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

pat Chip telling him to move. He whines before fixing himself to the floor, closest to June.

I plop down next to her and wrap her in my arms, pushing her back down to the couch. “Did you have a nice nap?”

“I did, but I’m glad you’re here now,” she moans, as she starts to undo the buttons of my shirt. “I was having the most amazing dream.” She bites her lip, and her eyes darken. “You, me, naked. You were saying some dirty things to me.”

“Is that right? Do you need me to make it come true?”

“Yes, please.” She wraps her leg around my waist. She’s also become very vocal in asking and also taking what she wants when it comes to sex. She no longer freezes or hesitates. Along with the therapist we were able to figure out the words or actions that would be triggering and avoid them at all cost. Sweet being the ultimate cuss word.

I kiss her and rub her slit through her leggings. She moans against me, thrusting her hips begging for more. Chip barks and pushes his wet nose into my side. The dog always thinks he needs to come and protect her when we’re having sex.

“She’s fine, Chip, settle.” I wave him away, but he barks again, as the storm door creaks open.

“Knock, knock.” Maggie’s voice rings into the house. “We’re here.”

“Fuck,” I mutter as June pushes me off her causing me to roll to the floor.

Maggie, Ms. Gandy, and Mr. Kelley walk into the house, and Chip happily greets our meddling intruders as I stand to my feet.

“You two act like you’ve forgotten we were coming over today.” Ms. Gandy smirks and I’m sure is eyeing my half-unbuttoned shirt.

I re-do the top three buttons and smile. “I might have.”

June stands from the couch and pats down her hair. “I thought you said six.”

“Did we?” Maggie chuckles. “Oh, well, we’re here now.”

You would think we would learn to lock the doors, or have trained the dog better, but here we are.

"Yes, you are. Now, what is it that you so needed to speak to us about tonight?” I grumble, and June smacks me in the stomach.

She doesn’t understand I had plans. Ones that involve her naked, clawing at the sheets while she screams.

“Well, I think the reason you’re so grumbly about seeing us is because it’s your anniversary, and we’re the last people you wanted to see tonight,” Kelley says with a smirk and pulls out a kitchen chair. “But that’s actually what brings me here. The ladies, of course, wanted to tag along.”

“We wouldn’t miss this.” Ms. Gandy laughs and takes a seat along with Maggie. “We were on this road with you two as well, so we want to be a part of you seeing your gift.”

“We don’t need any gifts.” I take a seat at the table and pull June onto my lap. Chip curls himself up next to us.

“Oh, this isn’t from us. I guess you’ve forgotten about the gift you would receive if you two stayed married past the year. I know, I’m a day early, but I don’t think there are any worries about the two of you not continuing.”

I kiss June’s shoulder. “No, not at all.”

“Um, I had my running shoes ready.”

I pinch her side and she yelps. Chip snarls at me.

Kelley laughs as he reaches into his bag. He pulls out an envelope and hands it to me. Both my name and June’s are on the front. “Read it.”

“I feel like this is going to be a letter from beyond the grave.” I tilt my head up to June who laughs. That woman was always way too many steps ahead.

“Just open it.”

I peel back the envelope and pull out the letter. Aunt Liz’s handwriting gracing me once again.

“Read it out loud,” Maggie urges, and I roll my eyes.

“My dearest Alex and June,

It’s been a year since you said, ‘I do,’ and I knew you could make it. I sure hope as your reading this it means all the secrets are out in the open and you have started to heal.

Now: If they’re not, fold this letter back up, give it to Kelley, so he can kick you in the butts because you didn’t do this right.

But, honestly, there is no way June isn’t sitting in your lap right now, Alex, if you both didn’t finally talk to each other.

I pull the letter down and look at everyone at the table. “Okay, come on, you can’t tell me that isn’t freaky. She did the same thing to me in the last letter.”

“No, she just knew you two. Now keep reading.” Ms. Gandy waves her hand.

“I promised you both a special gift if you made it a year. I’m certain you two haven’t had a chance to take a proper honeymoon, so I’m sending you two away for three weeks to St. Lucia. Airline, food, everything is covered at the resort. Kelley has all the details for you, but you don’t have to worry about a thing except getting your butts off work and down there in the next month.

I picked St. Lucia because I was told it was a hot honeymoon spot by the travel agent I was talking to.

While you’re there I hope you return with a grandbaby…to of course be born nine months later.”

June tenses slightly in my arms and I pull her down, so only she can hear me. “If I’m reading this right, I think she just gave me permission to fuck your brains out.”

June’s cheeks turn bright red, and she shoves away from me. “That is not what she said.”

“Care to share with the class what you’re going on about?” Ms. Gandy taps her