The Missing - Kiersten Modglin (the reading strategies book TXT) 📗

My husband’s desire was insatiable, as was my own. It was why we’d fit so well together for so long. We’d never grown tired and boring like most couples. A week apart, a week without sex, was enough to drive us to insanity.

He gripped my shoulders and tore the robe from them, taking in the sight of my bare body as if he were trying to decide which side of a steak to cut into first. I was a feast for him, the whole meal. But he’d savor it. Like always. There was no need to rush anything.

He reached for my legs, pulling them out from under me carefully and running his palms up my calves, then thighs, and finally resting them on my hips. He gave a tug, letting me fall backward so my legs were spread in front of him, my hair splayed across the comforter. I was his for the taking.

His hand traveled from my hip to the space between my legs, teasing me as I felt his gentle touch, never breaking eye contact. I let out a moan of ecstasy as I felt his fingers slide inside of me, and, at that, he lowered his mouth to meet them.

I closed my eyes, lost in the moment of pure pleasure, allowing my husband to take care of me in every way.

An hour later, we wore satisfied grins as we lounged under the bubbles in our Jacuzzi tub. My legs draped across his, and he gripped my calf, resting his head against the back of the tub.

“So, they’re wanting us to move to Oklahoma? Really?”

He nodded slowly. “They need someone to move to Oklahoma for six months. Ideally, for them, it’d be me, just because I have experience getting the other branches open and up and running, but I don’t think they’ll force it. I told them I wanted to talk to you.”

I eyed him, one brow raised. “What’s even in Oklahoma?”

“Um, cowboys, maybe?” He chuckled. “Cows…”

“What if you say no?”

“They’ll find someone else,” he told me, but there was hesitancy in his tone.

“What happens if you say yes?”

“It would be like a six-month paid vacation. The company would pay for our flights and accommodations while there. We’d get meal stipends and per diem on top of my salary. Then, once the six months are up, we’d come back home and return to normal.”

“A six-month vacation?” I toyed with the idea. “Did they tell you where we’d be staying?”

“I’d imagine either a hotel or a short-term rental, but we haven’t discussed the specifics. I wanted to talk to you first.”

“But…you want to take it.” It wasn’t a question. I knew the look on his face. His discussing it with me was merely a formality.

“I want…to do a good job. To get the bonus that’ll come along with it. To get a free vacation.”

“A vacation to Oklahoma,” I remind him. “It’s not exactly a sought-after destination.”

“Hey, if it was Key West, I’m sure Leo would be going himself. I agree Oklahoma isn’t exactly on my bucket list, but it’s a chance to see another part of the world, stretch our legs a bit. And there are cities in Oklahoma. And an airport. If you need to get out for work, you’ll be able to. And…it’s only six months.”

I tucked my chin into my chest. The truth was, there was nothing holding me there. Barrett was my life. I had friends, ladies I met for yoga or ran errands with, and then there was Eve, Amber, and Josie—the wives of my husband’s friends, women who were nice enough, who I could spend an occasional night out with, but we had nothing longstanding. Except for our yearly vacations.

I didn’t work much outside of the house anymore, aside from the occasional trip to play out a con. I spent my days making our home beautiful, reading the books I loved, lounging by the pool, and working out. It wasn’t that I didn’t have a purpose, but that Barrett had become my purpose. For so long, I’d wanted to be with him, and now that I had him, I was determined to make it work.

As the years had passed, though, his work had become more and more demanding, and I’d become less and less of a priority. In Oklahoma, he’d be just as busy, but he’d have no friends to spend hours at a bar with, no true office to stay hours late at. Perhaps in Oklahoma, cramped in a hotel room or small apartment, he’d begin to remember again just how much he enjoyed being with me.

“Hey, we don’t have to make a decision tonight. I told Leo that you needed time to get unpacked and settled in. I just have to let him know something by the end of next week.”

“When would we leave?”

“It would be in the fall,” he said. “After we get back from our trip. I’ve already told them that’s nonnegotiable. They begin training the new team the month after next, and we’d fly out pretty soon after.”

I sucked in a breath, trying to decide if I was truly considering going, or if I felt like I had no choice. “Okay, well, I’ll think about it and let you know where I stand in a few days. I’m still feeling a bit jet-lagged.” On cue, I released a yawn.

He squeezed the ball of my foot gently, pressing his thumb into it with a smile. “Take your time, beautiful. And, hey, it’s not all bad. I forgot to tell you that I called Dan on the way to the office, and he said they’d move some things around so we can all go. So, Oklahoma or not, we’re almost ready for the trip.”

My eyes lit up, and I adjusted myself so I was sitting straighter. “Seriously?” I squealed.

“Yep. He started a text chain, and they’re saying we can go either next week or the week after. What do you think? I told them it would have to