The Sweetest Gift - Scarlett Cole Page 0,10

pulled out his phone and looked at his messages in the wedding group chat. There was a message from Lia reminding him that it was his job to be the first to the church and make sure everything went smoothly as guests arrived.

The sound of keys jiggling in the lock made him grin. He still got just as fucking excited when he heard that sound. It meant Drea was home and it was just the two of them. They’d known each other for more than five years and had celebrated their third wedding anniversary in September. But nothing had killed the way he felt about the firecracker who’d brought him to his knees.

“Hey, Babe. I’m home,” she shouted from the hall. “Sorry I’m late. Jefferson wanted to review that municipal government article I was working on before I left, and the traffic on the 95 was heinous. What time is everyone coming over?” He heard the sound of her keys hitting the dish on the side table and the thunk of the heels that she always kicked off as soon as she got home.

He grinned as she turned the corner from the hallway, a pencil sticking out of her messy bun. Her cheeks were flushed from the cool evening air, and she wore a skirt and a pretty blouse that matched her eyes. “Have I ever told you you’re fucking gorgeous?” he said, as he stood and walked toward her.

“Hardly. I smell,” Drea said, sniffing one armpit. “Yeah, I definitely smell. Stress sweats.”

Cujo laughed. “Yeah, but you are still gorgeous.” He placed his hands on her cheeks and drew her lips to his. She placed her hands on his and kissed him back. What started as gentle and chaste ignited into something simmering on the verge of him ripping her clothes off and taking her on the kitchen island.

She was gasoline to his lit match. Just being around her was enough to set him aflame, especially when those full breasts of hers pressed up against his chest. He debated dragging her to their room, but then he remembered the bubble bath and forced himself to press one last kiss to her lips, plus one on the tip of her nose for good measure, because he loved the way her nose would crumple up.

“I ran the bath so you could unwind before we need to start all the food prep for tonight,” he said. Her wide smile made him melt like a popsicle in a Miami summer.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I totally scored when I married you.”

“I’m even going to let you go bathe alone, despite wanting to strip us both naked.”

Drea began to open the button of her blouse, giving him a peek at her lace bra. “See, such a good man.” Her grin told him she knew exactly what she was doing as she turned and walked away. The blouse slid down her arms, revealing the rose tattoo she’d let him do one Valentine’s day. It was the only time she’d let him go near her with his needles, but damn, the thought of her lying on his bed at the studio made him hard all over again.

Wine. He should take her a glass of wine or something. And it would give him something to do with his hands.

As he poured them both a glass of cabernet, he heard the creak of the floorboards in the bathroom of their home.

“Brody?” His name fluttered down the stairs. “I can’t reach my back.”

Goddamn.

He left the wine and the glasses on the counter and jogged up the stairs, knocking on the door before letting himself in. The large tub had been installed to specifically allow the two of them to be in it at the same time. Drea was sitting in the bath, knees drawn up to her chest, bubbles all around her. “There is a spot back there I can’t reach,” she said, glancing over her shoulder.

Cujo grabbed a clean facecloth from the shelf. “Well, we can’t have that,” he said. “Allow me to help.” He crouched down next to the bath and dipped the cloth into the warm water. Water poured from it as he lifted it out of the water before he pressed it against her shoulder blade. Wisps of hair that had not made it into her bun became wet, sticking to her neck, the long neck he loved to kiss and nip when they were being playful. He slid the cloth down