Her Reluctant Husband by Erica Marselas (summer beach reads txt) 📗

“Sorry. Did you say Bea’s?”

“Yeah. Jerome is working there now, and I bet he’ll give us free gravy fries.” She giggles and I try not to laugh. Jerome used to work at the café across the street where we used to get our morning lattes, and the two have been flirting back and forth with each other for months. I’m waiting for one for them to cave and ask the other out.

“Too bad you want more than free gravy fries.” I tease, as we walk out of the studio. I lock the door behind me.

“It is fucking hot out here.” Annabelle groans, fanning herself as we head for her car. “I’ve lived here all my life and this Texas heat never gets easier.”

“Yeah…” I mumble not really registering what she said. I don’t know if I can go to the diner today and face the demons staring at me.

“June, you okay?” Annabelle touches my shoulder and I nod. “You sure? You look a little sick.”

“Uh-huh, I’m fine.” I pause and then shake my head. “Actually, I’m not. I think I’m going to call it a day and go home.”

“June, what is going on?”

“I think it’s the heat,” I lie.

“You don’t have to lie to me, June. You’ve been a little off for the last couple of weeks.”

“A new husband will do that.” I trusted Annabelle enough to tell her about the whole thing with me and Alex and our crazy nuptials. It isn’t like the cat isn’t out of the bag with Whitney knowing, so what was the worst that was going to happen? I needed someone besides Maggie and Ms. Gandy to talk to anyway.

Annabelle chuckles. “I’m sure. Is everything okay between you two?”

“It’s tense, but I think it’s why I just want to go home and take a nap.”

“So, no gravy fries?” She frowns.

“No, you’re going to go get gravy fries and a date with Jerome.”

I’m relieved when I get home to see Alex’s F-150 is not outside. Not that I expected him to be home, it’s only one on a Friday, and he’s been working late into the evening lately. Lately, we have been avoiding each other like the plague has gone rampant and we are practicing social distancing at extreme measures.

I’ve tried to move past him being a dickhead for not wanting the breakfast I made him and for buying me sleep aids, but it’s impossible when every time I run into him, he's twice as hostile and rude. He closes up on me, avoids looking at me, or if we do end up talking, he snips at me, so by mid-week if I see him, I turn the other way.

When I step into the house, it’s like stepping into a sauna. I didn’t think it could be hotter in here than outside. I don’t remember when I was growing up that it was ever this hot in this house. I open all the windows and then head upstairs to take a shower, hoping it will cool me off and relax the tension.

The cool water was good for my muscles, but it didn’t do anything to relieve this heat. I leave my hair wet, letting the water drip down my skin to act like my own AC, and slip on a pair of panties and a bra before I make my way downstairs to grab a bottle of water I put in the freezer before I got in the shower.

I place the cold water bottle against my neck and close my eyes. “So much better.”

“What the hell are you doing?” Alex barks and the water bottle drops from my hands.

I spin around and glare at him and though I know he's snarling at me his eyes are trained on my breasts. He's in a tight pair of grey boxer briefs that do nothing to hide his impressive bulge.

"What are you talking about? I’m getting a drink. What’s your problem?”

"You’re my problem. Why are you getting your drink in your underwear? Put some clothes on."

Is he for fucking real?

“No, it’s fucking hot as hell in here. I don’t know how Aunt Liz ever did without AC cause it’s an inferno in here. I mean you’re walking around in your underwear.”

“My. Fucking. House.”

“It’s our house and I will stay like this if I want. And shouldn’t you be at work?”

“It’s Friday and I decided to finish the day at home.”

“What? Taking zoom calls in your underwear?”

His jaw ticks and he steps in closer to me. His skin glistens from his sweat and a vein pulsates in his neck. "You can't be walking around the fucking house like this."

"Why not?"

"Because as much as I hate you, your pussy is still as tempting as it was the first time. Especially since you banned me from my other conquests."

"Conquests. Real nice,” I scoff, trying to look away from him, but the dark carnal look in his eyes keeps my gaze.

“Remember, I don’t know how to be nice.” He grabs my right hip and his fingers teasing along the curve of my exposed ass. “If it bit me in the ass, right?”

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten.” I’m trying to keep my voice firm, though it’s hard when his touch sends these crazy shockwaves through me and I can feel his excitement pushing into my stomach.

He smirks and brushes his finger down my cheek. "I'd also love to stuff my cock in your mouth just to keep it quiet."

Heat rushes to my cheeks and between my thighs. I hate how these asshole’s words can turn me on, though at the same time I want to punch him in his smug face.

I go to shove him away, and he grabs my wrists pinning them behind