Page 100 of My Husband Problem

Suddenly, she starts laughing. “You’re right. It’s not totally unfair for you to think that.”

I advance on her again. “You’relaughing?”

She nods, still grinning.

And I love it. I fuckinglovewhen she smiles and laughs. The tension in my spine has evaporated, and I’m breathing fully in and out for the first time in an hour.

“I would never leave Oscar and the ducks.”

She’s messing with me.

I have no doubt that she would not leave the animals, in fact, but she’s teasing me right now, and I’m…relieved.

And more in love with her right now than I was before.

“Why did you run out?” I ask, my voice gentler. “I’ve been worried as fuck.”

Her smile fades, and she swallows. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You said this is about your vagina.”

She nods.

“And we were kind ofright there.”

She nods again. Her cheeks flush, and her gaze drops to my mouth.

“Did I hurt you?” I finally manage to grind out.

She shakes her head. “No. You didn’t.”

I breathe out.

“But I was worried you might.”

My entire body tenses and I step back instinctively.

She reaches out and grabs my arm. “No! Wait! That came out wrong,” she says. “I don’t thinkyouwouldeverhurt me on purpose. It’s just that…”

I wait, my stomach churning.

“Fuck,” she mutters. Then she takes a breath and says, “Declan, I have pelvic pain—specifically, vaginismus. The muscles around my vagina are tight and sore, and they spasmsometimes. Especially if there’s a chance of…” She stops and wrinkles her nose. “Penetration,” she manages. “Like a pelvic exam or using a tampon or…sex.” She blows out a breath. “It makes sex painful and difficult.” She takes another breath, seeming relieved to have gotten that out. “I have been seeing Thea ever since I moved here, and we’ve been working on it. That’s why I’m here today. Because what happened on my couch is the first time anything even close to sex with another person has happened in a really long time, and yes, I thought I was dreaming, and so when I woke up and realized I wasn’t and that things might progress, I kind of panicked. And I’m really sorry, and that’s not your fault, and you didn’t do anything wrong.”

I’m just staring at her. She still has tear tracks on her cheeks, and the wordspain, andpanickedkeep rattling around in my brain.

Sex is painful and difficult for her.

Jesus Christ. I had my mouth on her most private parts, and she wasn’t even fully conscious. Not only that, but that private part is painful.

“I don’t know what to say,” I finally manage.

Now she’s the one who steps forward. “You don’t have to say anything. I handled it really badly. And this is something we should’ve talked about before now. But in my defense, I thought maybe we would just get divorced, and it wouldn’t be an issue.”

Right. The divorce she wants would take care of the fact that she can’t have sex because it hurts.

I should leave her the fuck alone.

Still, I ask, “Is this from your injury?”