The Wrong Bride: Ares and Raven’s Story (The Windsors)
The Wrong Bride: Chapter 44

I glance down at my phone, ignoring Hannah’s text messages as I walk into my house. Ever since I asked her to leave, she’s been texting me incessantly, wanting to see me and talk things through. I suppose she’s finally realized that things truly are over between me and her.

I wonder what she was thinking. Did she truly believe nothing would change between us, even though I married Raven? I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s always been self-centered, but I just never realized it before. Or perhaps I did, and I just chose to ignore it.

I pause in the doorway to the living room, my gaze dropping to Raven. She’s sitting on the sofa with her tablet perched on her knee, drawing something that I’m sure is nothing short of magical. Fuck. She truly is fucking beautiful, and those nightgowns she loves to wear are pure torture. She’s wearing a red one tonight, and it contrasts with her skin beautifully.

There was something in her eyes when she told me that she never even stood a chance with me, something I don’t dare define, yet it set my heart ablaze. I have a feeling my wife knows exactly what she’s doing to me. This thing between us… it’s always been there.

I walk into the living room, and she looks up, her lips tipping up into a smile. Her gaze roams over my body leisurely and I bite back a grin. I love how she’s taken to blatantly checking me out.

“You’re home.”

I nod as I sit down next to her, stealing a glance at what she’s drawing. She’s so insanely talented, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll accomplish.

“How was your day?” I ask, my voice soft. I’ve never had this with Hannah. She and I have never really sat together, just chatting about our days. I don’t think I’ve ever truly wanted to know what she’d been up to either — asking had just become a formality. It’s different with Raven. I want to know what makes her tick, what inspires her. I want to hear about every little thing that made her smile throughout her day. It’s strange.

“Today’s shoot ran much longer than I expected, so all of my meetings ran late. I’m happy about the way my new collection is coming together, though. I’m lining up some of my friends to model for me. The marketing campaign I’ve got in mind is going to be amazing.”

I loosen my tie a little, hoping she’ll lean in and pull it off for me. Her eyes follow my hands, but she doesn’t move toward me. Raven has been distant with me lately, and I’m surprised by how much I miss her playfulness. I only have myself to blame for it. I never should’ve said what I did.

“How was your day?” she asks as she turns back to her tablet, continuing to draw. I’ll never get used to her asking that question. Hannah never asked. All we’d ever talk about was her work or our wedding. The only times she’d ask me about my day was when I was working on something for her.

I watch her draw as I tell her about the boring meetings I’ve had and the work I’ve put in for the merger. She glances up at me every once in a while, nodding along to my stories.

It’s such a peaceful evening. I never knew I craved this at all. I move closer to Raven, until her thigh brushes against mine. This nightgown of hers doesn’t cover up anything at all, and her body is a thing of beauty.

Raven looks up at me, her eyes widening when she realizes how close I am. Her gaze drops to my lips, but then she moves away from me, putting some distance between us. Ever since Hannah showed up at our house, upset about our wedding photos, she’s been distant. It’s like weeks’ worth of progress between us disappeared.

I rise to my feet with a sigh, lost in thought as I make my way to our dressing room. My eyes land on a pair of gray sweatpants and my mind turns back to that night Raven sat in my lap, telling me how much she likes me in them. I grin to myself as I take off my suit and put on my sweatpants instead, leaving my torso bare.

When I asked her if she’d give me a chance, she said she would… but she hasn’t. She’s been on guard, scared to get hurt. I can’t take away all her fears at once — only time can do that. I can, however, prove how much I want her.

She looks up from her tablet when I walk into the living room and then does a double take, her eyes widening as her gaze remains glued to my sweats. Fucking hell. Perhaps this was a bad call after all. If she keeps looking at me like that, I’ll be the one getting seduced.

Raven snaps out of it when I sit down next to her, her cheeks beautifully rosy. There’s something so innocent about her, and I love it.

“Show me what you’re working on,” I tell her, leaning into her, my chin brushing over her shoulder. I smirk as I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

“Ares,” she whispers.

I bite back a smile and look at her innocently. “Hey, do you think you could draw me?”

“Draw you?”

I nod at her tablet. “Yeah. Can you?”

She blushes, but then she nods.

I wrap my hands around her waist, lifting her up, until I’ve got her straddling me the way she did that night. If I could do that night all over again, I’d give her what she wanted.

“Ares!”

I smirk and tighten my grip on her waist. “Draw me a portrait, Rave. I want to see what I look like in your eyes.”

“I don’t need to be in your lap for that.”

I suppress a smile and shrug. “It’ll be easier for you to see the contours of my face.” The contours of my face? What kind of bullshit has she got me spouting now?

Raven nods and repositions herself, moving further away, until her ass is perched on my knees. She grabs her tablet and glances at me, her cheeks stained pink. She looks so fucking beautiful sitting there like that, her legs spread so I can see her matching red underwear, that long hair of hers flowing down her body. Fuck. My cock hardens at the mere sight of her, and these sweatpants are doing nothing to hide my desire.

I stare at my wife as she focuses on my face, drawing intently while I allow my eyes to peruse her body. She’s utter perfection, and it isn’t just her body. It’s everything about her. What would it be like if she and I truly gave this marriage a chance? Until she uttered those words, it never even occurred to me that we truly could, that she might genuinely want that with me. All along, she seems to have felt like she doesn’t stand a chance with me, when it’s me who’s unworthy of her.

I let my hands slide down her waist, to her ass, my fingers kneading, teasing. Her lips fall open and she looks into my eyes, disarmed. Something flickers through her eyes, and I smile when I recognize it as desire.

Raven’s gaze roams over my body, pausing on my hard cock. I’m not sure what I expected, but seeing hurt flash through her eyes wasn’t it.

“Moment of honesty,” she whispers. “Being in this position reminds me of the way I sat in your lap when I got drunk, and all I can think of is you telling me you’d never want me. I don’t think I ever told you this, but hearing you say that truly broke my heart. That memory still haunts me, and even though things are different between us now, my heart still aches each time I think of it. Every once in a while, I replace myself wondering if that was the truth, and everything we’ve got is built on a lie.”

Fuck. I should’ve known that my lies that night would come back to haunt me.

I inhale deeply and pull her tablet out of her hand, throwing it on the sofa. “Will you let me tell you a secret, Rave?”

She nods hesitantly.

“Dozens of women have sat in my lap throughout the years, for one reason or another, often unsolicited. You’re the only one I’ve ever reacted to in this way. It isn’t a natural reaction, baby. It’s a reaction to you, specifically. I just couldn’t admit that last time, so I lied. To both you and myself.”

I cup her face gently, my thumb brushing over her lip. “Let me tell you another secret, wife. I replace you fucking irresistible. The things I want to do to you… fuck.”

She looks at me with such disbelief in her eyes that I can’t help but want to take it all away. I grab her ass tightly and pull her flush against me, until she’s sitting right on top of my cock, our positions exactly the same as back then.

“Do you have any idea how badly I wanted to fuck you that night, Rave? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and you were sitting in my lap, naked. You were mine for the taking, your pussy bare and your breasts pressed against my chest. Do you know how many times I’ve replayed that night in my mind?”

I rotate my hips, pressing my cock against her. “In my fantasies, you’re riding my cock, your tits bouncing as you take all of me, my name on your lips.”

I slip one hand into her hair and pull her closer, my lips brushing against hers. “Even back then, you were all I wanted,” I whisper, before kissing her. I tighten my grip on her hair, and she moans, rotating her hips in my lap. She drives me fucking mad.

I move my hand down her body, until the tips of my fingers trace over the lace that covers her pussy. She moans into my mouth, and I chuckle as I push the fabric aside.

“Wet,” I groan. “You’re always so wet for me, baby. I love that about you.” I slip a finger into her while my thumb presses against her clit, and she kisses me harder. The way she moves her hips… fuck. She’s riding my fucking hand the way I want her to ride my cock.

“Ares,” she moans. “I need you.”

I smirk as I push my sweats down, exposing my cock. “Then take what you want, baby. I’m yours.”

She lifts herself up and grabs my cock, her eyes on mine as she sinks down on me. I grit my teeth and wrap my hand around the back of her neck as my cock disappears into her pussy.

“I’m fucking obsessed with you,” I admit. “I’m addicted, Raven. Every touch, every kiss. Every single thing you do hooks me more. You’re a habit I never want to kick.”

She rotates her hips, and I push against her clit harder, making sure my fingers brush past with every move she makes. The closer she gets me, the closer to an orgasm she brings herself.

“Promise me, Ares. Promise me that you’ll always be mine.”

I grab her hair and pull her closer, my lips brushing against hers. “I’m yours, Raven Windsor. Forever. I promise.”

She smiles against my lips and rides my cock harder, making my every fantasy come true. “You’re a fucking vision,” I groan. Watching her ride me, her hair all messy and her lips swollen from my kisses. Fucking hell. I could come just at the sight of her.

“My wife,” I whisper as I thrust into her, meeting her halfway. Her lips replace mine as I take her harder, and she moans into my mouth. I’ll never tire of watching her get closer and closer for me.

“Ares,” she moans, just as her muscles contract around my cock. She comes for me, and she takes me right along with her.

“Fuck,” I groan against her lips, coming deep inside her. I’ll never get enough of her. “Raven,” I whisper. “You’re it for me.”

She pulls away a little to look at me, a sweet smile on her face. She cups my cheek and presses a kiss to the tip of my nose, making me chuckle. She does the cutest things sometimes, and damn if it doesn’t make me fall even harder. “You’ve always been the one for me, Ares Windsor.”

I look into my wife’s eyes, happier than I’ve ever been before. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m going to make sure she never doubts it.