “I don’t know where we go from here.”

“Come back,” he asserted. “That’s the only way I can prove to you that I have my priorities in order.”

Chloe stayed quiet, her mind in chaos as she contemplated her options. How was she to know he wouldn’t go right back to his crazy schedule the minute the plane landed? She still needed time. Nothing was really settled. “I can’t come home. Not yet. I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”

Merrick’s hold on her tightened. “I swear it’ll be different, baby. You have my word. I’m going to have Jackson take up some of my after-hours responsibilities. I can’t ever promise it’ll be nine to five. I own the company, after all, but I can promise it won’t be ’round the clock the way it has been, not anymore.”