by Chelle Bliss
“I missed my gorgeous, stubborn, cantankerous wife,” he says against my lips.
My single note of laughter is amused. “And I missed my sexy, moody, horse’s ass husband.”
“Horse’s ass?” His tone is offended, but his eyes are lit with amusement.
“That’s what I said.”
He tightens his hold on my waist and pulls me against him hard, kissing me again.
“Keep running that mouth, Mrs. Titan. You’ll be using it for other things later.”
“About that…” I look away, pretending to be uncomfortable.
“What?” Jude lowers his brows in a serious look.
“You know…it’s that time of the month, and my period is awful. I’ve got cramps and a headache. I was thinking we could just order in some food, cuddle, and get a great night of sleep? Maybe watch a movie? I already put on my comfy clothes.”
Jude’s face freezes in an expression that’s half horrified, half nauseated. If I didn’t have to play along, I’d burst out laughing.
“Are you fucking serious?” He shakes his head slightly.
“What? You just wanted me to spread my legs? Don’t you want to talk? We haven’t talked in forever.”
“Yeah, but…” He runs a hand through his dark, slightly rumpled hair. “I was hoping for both.”
I shrug. “Sorry, babe.”
“Okay.” He looks up at the ceiling, exasperated, and it’s all I can do not to fall down laughing.
His erection softens slightly against my thigh. Poor Jude.
“We fired the new strategy person,” he says, taking my hand and leading me to sit down next to him on the couch.
“Why?”
“She was being unprofessional toward me.”
I furrow my brow and curl my legs up beneath me. “You mean mouthy, or…”
He shakes his head. “I’m pretty sure she wanted to get with me. Tyson fired her a second before I was about to.”
“Okay.”
I run my fingertips over his forehead, down his temple, to his stubbled jawline. He closes his eyes and rests a hand on my thigh.
“I’ve really missed you,” he says.
“I’ve really missed you, too. I wish you could be down at my mom’s with me. It’s so peaceful there.”
“Maybe I can come down soon. I need to see that purple bikini in person.”
I smile and kiss him softly. He leans his head back against the couch, eyes still closed. When I look at his lap and see that his erection is tenting his khakis, I decide I’ve tormented him long enough.
“Hey, babe?” I say, standing up and grabbing the bottom of my shirt.
“Hmm?” He lifts up his head and looks at me.
I pull the shirt off over my head and toss it to the floor, revealing my red bra with lace cups.
“I was kidding about my period. And the headache. And also the cuddling.”
Realization dawns on his face, and he shoots up from the couch, catching me around the waist. I squeal as he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder.
“Not another word, Mrs. Titan. Not one more word from that smart mouth.”
“Jude!” I shriek, laughing and trying to push the hair out of my face.
“That was a word,” he says gruffly, smacking my ass so hard I cry out and jump.
“Mango,” I say playfully. That gets me another hard smack.
“Apple.” The next smack is so hard it stings. And I like it.
“Carnivorous,” I say softly, bracing myself.
Jude spanks my ass as he runs up the stairs, not stopping until he dumps me on the bed. He immediately grabs the waistband of my yoga pants and jerks them off in one second flat.
My body warms under his hungry gaze. As he unfastens his belt buckle, I get on my knees and turn around, showing him the back of my panties.
“You like?” I shake my booty a little, and he groans with approval.
“Fuck, babe. That’s hot.”
I reach for the ribbon at the small of my back. “Want me to untie it?”
“Don’t you dare.”
His pants drop to the floor with a thudding sound.
“No ropes tonight,” he says in a low tone. “Tonight, you’re gonna be as still and silent as I tell you to, because if you don’t, I’ll stop whatever I’m doing.”
I give him a sultry smile over my shoulder. “I’ll try.”
“I mean it. This is the only place I get to own that sassy mouth of yours. Comply, and you get to come. Or…you can try to be a better girl in the morning.”
I moan softly, my skin hot and my core achy. My body has never responded to anyone or anything the way it does to Jude. I’ve been conditioned by his deep, sexy voice and hard, unyielding body. My husband is not all talk.
Once his clothes are off, he walks over to the bed and stands at its side, grabbing my hips to move me so I’m kneeling on the bed in front of him, facing away from him and leaving my ass at his mercy.
I’m expecting a good, hard spanking. My skin tingles in anticipation of it. Instead, he brushes his fingers across my skin gently.
The unexpected lightness of it sends a shiver down my spine. He slowly caresses every inch of me, reacquainting himself with my body.
When he gathers my hair into his fist and tugs me into an upright position, I gasp and moan simultaneously.
Putting a knee on the mattress, he leans in and kisses the back of my neck, his hand still wrapped around my hair. He pulls my head back and kisses my shoulder, nipping at my skin until I whimper.
“Not another sound,” he whispers in my ear, “until I give you permission to make one.”
I exhale deeply as his free hand glides down my bare stomach, his fingers dipping into the waistband of my panties.
“Mmm…missed me, didn’t you, babe?”
He slides his fingers across my wet clit, groaning. His warm breath against my neck makes me pant as I force myself not to moan or cry out.
My back arches as his fingers move in and out of me, nearly sending me over the edge every time they circle my clit. He stops after just a few seconds every time, though, leaving me breathing heavy and silently begging for more.
Every nerve ending in my body is firing as he takes me to the brink and back over and over. I don’t even consider begging for release, because I know he means what he says about stopping.
This is the one place I love ceding control; he’s the only person I’ve ever wanted to cede it to.
“You want a nice hard fuck?” he asks, tugging on the ribbon at the back of my panties. “Just tell me if you do.”
He’s playing with me. If I say yes, he’ll stop. But damn, is it hard to stay silent right now. I bite my lip and force myself not to speak.
Jude makes a low sound of amusement as he unties the ribbon and slides the panties down my thighs.
My skin buzzes with arousal and the hot anticipation of his next move. More spanking? My ass cheeks are still burning from before, but I’m hoping he’s not done.
It’s the not knowing that nearly undoes me when we’re in bed together and he’s in full control. I never know what his next move will be, but I know I’ll give in to whatever deliciously sweet torture he wants.
I feel him moving behind me, and I gasp with surprise when he gets on his back and slides his head between my legs. He gives me a devilish wink as I look down at him.
“Fuck my face, baby,” he says, grabbing my ass and squeezing it until I groan. “Show me how bad you want to come.”
Oh God.
I love it when he does this. I don’t deserve this man whose repayment for my teasing is an earth-shattering orgasm. I don’t say so, though. Instead, I sink onto his mouth, my lips parting with pleasure as his warm tongue slides over me.
This always leads to a fast, hard orgasm. I circle my hips, the sensation building steadily. I’m panting as I grab the headboard and hold on, riding him as he tongue-fucks me and sucks on my clit.
I come undone in the
most exquisite way, tears burning my eyes as I cry out his name, and his fingertips sink into my ass cheeks.
It’s all I can do to tumble off of him and lie back. He gives me a sexy grin, his face gleaming with my juices.
“I hope you’re about to fuck me,” I say breathlessly.
“Thought I’d let you recover a minute first.”
“Now,” I say softly. “Please.”
He gets to his knees and pushes my thighs back, groaning hard as he thrusts all the way inside me. It’s pure heaven, watching his expression of bliss as he pumps himself in and out of my soaked, satisfied pussy.
When he starts to slow down, knowing it’ll take me longer to come the second time, I shake my head. “Don’t stop, baby. Give me everything. I want it right now.”
His expression twists with pleasure as he continues, holding on to my legs as he plows into me again and again. Nothing compares to the feeling of having him buried deep inside me, my body promising him a powerful release.
When his already dark eyes turn into coal, I know he’s seconds away. He locks his gaze with mine and groans loudly with his final deep thrust, holding himself inside me as he comes.
The tension and worry are erased from his face as he exhales deeply and leans down to kiss me. Only I get to do that to this beautiful man. I may cause some of his moods, but I can also cure them like no one else.
I cradle his cheeks in my hand and kiss him gently. It’s moments like this when the depth of my love for him almost scares me. It’s an abyss I can’t control my fall into.
He’s worth the fall, though. For him, I’d fall ten thousand times. It’ll be hard to return to my mom’s tomorrow, but I still feel like that’s where I’m supposed to be right now.
24
Jude
I turn up the volume on the Bob Marley song playing on my Yukon’s stereo. Life is good, and not just because I’m driving myself around in my own vehicle for the first time in a while.
I’ve had my phone powered down since right before I walked in the door to see Reagan yesterday. We both remained cut off from the rest of the world until I dropped her off at the airport an hour ago.
I hated to say goodbye to her again, but our time together rejuvenated me. It reminded me that we’re just apart temporarily, and I only have to keep campaigning for another two weeks.
Win or lose, I’m ready to move on with my life. I need more time with Reagan. I also need more moments like this one, where I can breathe and think and be by myself.
Having a driver is practical when I’m campaigning, and if I win the election, I suppose I’ll have one all the time. But driving my own car and listening to my own music isn’t something I’m willing to give up completely.
Reagan and I have talked about driving the coast of California in a convertible, not making any plans and just stopping where and when we feel the urge. I’m ready to take that trip with her.
The rally I’m attending is in Winnetka, and I deliberately park at the back of the conference center’s parking lot to give myself a few extra minutes of alone time.
I’m approaching the building’s entrance when Tyson comes rushing up to me. His hair is going in a hundred directions, which means he’s been running his hands through it like he does when he’s nervous.
“Where have you been?” He throws his arms out at his sides, eyes wide with judgment.
“I told you I was taking time off,” I remind him.
“Yeah, but you haven’t even been responding to texts.”
I shrug. “Because I was off, man. Completely off. But I’m back now. What’s up?”
He leans in to speak by my ear.
“Don’t show any reaction to what I’m about to say. The photographers are watching, and I know they want to get a shot of you reacting, so don’t do it.”
I nod and he continues.
“Jessica Culbertson’s rep called me. They’re holding a news conference in an hour to announce that she was paid off by a radical left-wing supporter to make up the story about you. She feels guilt now and wants to give the money back.”
“Guilt?” I murmur skeptically.
“This is basically her begging us not to sue her.”
I nod again and turn to speak into Tyson’s ear. “At least it’s before the election. This should give us a boost.”
“Yeah, I expect it will. I’ve already drafted a response for you.”
He passes me a paper, and I read it. It’s diplomatic, thanking Miss Culbertson for doing the right thing and urging my opponent to focus on the issues that matter to voters.
My face is impassive as I pass it back to Tyson. “Looks good. Thanks, man.”
“Let’s not leak this.” He gives me a serious look. “Don’t even hint at it in your remarks.”
“I’ll stick to this script, don’t worry.”
“And Jude—be careful. No shit-eating grins about anything whatsoever. The photographers can turn that around on us.”
“Got it.”
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “You ready to go in?”
I take my phone out of my pocket and turn it on. “Hang on. I need to let my wife know.”
“Don’t. It may not be secure.”
I shake my head. “I don’t care. If the news conference is in an hour, no one can do anything with this anyway. I have to let Reagan know.”
As my phone comes to life, messages from Tyson start popping up on my screen.
“Christ, man. Forty-one texts?” I scowl at him.
“You weren’t responding.”
“I don’t get how sending more texts would make anyone respond.”
I type out a message to Reagan: Good news, babe. The truth about the allegations against me will be coming out in an hour.
Her plane is in the air right now, but I want her to see this message as soon as she turns her phone back on.
I’m beyond relieved. Whether or not I become the next governor of my state, the truth is being told. My integrity means more to me than any elected office.
I’m on point for the rally and all my other stops of the day. Between my night with Reagan and the bombshell news conference that the allegations against me are false, I’m back at the top of my game.
After dinner with some big donors, I take off my tie and dress shirt and lie back on my hotel bed to call Reagan.
“Hi,” she says.
“Hey, babe. How was your flight?”
“Good. How was the rally?”
“Crowded.” I stand up to get a bottle of water from the mini fridge. “Did you watch the press conference?”
“I did. I’m so happy for you, Jude.”
“For us.”
She sighs softly into the phone. I get that skin-prickling sense that something is wrong again.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah…I wish we weren’t back to cryptic conversations, though.”
I unscrew the cap from my water and take a long sip. “Babe, if there’s something you need to say to me, say it. I’m not worried about anything between us being used against me, and if it is, I’ll handle it.”
After a long pause, she says, “At the airport earlier, it was hard for me to leave you.”
“It was hard for me too. We don’t have to be apart, Ray. Come be with me. I want you here.”
“It would look like I only came back because of the news conference.”
“Since when do we give a shit what things look like? You and me, that’s all that matters.”
“I know, I just…I don’t know, Jude.”
“Whatever it is, just say it. I know you’ve had something on your mind, and it’s driving me fucking nuts that you won’t tell me what.”
My heart pounds harder as I wait for her to speak. We don’t keep secrets from each other, and it makes me uneasy that she’s been holding out on me.
“My mom and I have been talking a lot,” she finally says. “And she…she doesn’t want this life for me.”
“What life?”
“The life of a politician’s wife.”
I rub my eyes, which are aching with fatigue from the long day. “But you married a politician five years ago. Why does she suddenly feel this way?”
“I think she just didn’t want to say anything. And the governor’s race has shone a brighter spotlight on us than before.”
I sit on the edge of the bed, leaning my elbows on my knees. “I get why she feels that way, after what happened to her. But how do you feel?”
“I feel…” She pauses, seeming to think about it. “Like finding myself with no job and no job offer was the best thing that could have happened to me. I’ve had a lot of quiet time down here. Time to think and relax and just…be. It’s made me realize how long I’ve been running in circles, never feeling like I’m doing enough.”
“I can understand that. Babe, if you want to take time away from working, or never go back at all, I’m good with that. I just want you to be happy.”
She sighs softly, making me think of last night. God, the sound of her heavy breathing as she tried not to make a sound drove me wild.
“I know. All this stuff with my mom has made me realize that life goes at the same speed whether you’re taking time to appreciate the small things or not.”
Her hidden messages are making me nervous. I stand up and pace over to the window in my room.
“Babe, what do you want? You don’t need to explain why or anything, just tell me, bottom line—what do you want?”
“I want a quieter life. With you. I want to take vacations and shop for groceries together and watch football games every weekend during the season. I want to have babies, and I want us to raise them together. I want you to walk in the door every evening and go to bed with me every night.”
I’m taken aback. For a few seconds, I can’t think of anything to say. This is so unlike my driven, ambitious wife.
“Why didn’t you say anything last night?” I ask her. “We could’ve talked about this.
There’s a smile in her voice as she says, “We were kind of focused on other stuff.”
“You should’ve said something. Why do I feel like you were scared to tell me all this?”
She exhales deeply. “Because what I want, I can’t have.”
