Clutching her chest, she shook her head as she tried to clear those overwhelming and terrifying thoughts from her hormone-soaked mind and forced herself to take a deep cleansing breath. “I can do this,” she ground out through her teeth, continuing to stare at her naked body in the unkind mirror. “I’ll just figure out a way that I can do it clothed,” she continued, snatching her long black silk robe off the hook hanging from the bathroom door while the tub continued to fill behind her. She could bathe clothed…if she had to, she’d start a fashion trend, dammit! Jabbing her arms into the sleeves, she was cinching the sash at her waist when she heard the door open behind her.
Holy Christ, that moment she’d been trying (albeit unconsciously) to avoid was upon her. It really wasn’t that she didn’t want to be intimate with her husband. She did. Badly. It was just that insecurity like she hadn’t felt since her sexy husband had conned her out of her knickers a few years earlier flooded her every time she thought of getting naked with him. And she knew, without a doubt, she was screwed in the no-fun-at-all kind of way.
“Did you say something to me?” she heard Devil greet her as he entered the oversized bathroom, carrying two very full goblets of wine.
Startled by his sudden question, Molly jumped slightly, clutching the sash of her robe as she spun to face her husband. Forcing a smile to her lips (or at least what she hoped would pass for a reasonable facsimile of one), she swallowed quickly. “Lord, you scared me, Devil.”
Canting his head, Devil’s eyes narrowed. “You okay, baby?” he asked slowly, as his gaze tracked her movements suspiciously.
“I’m fine,” Molly stated quickly as she moved to turn off the water and press the button that would begin to churn the water into foamy waves. “Just a little nervous, I guess.” She could tell by the way Devil stilled almost instantly that she’d captured his attention with that remark and she mentally kicked herself for being so blunt. Way to go, Molly, her inner voice almost sneered at her.
“Nervous,” Devil echoed, his deep voice spitting out the word as though it tasted foul. “Why in the hell would you be nervous? And why are you clutching at your robe like a lifeline? It’s pretty hard for us to relax in the tub when one of us has clothes on,” he noted dryly, his perceptive eyes missing nothing as they watched for her reaction.
Well, shitty Mcshit Shit SHIT! They were off to a roaring start, weren’t they, Molly thought anxiously. Desperate for something to occupy her hands and keep her eyes somewhere besides her husband, she began to collect the linens they’d be needing.
“Molly, I’m waiting,” Devil reminded her, calmly putting their wine glasses on the wide lip of the tub where they could reach them easily before he moved toward his tense wife. “Babe, it’s just you and me here. Why in hell would you be nervous with me?” he asked again.
Molly’s neck went hot as she imagined his eyes boring into her. “I’m not nervous exactly, Dev,” she replied quietly, stacking thick fluffy towels beside the tub within easy reach. “I shouldn’t have put it that way,” she muttered.
Picking up her goblet of wine, he slid an arm around her side to hold the glass in front of her. “Here. Drink,” he suggested against her ear. “Then explain to me what you think you should have said.”
Taking the wine from his hand, she took a long sip, letting the fruity notes play against her tongue before swallowing. Feeling slightly calmer, she turned to face her husband. “It’s just been a while for us, Devil,” she said carefully as one hand toyed with the silky sash of her robe.
Capturing her fingers, Devil chided, “Quit fidgeting, Mols. I know it’s been a while, honey. Hell, I can tell you just exactly how long it’s been down to the hour if you want me to.”
“I don’t,” Molly interjected quickly, rolling her eyes.
“Okay,” Devil averred, “Then how ‘bout you explain what has you looking like a trapped cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. And don’t tell me I’m imagining it because we both know that I’m not,” he added, moving his hands to cradle her hips as she opened her mouth to speak.
Scowling because he knew her entirely too well, Molly blew out a frustrated breath. “Fine! I’ll tell you. I am nervous. In fact, I’m jumpy as all hell. Devil, you haven’t seen me naked in a really, long time.”
“Molly, I saw you naked last night,” Devil retorted instantly with a deep laugh, rolling his eyes at her. “I loved your body then, and I’ll love it now.”
“No, what you saw was a naked shadow last night. I made sure to turn the lights off before I changed into my nightgown. The body you’ve been loving is a dim memory that your mind is recalling. In fact, I know you’ve only seen blurry naked shadows of me since before Devylynn was born. I’ve made sure of it,” Molly continued, trying to ignore how good it felt as Devil massaged her hips with his thumbs and not let her mind wander to how wonderful it would feel to let him rub something else. “I’ve been real careful about not letting you see me without my clothes since the baby got here. Especially in the daylight or under fluorescent lighting,” she explained, gesturing at the light fixtures above their heads. “My body was never exactly model-worthy, but now….”
“Whoa!” Devil interrupted on a low roar. “Molly….”
“Just let me get through this, Devil,” Molly ordered, putting her hands against her husband’s chest. “My body isn’t going to be what you remember, honey. It’s….bigger…mushier.”
“Mushier,” Devil repeated incredulously. “Are you insane?” he asked in exasperation.
“No, I’m not. Just listen. I need to prepare you for what you’re gonna see, Dev,” Molly huffed, growing irritated at him and his interruptions.
“I already know what I’m going to see,” Devil replied, growing impatient as he moved his hands to the tied knot at her waist. There was only one way he could put her baseless fears to rest and the first step was removing the robe that was in his way.
“Stop that,” Molly demanded, batting away his hands. “Devil, I don’t look the way you remember me! Just let me dim the lights and….”
Quickly backing her against the mirrored wall, Devil pressed his body against hers, effectively cutting off any hope of escape she might have harbored. Anchoring her still squirming body with his torso, he shook his head. “Settle down, Spitfire, and listen to me,” he urged warmly against her cheek.
“Dammit, Devil,” Molly complained even as her traitorous body began to soften against his. “If you’d only just hear me out…”
“Shhhh,” Devil hushed her, as one persistent hand slipped between them to untangle the knot at her belly, “I don’t need to hear anything else, babe. You’re scared. I get that, but it’s unfounded, Molly.”
“Is not,” Molly mumbled, dropping her head against his shoulder as she felt his nimble fingers divesting her of her security covering. Well, hell! That wasn’t supposed to happen so quickly, was it?
“Molly,” Devil began insistently, “It’s an established impossibility for my body NOT to want yours. The sun will always rise in the east and set in the west. Water will always freeze at 32 degree Fahrenheit. And my cock will always think its home is in your pussy. Some things, my sweet angel, are just facts set in stone. I am completely incapable of not wanting you!”
“But,” Molly tried to cut into his diatribe.
“No, sweetheart. I’m talking now,” he denied sternly. “You know what I want? I want you to tell whatever fucked up voice in your head is talking that your husband thinks you’re fuckin’ perfect. You could weigh three hundred pounds, have a tail, goiter, AND hunchback, walk with a limp, and have a severe stuttering problem, and I would STILL want you. You wanna know why?”
Blinking back tears, Molly swallowed hard. “Why?” she whispered, her voice thin and fragile.
“Because you possess the missing piece to my heart. You are the only woman in existence that fits me….right down to my goddamn soul, babe. Now, is that clear enough for you?”
Sniffling, Molly tried to still her wobb
ly chin. “Yeah. It’s clear.”
“You sure? Because if you don’t believe what I’m sayin’, sweetheart, that means I’m not doing my job as your husband. So, I’ll ask one more time. We clear?”
“Very clear,” Molly agreed with a voice trembling with emotion, a shaky smile creeping over her lips.
“Fuckin’ perfect,” Devil groaned appreciatively, sliding one side of the robe over Molly’s shoulder. “Then, let me see the body that belongs as much to me as it does to you. And for God’s sake, give me that mouth, woman,” he ordered harshly an instant before his lips claimed hers in a deep, consuming kiss.
If it was possible for a kiss to spontaneously combust, theirs was on the verge of doing so, Molly thought wildly as his tongue plundered the depths of her mouth, marking and claiming her as his. Wet and intense, the kiss caught fire, burning bright and hot, threatening to incinerate them both with its intensity. “Mmmmm, Devil,” Molly hummed breathlessly against her husband’s parted lips.
“Good God, woman, you do have the singular unique ability to drive me crazy,” Devil half-chuckled against her mouth, his teeth nipping her full lower lip as he finally broke away from their kiss. “Have I adequately convinced you yet that there is absolutely nothing about you that could ever repel me?”
“Maybe,” Molly replied playfully, lifting one shoulder in a shrug.
“Seriously, honey, you gave me the greatest gift a woman can give her man. Our child. Your body carries the evidence of that…and it fucking fills me with pride to see it. Don’t you ever wish those marks away because that’s just tangible proof that we created something amazing together. Those little reminders make my cock hard as a rock,” he assured her huskily, pressing his dick against her naked abdomen. “Feel it, Molly. Does it feel like I find your body anything but beautiful?”
“I guess not,” Molly admitted shakily, slightly ashamed of herself for doubting him.
“Yeah,” Devil growled. “Well, I guess you shouldn’t be surprised that I think you’ve earned a spanking for doubting us, huh?” he purred seductively against her ear as he palmed one globe of her ass and squeezed.
Molly gasped as she felt him grip her buttock, her pussy clenching as a flood of liquid heat gathered between her legs. “Really?” she asked, hoping she didn’t sound as eager as she felt. It was a proven truth that she loved Devil’s little ‘punishments’. They never failed to deliver her an unforgettable orgasm.
Drawing his hand back and popping her left ass cheek sharply, he grinned. “What do you think, Molly? Do you think you deserve to be disciplined?” he asked, delivering another sharp blow to the opposite buttock before he slowly rubbed the sting away with slow seductive circles of his palm. “And I feel fairly confident that you don’t want this on anymore, do you?” Devil asked as he finished pulling the robe off her other shoulder.
Molly shivered as the slippery black material pooled around her feet. “No. I don’t think I need that at all right now,” she agreed, smiling up at her husband. “And I don’t think you need this shirt any longer either. As for my punishment, I think I’ll yield to your better judgment on that issue,” she countered mischievously as her slim hands began unfastening buttons as quickly as she could manage. The need to see his bare chest swamped her and her fingers tripped over each other in her haste to get to bare skin.
Devil couldn’t help his low laughter at her answers to his questions as he watched Molly’s hands fly down his chest, ridding him of his long sleeve dress shirt in seconds. “I love you, Molly, and don’t worry. I’ll make sure you pay your penance for doubting me…. you just won’t know when it’ll be. I plan on tonight being a very long night,” Devil murmured as her fingers raked his now exposed chest. Unbuckling his leather belt, he helped her push his grey suit pants over his narrow hips.
Molly hummed with displeasure when Devil prevented her from fisting his swollen cock. “Devil,” she pouted, “I wanna explore.”
“Later,” he promised with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “You’ve been a bad girl, remember?” he chided, nipping her chin with his teeth. “Besides, I want to watch you get all soapy and slick for me,” he continued, jerking his head toward the foaming water in the tub. Slapping her ass again, he winked. “Ladies, first.”
Shivering with excitement, Molly took the steadying hand Devil extended toward her and descended the three shallow steps that led into the tub.
“In you go,” Devil directed as Molly’s foot sank into the frothy water.
Sinking to her knees, Molly was submerged in water up to her shoulders. “Mmmmm, I’d forgotten how much I loved this tub,” she admitted, shifting her body to stretch her legs out in front of her. “Since we had the baby, I feel like I’m lucky to steal a quick shower sometime during the day,” she offered, nodding toward the large steam shower in one corner. Heaven knew she loved her baby, but her little Devyl didn’t exactly give her a lot of time for personal hygiene. Sometimes when the time war was between sleep and cleanliness, sleep almost always won.
Sliding his long legs along the outside of Molly’s, Devil pulled her back against his chest. “I’ve told you to let me put our girl down at night, babe.”
“One small problem,” Molly replied, looking at her husband over her shoulder. “You just don’t have the breasts for it. You’re a little flat. And empty,” she declared, patting his flat chest teasingly.
Glancing down at his water-logged torso, he chuckled. “You do make an excellent argument.” Pulling her closer, he dropped a lingering kiss against her neck. “Seriously though, if you need some help, we could always hire a….”
Jabbing one finger in the air, Molly warned, “Finish that sentence at your peril, William Delancy!” Turning to give her husband the evil eye, she shook her head. “It’s not happening!”
Tightening his arms around her waist underneath the water, Devil sighed. “Molly, honey, did you know the word ‘nanny’ has five letters, not four?”
“Oh, very funny,” Molly spat, almost choking on her amusement at his joke. “We aren’t hiring a nanny, Devil. My momma never had one. Karen and my brother, Grant, didn’t have one. Your own Nana never had one! And we aren’t gonna get one either. I can do this. Mothers have been raising their own children for centuries upon centuries,” she continued to reason vehemently. This wasn’t the first time her husband had brought up the idea of getting some help in the house. Hell, it wasn’t even the seventeenth time! But, maybe if she drowned him, it would be the last time she had to listen to it. She could make a drowning look accidental, couldn’t she?
“None of those people that you just mentioned were us, Molly,” Devil pointed out evenly, lifting one hand to brush her cheek. “And I can guarantee that if we’d had a nanny, we’d have taken this bath together long ago. I’d say that’s reason enough to hire some help.”
Tilting her head as she stared at her husband, Molly raised one eyebrow. “Is that your newest argument? You think we’re special somehow? Or is it that you need adult supervision during your bath time? You have got to be kidding me,” she snorted, splashing him.
“Sweetheart, the last thing I want to do is argue with you, but in the interest of full disclosure, you should know that your good buddy, Armando, put in his request…no, wait… a request I could have actually denied. I guess I should say he put in his demand for a three-week vacation. He and Nick will both be out for their honeymoon,” Devil explained, reaching for Molly’s pink loofah and squirting some of her fruity-smelling body wash on it.
“O-kay,” Molly said slowly, trying not to moan as Devil began to gently soap her shoulders with slow strokes of the sponge, the essence of mango enveloping her. “We knew this would happen when they decided to have a ceremony.”
“True,” Devil agreed smoothly, gathering Molly’s long hair in one hand while sweeping the sponge up her neck with the other, “But, you neglected to factor in the pertinent fact that I’m going to need an assistant at the office during the time our friends are away. Now, u
nless you trust me to find a suitable replacement….”
“Absolutely not,” Molly denied, already shaking her head. She still got angry when she remembered the last twit that human resources had sent to replace her in Devil’s executive office. That bitch had set exactly one objective - getting in Devil’s tailored pinstriped pants. Molly hadn’t allowed it to happen then, and it wouldn’t be happening now either. The jewels hiding beneath her husband’s designer duds were strictly hers and hers alone. “I’ll take care of it this week, Devil,” she added, sighing as he rinsed away the soap suds on her back and she added yet another task to her endless mental to-do list.
“Why don’t you do it?” Devil suggested. “No one is going to work as well with me as my wife, and it’s only for three weeks. It’ll do you good to get out and talk with other adults. I mean, I know our daughter is stimulating company, but you do need to interact with other grown-ups. Then, there’s all those sexy nooners we could have….those alone would make it worthwhile.”
Scorched (Sizzle #2) Page 3
