of the night measuring an owl-sized cupcake costume.
Bella and I head downstairs, and I help her try on her costume. Shaped by a plastic frame, the costume consists of a purple muffin cup topped with billowy pink-and-white netting and embellished with multi-colored sugar sprinkles. So we can see the full effect, I smooth her hair away from her face and fasten on the sparkly pink hat topped with a bright red cherry.
“A perfect dessert,” Dean says, when he and Nicholas come in from their brawl. He lifts Bella into his arms and nuzzles her nose with his. “What kind of cupcake are you? An angel food cake?”
“More like a devil’s food cake,” Nicholas remarks, doing a couple of parrying moves with his sword.
“Devil’s food, huh?” Dean asks, turning a giggling Bella upside down. “My favorite.”
I smile, feeling myself get all warm and fuzzy at the sight of him with our children. Over the years, Dean and I have learned a great deal about what the other person needs. But my realization that he needed to be a father has changed both us and our marriage in unforeseen ways—and all for the better.
At least, once we figured out that it’s critical to focus on us every now and then. Our return to the place of Liv and Dean is like watering a plant, keeping the leaves fresh and alive, watching the blossoms open in the sun.
And because we’ve learned the importance of focusing on our marriage, our love, we’ve created a comforting, happy home for both our children and ourselves. It feels right, too, knowing that the Liv and Dean we were at the beginning will still be there after Nicholas and Bella branch off into their own lives.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Dean and I have buckets of time to get very sexually creative…or edgy, though I often remember the excitement of the night when Dean tied me up and had his way with me. That night led to a wealth of hot personal fantasies—and scenarios—in which Professor West has gotten some serious domination on.
Though come to think of it, I haven’t seen him wickedly dominating in a while. I’ve seen him in many other different guises—professor, athlete, scholar, diplomat, archeologist, lecturer, tour guide, international traveler. And of course I wildly love every facet of my husband, but I also revel in the times when he sheds those roles to focus only on our erotic pleasure in that sinful, delicious way of his.
Ooo. Sinful.
Now that’s an idea I can get behind. Or better yet, under. Or on top of…
Chapter 2
Olivia
October 31
Oh, yes.
As I suspected, Professor West is one handsome devil. A devil who makes you want to commit all seven deadly sins…and then beg for more. A devil you’d follow to the ninth circle of anywhere and revel in whatever exquisite torments he bestows upon you. A devil who could lure even the purest of angels into temptation.
His dark brown hair, threaded with a few strands of silver, is slicked back from his forehead, emphasizing the masculine planes of his face and glittering eyes. His gorgeous body is clad in black trousers, a black shirt, and a red waistcoat that hugs his muscular torso. A red satin necktie slides as smooth as a blade from the knot at his throat.
With shiny black boots and a black cape that billows like a cloud behind him, Professor West exudes villainous sex appeal.
Sex appeal that is intensified by the hot way he’s looking at my breasts. He comes to a stop in front of me and slides one finger into my cleavage.
“Hmm.” His voice is a deep rumble of pleasure. “My little angel. I could do very dirty things to you.”
Oh yes, please.
“Very evil, depraved, wicked things,” he continues, stroking his finger deeper between my breasts and revealing the curve of my cleavage in a white lace push-up bra. “I could ruin you.”
“Well,” I say breathlessly, turning back to the mirror and adjusting the golden halo affixed to my hair, “then you’d better hurry up and get started.”
His eyes darken with heat as he rakes his gaze over my body, the gold-and-white chiffon gown that drapes over my curves and flows in a pool around my ankles.
Dean steps behind me and spreads his hands over my bottom as he lowers his head to kiss the side of my neck. Tingles wash through me, though I try to ignore them since we’re on a schedule here.
“You smell heavenly,” he remarks, rubbing his lips over