The Marriage Rival

“Is that it?”

Noah surveys my jealous-streaked face, shaking his head with an annoyingly playful smile. “Haden loves you, you know that, right?”

I clear my throat. “Yes.”

“So, you know he’d never do anything to jeopardize your marriage?”

My eyes scan his face, staring at his overgrown stubble while he waits for me to respond. The problem is, the two boys are like magnets around women. I would never openly admit this, yet I have seen it with my own eyes several times. I’ve often heard new employees gossiping in the kitchen about how ‘fuckable’ these guys are and listing them as hall passes.

“I’m sure, if I’m being honest, you thought the same way when you were married. But look how that turned out.”

Noah bows his head, tapping his finger against his knee.

“Look, Noah, I’m sorry. It’s all in the past. I’m a bitch for even bringing it up when you’ve moved on.”

“Hey…” He smiles, clearing the momentary painful emotions from his face. “Like I said, your man only has eyes for you. You can trust him.”

I return the smile, letting out a relieved breath because he didn’t castigate me for my inappropriate outburst. Beside me, my screen lights up, and there is a text from Haden.

Haden: I’m in the office. Wait for me, baby. I miss you.

My lips curve upward into a satisfied smile. I’ve missed him too. Haden was traveling more so than usual much to my disappointment, but we both agreed we need to do what is best for Masen.

However, things between us were great.

Ever since Marcus’s wedding, we reconnected the intimate side of our relationship. We discovered a new routine—midnight quickies in the study or bathroom while Masen is sprawled out on our bed. The condom topic was squashed, but Haden agrees for me to continue the pill until Masen starts school. It is a compromise which satisfies us both and alleviates the tension that was mounting between us.

Staring at my computer, I try to organize the chaos running through my mind. I’d pushed my team, pushed myself to work as much as I can, but the hard, cold reality is that we need more staff. We are growing at a faster pace than we envisioned, and although Haden’s plans to retain staff will ease some of the burden, there will be a lot of training involved and more of my time.

I take to the bathroom, feeling slightly unwell. The air conditioning has been playing up, and maintenance is slow to do anything until Haden lost his temper and demanded they fix it as soon as possible.

With a splash of cold water to my face, I feel a lot better and decide to pack my things to head home.

Popping my head into Haden’s office, his face is riddled with concern, which usually means he will stay back.

“Hey, you,” I greet him, keeping my distance as other employees walk past me. “I’m heading home. Not sure why I’m exhausted today.”

Haden snickers, raising his eyes to meet mine. Leaning back in his chair, it’s impossible to ignore how sexy he looks in his charcoal suit. “Perhaps it had something to do with the midnight marathon the other day. You always say you can’t come twice, but you proved yourself wrong.”

I’m quick to hush him, scanning the hallway in case anyone hears. “Can you keep your voice down? And you’re right, it did take it out of me.”

“Give me five minutes, I’ll just finish this email up then come with you.”

Surprised he is coming home, I tell him I’ll meet him at the car, desperate to remove my heels from my aching feet.

True to his word, he enters the car five minutes later. I gently lean in, caressing my handsome husband’s face before he draws closer, placing his lips on mine. I’ve missed the smell of his skin, the taste of his lips, and the way he makes everything in the world disappear in such an innocent kiss.

We pull apart, taking shaky, shallow breaths. Unable to contain our desperate need for each other, Haden holds my head in his hands, pulling me in for a fiery kiss. His tongue explores my mouth, gentle moans escaping as the car begins to heat up, and the windows fog up.

His hands work their way around my body, feeling each crevice, each line along until they’ve slid in between the opening of my thighs. I gasp, clutching his wrist as he grazes closer to my panties, and without hesitation, slides his fingers inside me causing me to yelp.

“Shh,” he whispers into my ear. “You gonna come for me, baby?”

I nod, keeping my eyes closed as the wave of pleasure seeps into every part of my body. Despite the stifling air inside the confined space, my skin breaks out into small goosebumps, desperate to explode all over his soaking wet fingers.

“Harder,” I beg, quietly. “Harder, please.”

The speed of his thrusting increases, and the second his tongue glides down my neck, he claims me completely with his fingers, the pleasure tearing through me like a tornado, my breathing catches inside my throat as I moan loudly.