Love and Neckties - Lacey Black Page 0,80

and I can’t tell if she’s genuinely curious or on the brink of laughing at me.

“Well, because…they…if you don’t…” I stop. And can’t really think of a reason besides ‘it wastes electricity by running the dryer a second time,’ and for some reason, that sounds really dumb. Trivial, in the grand scheme of things.

Freedom doesn’t roll her eyes, as I expect. Instead, she smiles, heads my way, and wraps her arms around my waist. She leans her cheek against my chest and sighs. My arms automatically go to her shoulders, holding her close. I could definitely get used to this.

“What do you say we make dinner?” she asks without moving.

“Sounds good.” I don’t move either.

After a few minutes, she whispers my name.

“Yeah?”

Brilliant blue eyes gaze up at me. I don’t know what I’m expecting her to say, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t it. “Do you want to skip dinner and go make out naked in bed?”

My cock jumps in my pants as all of the blood I possess starts to rush its way. I open my mouth to explain why we should eat now, when I answer, “Yes.”

She smiles that wide grin I can’t seem to get enough of and reaches around and slaps my butt. “Good answer, Sammy. Give me five minutes,” she tells me before turning and practically sprinting from the room.

I sigh and run my hand down my face. What am I doing? Well, besides about to make love to my wife. My wife. I spy my bag over by the entryway, and with leaded legs, head over to retrieve it. The envelope is still inside, the one I’ve been ignoring for weeks now. I head back to the kitchen and pull the contents out.

Divorce papers.

My heart starts to ache in my chest as I scan the documents. There’s not a lot of information there, but considering we’ve only been married for a month I imagine that’s sufficient. I scan them over, hating them and needing them all at the same time. I’m still battling with myself. I need to right this wrong before it’s too late. Divorce is the best way to go about that. Then, we can start over, with a clean slate.

When I get to the last page, to the lines with our names below them, I have to look away. I hate seeing her name beside mine, knowing we’re both going to sign them, effectively ending our short-lived marriage.

But then we can start new. I can ask her out, the right way. We can date and enjoy each other’s company.

Kind of like we do now.

I hear my bedroom door creak open, and I quickly shove the documents back into the envelope. I turn and stuff it in the top kitchen drawer that I use for mail and bills. The moment the drawer is shut, I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. When I turn, I find Freedom there, standing against the doorway, wearing a light green bra and panty set with little white eyelets.

My jaw practically hits the ground.

Her hair is down, hanging loosely around her shoulders, and all I can think about is running my fingers through it. I take a step forward, my eyes riveted to the beauty before me. “You look absolutely stunning,” I whisper as I reach her.

“Yeah?” she asks, reaching up and grabbing my necktie. “And you look like you’re wearing entirely too many clothes.”

She tugs my tie and walks backward, leading me down the hall and to my bedroom. Our bedroom. No, it’s not anything official, but she’s slept here every night since we returned to Rockland Falls. It’s where she belongs.

As she drags me to bed and throws her arms around my neck, pressing her lips to my own, I forget everything.

Including those papers in the drawer.

Everything but Freedom.

Chapter Twenty

Freedom

I think I’m coming down with something. Even though the sun is shining high in the late morning sky, I’ve felt…off. Tired. Like I’ve been staying up way too late at night participating in a variety of games in the Bedroom Olympics.

It’s true.

I have.

My sleep pattern hasn’t been what it usually is while I’ve been in Samuel’s bed. Not only do we fall asleep a little later, but several times, we’re woken up in the night with a need that only the other can quench. For someone who’s had decent sex in the past, I’ve never experienced anything like it. This all-consuming desire that takes over, day or night.

I think he feels the