thought you were working long hours because you found it fulfilling. Don’t cut back your hours for me if it’s only going to make you unhappy.”
“It’s not just for you. It’s for the kids. I need to spend more time with them; especially Lucas.”
“That kid is all you, B. Stubborn as hell.”
“Please don’t call me B. You know how much I hate that. And he may be stubborn like me, but he’s jealous like you. When he woke up last night, he told me he didn’t want me to back to bed with you.”
“That’s because you’ve got the softest pillows,” he says as slides his hand under my shirt and squeezes my breast.
I roll my eyes at his inability to focus. “I’m cutting back on my hours for both of us.”
His hand slithers over my ribs and I shiver as he kisses my neck. “Thank you,” he whispers against my skin. “But there’s one more thing I need from you.”
“More than changing my work schedule and a birthday blowjob?”
“Yes. I want you to promise me that you won’t allow any more projects to keep you away from the kids. I can carry on without you, sort of, but the kids need you here more than I do. I don’t want you to be a fucking housewife. But I’ve been trying really hard to get home by four o’clock every day.”
“You have?”
“Yeah, you just haven’t noticed because you’re never here.”
I grab his face to make him face me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to feel like I was trying to guilt-trip you. I guess I thought you’d figure it out on your own.”
“I’m sorry.” I kiss him and he laughs. “Why are you laughing? It’s not funny. I’ve been totally neglecting my husband and kids.”
“Don’t start beating yourself up. The important thing is you did figure it out on your own. And I learned not to get pissed about your lost puppy dog complex.”
“Lost puppy dog complex? Is that what you call it when I bring home a homeless human being? That sounds awful, Luke. I am very disappointed in that comment.”
“Okay, you’re right. That sounded bad. You can bring home as many lost puppies and humans as you want. I promise not to make any disparaging comments or get jealous when you give them my clothes.”
“How about when I sleep with them? The puppy dogs, I mean.”
“Well, you are spayed, so the more the merrier.”
“The most trusting husband of the year. I think you deserve two birthday blowjobs. One this year and another one next year.”
“You spoil me too much.”
I kiss him slowly, drawing out the moment in hopes that we can stay like this all day. Beneath me, his erection is growing and I begin to dread the next words out of his mouth as he pulls his lips away.
“Want to call in sick?”
I smile at his suggestion because Luke has never called in sick. He doesn’t have to.
“Are you neutered?” I ask playfully.
“Hell no. You know my dream is to make it onto Maury Povich.”
“Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, but there is a 99.999% chance that Rhianne is your daughter. That means there’s a 99.999% chance you’re going to have to change a diaper today if you call in sick.”
He stands from the chair while still holding me in his arms. “I always knew you’d have me living life on the edge.” He kisses me tenderly and I bite his lip as he starts to pull away. “Do you trust me?” I nod and he grins mischievously. “Bad idea.”
He carries me across the deck and down the steps to the slip where he keeps his speedboat. I only have a second to scream before he jumps into the lake. I resurface quickly with what is probably a look of utter and complete disbelief at the shockingly cold water.
“Now you have to call in sick,” he says as he pulls me toward him.
My teeth instantly begin to chatter. “Only you would throw me in a freezing lake to get me to stay home.”
“I’ll do anything to spend more time with you.”
“Well, how about you start by getting me out of this lake and getting