Page 20 of Complete Me

“Not bloody likely,” Belle said. “Spill.”

“Well, David and I are here getting everything ready for Christmas and fighting over the tree.”

“Naturally.” Clara interjected.

“I know, it's terribly gay of us,” Edward said, before continuing, “and...I don't know exactly how to say this, but we've decided to get married.”

“Tell us something we don't know.” Belle said slowly. She looked to Clara with narrowed eyes.

“Like, now,” Edward clarified. “Or over the holidays.”

“You're getting married for Christmas?” Clara clapped a hand over her mouth. Tears threatened to spill over. She'd never hear the end of it if she started to cry now.

“We were thinking for the New Year.”

“That's hardly a distinction,” Belle said. “Were you going to tell us? Or were you worried I’d think you were a copy cat.”

“I thought if we had the same anniversary, you could make certain I don’t cock up and forget a present every year,” he informed them. “Besides, you're supposed to be here in a week, and I was kind of hoping you might come early.”

“Of course!” Belle and Clara said at the same time.

“There's a lot we need to do,” Edward rambled on, as if he hadn't heard them, “And I know you're both busy. Belle you have your business, and Clara you have—”

“We'll be there.” Clara interrupted before he could talk himself out of it. If she had the opportunity, she would get her brother-in-law down the aisle. He’d been dragging his feet far too long not for her to jump at the chance to marry him off at long last.

“I'll need to arrange it with Smith,” Belle said. “But of course we can come early.”

“And Clara will need Alexander's permission.” Edward teased.

“No, I won't.” Clara said defensively, earning an awkward silence from both of her friends. It stretched across the phone lines until Edward finally broke it.

“Then it's settled. Call me when as you've cleared everything up.” As soon as they hung up, Clara threw her arms around Belle in a tight hug, and the two began to laugh.

“You are an emotional roller coaster,” she accused.

Clara pulled back, her eyes bright. She’d been dreading spending the holidays cooped up with her unrepentant husband. Instead, she’d be distracted in the best possible way. “I can't help it. It looks like Christmas is coming early this year.”

9

Belle blustered into the house in a flurry of activity. She dropped her bags at the foot of the couch before she spotted him. Smith watched with amusement as his wife's cheeks turned pink. It was a lovely shade, and it reminded him of how easy it was to turn her other set of cheeks pink, as well. Her hand fell to her chest as if he'd scared her, but it was what was in his hand that caught her attention. A glass of bourbon. She didn't say anything and he didn't feel the need to offer explanations. One drink with Georgia this afternoon had not been quite enough—not after what she had told him. His prudence in sharing his quest for sobriety now seemed well considered, because today's events required more than a single drink to swallow down.

“Shopping?” he asked. She nudged one of the bags behind the sofa with her foot and nodded, playing the part of the innocent. “Something for me?”

“Something for me to wear for you,” she purred. The innocent act disappeared, replaced by a full-fledged vixen.

“Do I have to wait for Christmas?” Right now nothing sounded better than burying himself deep inside his wife. Judging by the way she sauntered towards him, she had the same idea. But when she crawled onto his lap, she bit her lip. Something was on her mind. “Out with it, beautiful.”

Belle didn't have to play coy often. They had money, so she never had to ask to spend it. He was obsessed with her, which meant that damn near everything she requested, he found a way to give her. But he didn't mind being in the position of power at the moment. Power was something he rather liked, especially when he could exercise it over his wife.

She hooked an arm around his neck and nuzzled against his jaw and whispered, “I have a favor to ask.”

His dick was growing harder in his pants. She could ask for the moon right now and he'd find a way to lasso it. “Anything.”

“I need to leave for Scotland in the morning.”

That request was unexpected. Now he understood why she was tantalizing him. He popped a lazy eye open and looked at her. “I can't leave for Scotland in the morning.”

She knew that already, which was what had brought on her seduction. Although he'd largely retired from legal work, at her provocation he had decided to take on pro bono work. He had a meeting with a client a few days from now. She kept well-informed on his cases, so she knew when he would be home late.