through hers on her left hand and held them up.
He could have been holding them up to show how much bigger his was than hers. Or the difference in their appearance. His being so much more masculine with his short fingernails and callused palms. He ran a thumb across her red polish, highlighting the color that had made her feel powerful, yet completely feminine.
But she knew what he was looking at. He didn’t have to say a word. She just…knew.
The wedding rings.
The—matching—wedding rings.
“A stranger fantasy, huh?”
She bit her lip and thought about rolling over to face him, but she liked being tucked against the hard ridges of his body so she cuddled closer.
Rubbing her cheek against his arm under her neck made her twitch as remembered sensations raced down her spine. “Wasn’t it?” It wasn’t what she’d meant to say, but it was definitely a question she wanted answered.
“We’ve been married for almost nine years, Aslan. We’re hardly considered strangers at this point.”
A stream of moonlight shone through the glass doors leading out onto their balcony and warmth infused her. It gave her calm and courage. “Aren’t we? Aren’t we strangers when it comes to this?”
“This, meaning what, exactly? Sex?” He nosed hair off of her neck and kissed her. No anger or true concern laced his words, just curiosity.
“Kink. Being ourselves. Not worrying about what others think of us and being so wrapped up in business that we lose…” She thought for a second and said the first thing that sprang into her head. “Us.”
He rolled her over so he could look down at her face.
His eyebrows showed the concern, which his voice was able to hide. “I’m not worried about what others think of us. They can go fuck themselves. I’m only worried about one thing.”
“Which is?” And she hated to ask. Hated that she didn’t know.
“You.” He nodded at her but didn’t say anything else.
“What about me? What would you be worried about with me?”
“I don’t care what anybody thinks of me. Not one rat’s ass. But you… You’re different to me.”
“Always have been,” they answered together.
Aslan smiled and brushed her fingers across his lips. He kissed them and she held his cheek. “When I said “I do,” so many years ago, I meant it. That vow was more than just words to me.”
“Me too.”
“But you’ve always thought you had to be perfect for me to love you.” The words were hard for her to get out, but this was important. They were important.
No answer or response came but she knew he was running through all of the things he’d done wrong before they got together.
“Stop.”
He shook his head but she cut him off with a kiss before he could say anything else.
Trying again, she rolled over on top of him and really kissed him. Rubbing her wet pussy against his hardening cock finally did the trick and he groaned.
“I love you. I want you. But not some watered down version of what you think perfection is for me.” She was on a roll and she wasn’t stopping. “I’m all grown up. Yes, we got married young. Yes, we both just turned thirty and we run a very large company that takes both of us many hours a week.”
“We work really hard for what we have. Fantasy of the Seas is only one of our ships and they’re all impressive.” “Impressive” was the understatement of the year. Their cruise ships were amazing and the entire industry knew it.
“Yes, we do. And I love it. Love what we do and all of our people, but I also want to play hard.” His cock jerked beneath her and she swiveled her hips. “And I want you to give yourself the freedom of being who you are.”
“And who am I?”
“I’m not entirely certain but wouldn’t it be amazing to meet him?”
Rolling over with her, he sank inside, thrusting—quick, quick, slow—until she arched her spine and dug her nails into his shoulders.
“So.”
She swallowed and bit her lip.