Snapshot: Chapter 18

Present Day

Las Vegas

These aren’t my taupe-colored walls. This isn’t my bed. Not my sheets or pillows. But they smell like Dex, so now they feel like home. Right now, my new home is empty.

I sit up and run my hand over the empty space next to me in the California King. I don’t hear the shower running. I don’t see his clothes in the pile we left on the floor.

Was last night a dream? I could’ve sworn I married my friend and we finally confessed that we’re both equally obsessed with the notion of us. I think we made love in a car, came home, and then proceeded to fuck all night. I’m almost positive Dex fell asleep in me. Not just next to me, but in me. Once the dam was broken, we couldn’t get enough. It feels like close will never ever be close enough.

But here I am, alone this morning, staring at Zeus moping around his tank, wondering if I got too drunk at the bar and made the whole thing up in my mind. I climb out from under the covers, shivering as the cool air conditioning shocks my naked body. As I stretch my arms overhead, I say, “I’ll find your daddy and get you fed, Zeus,” to the big, black fish slowly gliding around.

“No need,” Dex says from the doorway. “Fed him this morning right after I took a shower. You sleep like the dead, do you know that? You didn’t even flinch.”

I cross my arms over my chest and nod toward the tray in his hand. “Did you cook me breakfast?”

“Uncross your arms,” he scolds with a smirk. “Don’t hide from me. I like the view.”

“I’m not hiding. I’m chilly.”

“Then get back under the covers, Mrs. Hessler. I’m here to feed you.”

I gleefully oblige. Once I’m settled, Dex joins me on the bed, showing off his tray of goodies. This is not takeout. Everything is homemade. Fluffy scrambled eggs lie next to bacon that looks like it’s been grilled. Thick slices of French toast are topped with berries, powdered sugar, and whipped cream. My empty stomach grumbles, making all sorts of embarrassing noises, ratting me out. I’m starving.

“Since when do you cook?” I rub my hands together in excitement and scan the tray for a fork but don’t see one. My only option is the finger food on the plate. “Oh my God, what fresh hell is this? This bacon is impossibly good.” A rich sensation of sweet and salty coats my mouth, making it water.

Dex laughs. “You’re just hungry. It’s center-cut bacon slathered in honey, then grilled on a pellet smoker.”

“You made all of this yourself?”

“Yes.”

“You cook?”

“Yeah, I like to cook and eat. You can’t tell?” He pats his stomach as if he has a round gut, but his hand simply bounces off his tight abs, visible through his thin gray T-shirt.

“You’re kidding, right?” I roll my eyes.

“You seem surprised. You’ve been to many of my barbeques. You know I grill out.”

“Anyone with a Y chromosome knows how to grill out. It’s in your DNA. I’m talking about actual cooking.” I point to the French toast. “Did you make that batter yourself?”

“I did.”

“Can I try it?” I ask.

“Go ahead, what’s stopping you?”

“Silverware.”

“Right.” He kisses my temple and crawls off the bed. “Hang tight. I’ll be right back. I have another tray.”

“Dex, wait!” I call after him. But he must already be down the stairs. We’re two people. How much food could we possibly need?

In the meantime, I help myself to another slice of the candied bacon. Fucking lottery, Lennox. Good girl. You fell for a guy with eyes like a mermaid’s tail, a rock-hard body you can climb like a tree, and he knows his way around the kitchen? That does it. I’m convinced. There’s a God after all.

After I run out of bacon and drain half a glass of orange juice, I set the tray aside on the nightstand. I’m saving the rest of my appetite for that mouthwatering French toast and whatever else Dex has whipped up. But when he returns, he’s holding another tray that doesn’t contain food. It’s displaying what I refer to as my naughty box of secrets. I gawk for an uncomfortably long time, then finally manage to croak out, “That’s not more food or a fork.”

“Au contraire.” Dex is smiling at my horrified expression. He lifts up a small silver fork from the tray, proving me wrong. I didn’t see it. I was too distracted by both of my vibrators lined up, my anal beads, a slim jar of honey, and a small glass canister of cinnamon.

“You went through my car?” I ask incredulously. “Talk about invasion of privacy.”

“I’m sorry, but I had the best intentions. Being the incredibly thoughtful husband I am, the first order of business was to get rid of the clunky, rusted death trap you call transportation. I emptied it out so a tow truck could take it to the dump. As I was moving your boxes in, naturally, some of your belongings caught my eye. But of course, I’d never get rid of your possessions without talking to you first.” He narrows his eyes. “But I want to warn you if any of this touched Alan’s genitalia, it’s going in my furnace.”

Stunned at his audacity, I sidestep around the topic. “You don’t have a furnace.”

“Fine, my grill then. As long as I can burn it to a crisp. I have to say, I’m shocked you two were this…” He teeters his head back and forth like he’s trying to find the right word. “Let’s say adventurous. Alan strikes me as the kind of guy who keeps his socks on in bed.”

I thought this was our happily ever after. The guilty shame cloud of Alan has no business here, but Dex brought him up and now I feel terrible. I cower, pulling the covers up to my chin. “Those are mine. Alan never touched those. He doesn’t know they exist. And please stop bringing him up. You’re making me feel awful.”

I feel the soft thud at the foot of the bed as Dex places the tray down. He makes his way over to sit beside me. Breathing me in, he plants a soft kiss on my temple. “I’m still navigating this. I have to joke so it doesn’t bother me as much. I’ve been jealous for so long. You don’t understand.”

“Yes, I do. You dated Leah. I hated that.”

He shakes his head. “Not the same thing. You knew as well as I did that Leah and I weren’t ever going further. But you and Alan…” He sighs heavily. “When you showed up at my door yesterday, I checked your left hand. I knew how good Alan was to you. I also knew that if you got engaged, you’d be so excited you’d run right over to tell me. I know it’s what I said I wanted, but to be your friend like that was excruciating.”

I place my hand on his smooth cheek. Not only did he shower this morning, he also shaved. I didn’t hear any of it. I slept so long and hard because I was finally at peace. The gnawing ache of longing soothed. “Dex Hessler, we were never friends. We were just waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” he asks.

“I have no idea. Something big.” Something kept me and Dex apart. A something I’m not sure we’ve fully addressed and to be quite frank, I’m terrified to face it. He keeps warning me about Miami and what lies ahead, but I don’t want real-life problems right now. I deserve a few more days of the fantasy, so I push the blanket down, exposing my chest. As if by a magnet’s pull, his eyes lower.

I rake my fingernails against his scalp before cradling his cheek in my hand. Alan, please forgive me for saying this… “No one’s ever touched me like you do. I come at the mere thought of you. Stop being jealous, Dex. I’ve been yours since the very moment we met. And now that we’ve established that, you can have what’s yours, however you want.” Holding the back of his neck, I guide his mouth to my nipple and throw my head back.

Dex sucks and nips while yanking the covers from my hips. He cups my eager sex but is careful not to touch my most sensitive spot. I try to grind into his hand, but he keeps his fingers tented around my outer lips, protecting my clit from any attention. “How do you want me?” he murmurs as he switches to my other breast.

“Greedy, Mr. Hessler. Angry. Hard. I want to meet your dark side this morning.”

His sexy smile disappears instantly, lustful need filling every inch of his expression. “I’m done with the jealousy, Lennox. If I ever find out you’re thinking about another man, I won’t end us. I’ll end him. Don’t ever make me miss you again. Do you understand?”

I nod.

“Use your words if you want to come this morning,” he growls.

“Yes.”

“Sir.”

With obnoxious exaggeration, I look around the room. “Is someone joining us? Who the hell are you calling, ‘Sir?’” I cackle at my own sass, expecting Dex to laugh along. Instead, he thrusts two fingers inside of me with no warning. I yelp and clamp my legs shut, but that just ignites something even more grisly in him. He rips his hand away and stares at me like I just slapped him.

“Did you close your legs on me?”

I shake my head, spreading my knees, putting myself right back on display.

He clicks his tongue. “And now you’re lying. What am I going to do with you?”

Outside of my tongue wetting my lips, I’m frozen in anticipation. The nerves dancing up and down my spine seem enough to send me straight to an orgasm. This is what I wanted. I know my sweet husband cares for me. Now, I need him to own me. I want proof that we can be everything. The passion, the pleasure, the pain. It’s all part of the package of a full life.

“Flip over. Don’t make me ask you twice.” He unbuttons his shirt while his eyes stay locked on mine.

I debate fighting him on it. I want to see what comes out if I push him even further. But I’m too excited to hold my cards close to my chest. I turn onto my stomach, elbows buried into the mattress under the thick, fluffy pillow that smells like Dex. I poke my ass up in the air expecting him to slip his fingers in again, but instead⁠—

Whack! There’s a sharp sting where Dex’s palm collided with my right ass cheek. The dull burn radiates across my entire ass. “That’s for closing your legs on me.”

Smack! He addresses my left cheek the same way he did the right. “And that’s for lying to me about it. Two things I won’t tolerate, wife. Denying me and lies.”

“Understood,” I murmur.

It doesn’t really hurt, it’s just deliciously igniting. I wiggle my hips, craving the sensation again, except now he’s rubbing where he swatted. His lips follow quickly, planting sweet kisses against my warm flesh. “Oh shit, baby. Your ass is already bright pink. I took that too far.” He hunches over me, his stomach pressed against my back. “I’ll stop.”

I turn my head, looking over my shoulder. When I find his cheek, I plant a firm kiss. “Don’t you dare. Just a little harder. And don’t let me come until the end. We’ll both come once.”

His cheek twitches against my lips. I can’t see his expression in this position, but I can feel his smile. “Why? If I could come multiple times in a row, I would. If you’ve got the superpower, use it.”

I chuckle. “The teasing makes me feverish, Dex. I’m telling you what I want. I like the anticipation as much as finishing. Maybe more.”

“I want that in writing so I don’t get in trouble for keeping you on the edge for hours.”

“Fine. Fuck first, sign later. Now, back in character. Chop, chop.” I peck his cheek again, then bury my head back in the pillow, hoisting my hips up as high as I can.

He jostles me as he straddles my calves. Even going as far as grinding his growing hard-on against my sex. I bet I could soak right through the fabric of his jeans just from him brushing against me. That’s how crazy Dex makes me. The fact that I can’t see what’s going on is making me nervous, but my unspoken instructions are clear. Head down, ass up. Take it like a champ. You asked for it.

“So fucking sexy,” he murmurs. “Are you getting wet for me, baby? Or are you still wet for me? Hm? I thought I wore you out last night, but you can’t get enough, can you?” The clank of his belt unbuckling makes my stomach lurch. I freeze, now alert and tense. Oh no. How dark is his dark side? There’s a whoosh as he yanks his belt free of the belt loops.

“Wait, wait. Dex, please wait. I’ve never been belted. Not too hard.”

“Are you fucking crazy?” He sounds so aghast, I can’t help but peer over my shoulder to check his reaction. Dex looks exactly like he sounds, as if I just admitted that murder turns me on. “Do you trust me?” he asks, and I nod in response. “Good. Lie on your back and hold your hands out in front of you.”

Flipping and flopping, foreplay with Dex is starting to feel like exercising. I do as he says, folding my hands together. He wraps his belt around my wrists twice, then secures the hook so my arms are inseparable.

“I appreciate your kinky spirit, Trouble, but I’m here to pleasure and protect you. Not to traumatize you, sweet wife. I can make you feel so fucking alive without the welts and bruises. My belt is to keep you still. Now hold your arms over your head. You move them and there’ll be no teasing. I’ll make you come in a heartbeat, and then we’re finished.”

“Yes…” I narrow my eyes. “Sir.”

“That’s much better, sassy.” The smile he wears is of pure satisfaction. “Such a quick learner. You’re so much more obedient tied up like this. What’s on your mind?”

“Honestly?” I ask. His response is a sultry nod. “I’m still kind of hungry.”

He laughs. “You know what? Me too. I could go for something sweet.” Stretching his long frame, he reaches for the tray at the foot of the bed. He rights himself then straddles my hips, honey in one hand, cinnamon in the other. “Remember this? You mentioned it the first night we met. I’ve been curious ever since. Stick your tongue out.”

He uncaps the lid as I poke my tongue through my lips. The honey drips in a thick flood, drenching my tongue, then overflowing down my cheek and neck. Forgetting my arms are bound, I instinctually try to catch the thick liquid slow-dripping into my hair but my movements are strained.

Dex makes a warning sound. “Stop moving, baby. You want this to be over?”

I shake my head, rubbing my lips together, tasting the sweet glaze again. “No.”

“Then be still.” He pumps his brows as he shimmies down my legs. After squeezing a thick glob of honey on each of my nipples, he pours a line down my stomach, letting it pool in my belly button. “Spread your legs.”

I do, but he’s not satisfied. I pant as he spreads my pussy wide open with two fingers. He drips the warm honey down my center, ensuring it thoroughly coats my clit before releasing me. Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m so turned on. I want him to take good care of me, so I dare not move. Instead, I curl my toes, trying to control the urge to bridge my hips and beg him to put me in his mouth.

After replacing the cap and twisting the lid tightly shut, Dex tosses the plastic bottle over his shoulder. He grabs the cinnamon resting by my knee and sprinkles it over my chest and stomach. He seems thoroughly pleased with his sticky artwork. “Now, where should I start, wife?”

“You know where,” I reply.

“Beg me.”

“Please,” I say half-heartedly.

Dropping to his stomach, he puts his head between my thighs. But he doesn’t lick up the honey. He blows on me, causing me to buck and moan. The warm salve mixed with his cool breath nearly sends me. “Not good enough. Try again,” he growls.

“Oh fuck, Dex. That feels amazing.”

So naturally, he stops blowing. “Good to know.”

“Do it again,” I command.

“Try some manners,” he quips back. Stroking against my inner thigh, he covers his thumb in the trails of dripping honey, then raises up to his knees. He pushes his thumb deep into my mouth. I clean his finger with my tongue before he traces my lips, a heady fog clouding his eyes. Then, he starts his assault on my breasts. It’s unclear if he’s trying to clean me up or suck my nipples right off. I close my eyes, focusing on how much I love the pressure that’s sending me to the cusp of discomfort. It’s such a drastic difference from the way I’ve been having sex for the past couple years.

With Dex, all I do is feel. Every touch lights me up.

My eyes pop open when I hear the soft buzz of my vibrator. Dex hovers over me with a menacing look on his face, holding my clit stimulator up warningly like it’s a weapon. “Let’s see if this makes you beg.”

He touches my inner thighs, outer lips, then hovers over my clit, so close that I can’t feel the pleasure but I’m dripping with need. It’s not funny anymore. Now I want relief. I bridge my hips, but his reflexes are too quick. He pulls his hand back like we’re sharing a puppet string. I push, he pulls. I relax, he advances.

“Okay, Dex. Enough. Make me come.”

“Frustrated?”

“Yes. Please, please, please,” I beg. Still as a statue, I add, “I’m cooperating.”

“Can you cooperate a little more? Then, I’ll take good care of you,” Dex promises. He rolls me back over and lifts my hips before pushing my knees apart.

I can barely balance with my arms bound. When he turns the vibrator up to the highest speed, I nearly fall over. He presses it firmly against my little button, and I moan loudly, the way he likes.

“Good girl, keep going,” he whispers as I mewl like a woman possessed with pleasure.

Then, his tongue is somewhere else.

I try to pull away, but he grips my hip with his free hand, keeping me in place as his tongue dances around my tighter hole. Never has a man done this to me before. There was no awkward, hesitant conversation of “should we” or “do you want to.” Dex just takes what he wants. He laps around the tight muscle of my ass until there’s no honey left, just his saliva. “How’s this, baby? If I’m sweet to you, can I have this too?”

“Yes,” I respond, like an instant reaction. Yes, yes, yes to everything.

He tenderly presses the tip of one finger against my ass, and I try not to tense. It’ll hurt if I fight it. He’s trying to ease me in, and it’s going to take a lot of TLC. Dex’s dick is monstrous. A delight for my pussy, but probably would be the end of me fully shoved into any other hole. I have no idea how this’ll work.

But there’s no time to debate because the moment his finger is knuckle deep in my ass, I come so hard I scream into the pillow. The surging ecstasy is too overwhelming; every nerve in my body is on fire, and I can’t handle it. My hips collapse and I fall onto my side. I’m shaking so hard from my orgasm I have to grind my teeth together to keep them from chattering. I desperately want my hands so I can hold myself.

“Free me,” I whimper.

Dex is quick to unbuckle his belt, unbinding my arms. As soon as I’m able, I wrap my arms around my waist. “Too much?” he coos in concern, tossing the vibrator aside.

“I’m just feeling everything,” I tell him.

As soon as I catch my breath, my short break over, I lunge for his cock. Using it like a leash, I guide him until he’s sitting on the edge of the bed. I sink down to the floor, ignoring how my knees bear uncomfortably into the hardwood floor. Toggling between sucking on his head and swirling my tongue around his tip, I coax out his salty precum. But it’s not enough. He wants more.

“Give me your whole throat, baby,” he rasps out. “Can you do that for me?”

I pull as much of him into my mouth as I can, but he’s too big. I have to wrap my fist around the base of his cock to cover him completely. I try my best not to succumb to my gag reflex as he bumps the back of my throat. My eyes are watering and it’s hard to breathe. But the way he’s praising me encourages me along. I like the sound of his moaning so much, I seriously consider suffocating on this man’s erection. “Such a good girl.” He holds the back of my head and bucks his hips a few times. Now, I can’t help coughing and sputtering. He must like the sensation against his cock because he’s a little slow in releasing me. “You’re so fucking good, Len. Do you think I’m as sweet as you? Can you swallow for me?”

“Yes.” For you, always yes.

I stick out my tongue, and he places his tip into my mouth, stroking his whole shaft almost violently until he groans in relief. Every drop of his warm release fills my mouth. We lock eyes as I swallow it all. I lick my lips and he looks so pleased with me.

“You like that?” Dex asks.

“I love it.” With Dex, this isn’t a chore. Just my pleasure to do.

He wears a sleepy smile as he falls backward on the bed, scooting up the mattress until his head is on a pillow, pressed up against the leather headboard. He pats his chest, wordlessly telling me where I should rest. I climb on top of him and cozy into his cuddle.

The aroma of French toast finds my nose and I’m tempted to grab the fork and return to my breakfast tray. But Dex’s chest begins to rise and fall rhythmically, pulling me into a sleepy daze that overwhelms my appetite. With my last bit of energy, I pull the covers over our naked bodies and fall asleep next to my husband.