Page 167 of Checkmate
He chuckled in response, burying his fingers inside her as he lavished attention on her clit with his tongue. Her eyes closed as she turned her head towards the stream of water, her cries becoming more urgent.
She called out his name, wave after wave of pleasure wracking her body as her orgasm ripped through her. Slipping down the shower screen, she grabbed desperately at the showerhead, only for Marcus to move her leg over his shoulder to secure her in place. Making a satisfied noise, he repositioned himself and attacked her clit with renewed passion.
Succumbing to the pleasure, everything else faded away until only a whisper of a thought lingered in her mind.
There were worse ways to start a birthday.
“So. Would you like your present?” Marcus asked as they sat at the breakfast table. His eyebrows wriggled suggestively as he took a bite of his croissant.
“I thought that was my present,” she replied, a shiver of pleasure going through her as a reminder of their fun in the shower.
“Are you kidding me? That’s a present for me, baby. I love getting between your legs.” Standing, he bent down to kiss her forehead. “I’ll be back in a second, okay?”
Watching him leave the room, Erica felt her heart flutter as he navigated the boxes in the hallway, still needing to be unpacked. Every time they tried to organise their new home, they got distracted with each other’s bodies. Every day with Marcus was sweeter than the last and her love for him grew more and more intense.
It was rather terrifying, just how fast things had moved for them, and yet the progression of their relationship had felt completely natural to her. After spending so much time together after their respective marriages ended, locked away in their little bubble of grief, it was surprising nothing had happened sooner.
But Erica wouldn’t change a thing about her time with Marcus.
In fact, if she had to go through the humiliation and hurt of Alex’s infidelity, she would. If it meant she would end up right back in this moment, she would live it all a thousand times over.
“Okay, close your eyes,” Marcus said from the hallway. Licking the sugar from her fingers, she followed his instructions as a frisson of excitement raced through her body. Straining to hear something, she couldn’t help but smile as she heard his approaching footsteps.
“You’re already grinning,” he said. “You don’t even know what it is yet.”
“I can’t help it,” she giggled. “I love receiving gifts.”
“And I love you,” came Marcus’ voice next to her ear as he placed something cool around her skin. “Happy birthday, Erica. Open your eyes.”
Ignoring the chills that raced across her chest, she opened her eyes, immediately gasping at the small pile of presents littering the table. “What is all this?” She asked, looking up at him. Her hand felt for the necklace around her neck, not sure what to respond to first.
“You look overwhelmed,” he said. “Why not start with the necklace?”
She nodded, glancing down between her breasts and the charm of a cute little ghost hanging between them. Giving her a crinkly smile, he chuckled.
“Don’t worry, they’re not all that cheesy. I just couldn’t resist.”
“I love it,” she assured him, meaning every word. It was cheesy. After all, ninety percent of their life was ghost-related. But it was also the reason it was so perfectly them. Alex would have never dared to gift her something so personal and quirky.
To him, a gift meant an expensive piece of exquisitely beautiful jewellery and a bouquet of expensive flowers. Every year without fail, she’d gasp at the latest diamond to add to her collection and smell the delectable fragrance of the floral arrangement he’d picked.
Every year, she was beyond grateful.
But diamonds, no matter how beautiful, were so impersonal. A cheesy little silver-plated ghost was worth more to her than all of Alex’s diamonds put together.
“So, where do I start?” She asked, gesturing at the pile.
“Wherever you want,” he shrugged. “Just leave the envelope ’till last, okay?”
Making an excitable sound, she reached for the biggest of the gifts, tearing at the wrapping paper. Upon seeing the brand of her favourite shoe store, her heart stuttered in her chest. Sure enough, inside the box was a pair of the most stunning boots she’d ever laid her eyes on.
“You remembered,” she said, grinning at him. “I can’t believe you remembered.”
“I paid attention,” he said modestly. “You practically salivated against the window when you saw them. I knew I had to get them for you.”
“You’re so thoughtful,” she said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
A fact that became painfully obvious once Erica had finished opening the presents, admiring her pile of gifts. An old edition of her favourite book, a new bottle of her favourite perfume, and some more supplies for her crochet hobby. With a new curling wand she’d had her eye on, and a handful of naughtier gifts, Marcus had thoroughly spoiled her.
