Accidental Obsession: Those Malcolm Boys Book 2 Read online

  Cross

  I want to go slow. Take my time. Enjoy every little sigh I can draw out of her. But this beating in my chest insists I skip right to the claiming.

  “Mrs. Malcolm.” Pure gratification rolls through me as I hear that name.

  “Husband,” she whispers back to me.

  “Wife.” Fuck, do I love the way that feels on my tongue. “I know I said we’d go slow. I want to go slow. I want to savor every second of this moment, but Bella, I don’t think I’m going to be able to.”

  She blinks up at me with a gentle smile on her lips and contentment in her gaze, and I’m fucking done for. Gone. Hers. Ready, willing, able to be the man she needs.

  “I didn’t think I was ready for this, Cross. I didn’t think I’d ever have this.” Her hand waves between us. “But saying those two words, I do, it was like a homecoming. My soul was ready to meld with yours, and whether this is love or obsession, I don’t know, nor do I want to. I just know that I want you. I want us. This. What’s happening is exactly how we are meant to be.”

  “Jesus, woman.” Pulling my shirt off, I toss it to the side. Doing the same with my pants, I stalk towards her. “You’re going to be the death of me, sparrow, and I’m going to love every fucking second of it.” I possess her lips in a raw meeting of mouths, showing her how I plan to take her body.

  Own her.

  Claim her.

  She was right about one thing…I don’t know if it’s love or obsession, but right now, they feel like one and the same because the mere thought of her out of my line of sight for even one minute of the day fills me with rage.

  Pulling away from her lips only long enough to help her out of her clothes, we fall onto the bed. A tangle of limbs and unable to control our desire. There’s just one thing… “Tomorrow, I’ll take you shopping for the biggest fucking diamond I can find.”

  “I don’t need a diamond, Cross.” I pause at her words. “Just you. Only ever you.”

  Licking across her lips, I suck the bottom one into my mouth, savoring her tiny pout as I spread her silky thighs. “You should want everything from me, Isabella. Demand more than what I give you.”

  “You, Cross. Give me you.”

  “That I can do.” I grin as my dick finds its way to her core, searching out the pleasure found there. “I can’t promise it won’t hurt,” I say. She nods as I slowly work my fingers through her folds, opening her up. Getting her body ready for my entrance.

  Her back arches, nipples rubbing across my chest as I guide my aching cock into her tight pussy. “Fuck,” I growl as I watch her body suck me into sweetness. “So fucking hot.” I’ll be in awe of this woman for the rest of my life.

  “It hurts,” she cries quietly.

  “What else?” I hiss as I feel her barrier break.

  “Stings.”

  “More.” I don’t understand what sick part of me wants to delight in her pain, but I fucking crave it.

  “It burns when you move.” I look into her light green eyes and see tears. Tears I want more of. The agony I can see swirling in them makes me want to beat my fists against my chest like King fucking Kong. I’ve claimed the woman, and now, I get to show her the way to her pleasure.

  “I’ll make it better, sparrow. I’ll make it perfect.” I kiss each tear as it rolls silently down her cheeks. Clasping her hands in mine, I lift them above her head as I thrust in and out of her snug grip, trying my damnedest not to cum too quickly.

  Sitting up, Isabella’s body splayed beneath me, her gaze shines with her submission to me, and with her hands above her head, an idea sparks.

  “Later,” I husk out, “when everyone has gone to bed, I’m going to take you out to the barn. Tie these delicate little wrists up, mount you from behind, and show you just what happens during breeding season.” Her breath catches, and her eyes light up. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Isabella?”

  Licking her lips, she sucks the edge of one into her mouth before answering me. “Maybe.” The coy little vixen.

  I lean down to whisper in her ear. “Tell me what you really want, baby. Your darkest desire. Your deepest craving.”

  Her eyes cast downward before she looks up at me again. “I shouldn’t want it.” Her chin wobbles with fear.

  “Tell me, Bella.” I glide gently within her channel, so she can gather her courage, but her silky heat doesn’t stop contracting around my shaft, making this very fucking difficult. Bringing one hand to her lips and the other to where our bodies are connected, I whisper again, “Tell me what you want, Isabella,” in a firmer tone.

  “To let go. I want to hand over control to you and know I’m going to be safe.” Precious tears once again fill her eyes, and red tinges her chest and cheeks with embarrassment, but I understand.

  “You want a safe place to submit,” I reply, not questioning her desires.

  “Yes.” She mouths it while nodding.

  Kissing the palm of her hand, my grin is full of promise. “I’m your safe place, Isabella. I’ll give you everything.” If I weren’t in love with her before, I sure as fuck am now.

  Hooking her knees over my elbows, I lean forward and say, “Hold on to me.” As soon as she grips my biceps, I begin languidly thrusting in and out, working her body into such a frenzy that she’s moaning out her delight at the pain of holding her on the edge.

  “Close your eyes, Bella. Relax your muscles, and feel me. Relish in your man owning this sweet little body and know I’ll protect you at all costs.” Pressing my forehead to hers, my hips start moving faster, and I know I’m chasing both of our releases, but I refuse to take my pleasure before she languishes in her own.

  “Oh. Cross.” Her nails dig into my arms, and I know she’s close.

  Lessening my pace, I give short, sharp jabs, hitting across her clit and g-spot at once. Forcing her anxious orgasm to the surface and having fucking mercy when she shatters apart for me. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

  Her body flushes.

  She stops breathing.

  Her eyes, when she opens them, are clear and filled with trust and love for me. And that’s when I know I can finally let go.

  Gripping her hips in my hands, I dig my toes into the bottom of the bed and push as deeply into her core as I can before letting myself release into her waiting body. My muscles tense and sweat drips down my neck as I experience the most intense orgasm of my life.

  “Holy fuck,” I moan as I collapse to the side and pull Isabella into my arms. I knew things with her would be different, but never did I imagine I would find home in my new wife.

  * * *

  Isabella

  My body hums with approval and satisfaction as I lay in Cross’ arms. His heavy breathing hasn’t leveled out, and his hands continue to roam my body as sleep tries to drag me under.

  The stress and excitement of the day have finally caught up to me, and I can feel my eyelids getting heavier by the minute.

  Disclosing to Cross my deepest desire was not something I ever thought I would share with another soul, let alone a man who proposed marriage on a whim. But telling him felt right. I know Cross Malcolm. I know he’ll never hurt me intentionally. However, I’m beginning to wonder if I shouldn’t clarify what it is that I meant now that it’s out in the open. Chewing my bottom lip, I hesitate until he lifts my chin with a finger.

  “Talk to me.” He never asks, always demands.

  “I don’t want to be hit,” I blurt out. His eyebrows nearly hit the roof. “I mean, I know I said I want to be able to let go of the control, it’s just I’m not into the domination and submission thing.”

  “Okay.”

  “I want to be able to control my lack of control…” I trail off, realizing that what I’ve said makes zero sense. “I don’t know what I mean,” I mutter.

  “You want to be sure that even though you’re giving up control, you can take it back anytime, and you aren’t into BDSM.”

  Why can he say it and I can’t?

&nb
sp; “Essentially… yes.”

  “All I need to know is if this extends outside of the bedroom?” His gaze flicks to the door.

  I bite my lip, terrified that this is where he’ll judge me. “Yes.” The single word is so quiet, I worry he didn’t hear me when he gives no response.

  Rolling out of bed, I shiver when his body heat evaporates as he stands, and he reaches a hand out for me. “I can agree to that. And since we’re doing this, you need to know that anytime you want to change your mind you can. You are, and always will be, my first priority. Above all else, it’s you, Isabella.”

  Cross’ fingers trace my ribs as I absorb his words and nod my head. I love how effortlessly he understands me, even when I don’t understand myself.

  “First order of business is a shower, and then you’re shopping for clothes because, for as much as I love seeing you in my baggy sweats and long shirts, you need your own things.”

  Leaning into his chest, I breathe a sigh of relief. “Okay, Cross.”

  “Just one thing, Bella.” I gaze up at him. “I walk through the door, you give me your lips. I don’t care what time of day it is, who’s here, or if you’re pissed at me for something. I get these lips every fucking time.” He brushes his mouth across mine to show precisely what he wants.

  “And if you’re mad at me?”

  “I still want them.”

  Happiness blossoms throughout my chest and for the first time in far longer than I can ever remember, I’m home. And it’s not because of the place, it’s the man.

  Cross is my home.

  Chapter Nine

  Isabella

  Over the last three days, we’ve fallen into an uncomplicated routine. Up at dawn to feed the horses and clean out the new chicken pen he bought when I commented on how nice it would be if we could become self-sustaining. Even if it’s only with a few things. Cross said he drew the line at slaughtering his own meat. I didn’t object. But I have chickens, and Nick and Wyatt are building me a huge vegetable garden behind the house, while I’ve been tasked with finding out where we could acquire fruit trees and if they’d thrive in the Wyoming climate.

  The day after we married, Cross took me shopping for a wedding band and refused to allow me to choose something sensible. So now, I have a two-carat Princess Cut diamond surrounded by tiny little diamonds on my finger, and there are moments where it’s too heavy to accomplish nearly as much as I want to. Even though it’s large, I adore it because it came from him.

  I haven’t told Cross I love him yet, even though I do, because fear holds me back. I trust him completely, and I can see in his eyes that he feels the same way, too, but I know he’s waiting on me. Allowing me to steer our course. The trouble is, everyone I’ve loved has always left me, and I’m terrified.

  While I know that my parents being killed in an accident and Camilla being murdered aren’t technically the same as someone just walking away, the fear is just as real. If Cross were to decide that my baggage is too much to handle, I’m not sure how I’ll move forward or even if I could.

  I’m doing my best to be everything he could ever need or want in a wife by doing chores around the house, cooking meals for his ranch hands. I’ve set myself up in a small nook in his office and have handled some of the simple phone calls that don’t require me to have all the knowledge that he does about his way of life, but I’m learning.

  The veterinarian is set to come out next week to check on one of his older bulls because the beast is cranky as hell, and Cross is worried it’s time to let him go. I wanted to ask what happens then. Is he put down like a sick cat or dog, is he sold for slaughter, or does he just live out the rest of his time here? But I don’t think I want the answer.

  “Sparrow?” The sound of Cross’ voice as he calls me by the nickname he gave me the day we met makes my heart skip a beat.

  Wiping my hand on a towel, I drop it on the counter as I rush into the living room. “Hi,” I croon as I reach up on my tiptoes to kiss him. Every time our lips meet feels like the first time, and I have to pinch my arm to remind myself I’m not dreaming.

  “Mmm, peaches. How do you always taste so damn sweet?” he groans and pulls me into his body.

  “I was making a pie?” Well, the evidence in the kitchen would suggest that. What I pulled out of the oven is definitely not anything I would consider edible.

  “Yeah?” He perks up and stares towards the flour-coated kitchen. “What kind?”

  “The throwaway kind.” I laugh.

  “It can’t be that bad.” I know he’s trying to be nice, but he experienced some of my more tragic dishes yesterday, so I know he’s probably grateful he won’t have to taste it.

  “Should it look like soup?”

  His chest shakes with laughter before he’s able to stop. “No, probably not.”

  Patting his chest, I joke, “It’s a good thing you’re rich, or I’d feel extra guilty.” Immediately regretting the words because they sound so incredibly shallow, tears well in my eyes.

  “What is this?” Cross frowns as he wipes a tear away.

  “I didn’t mean that how it sounded. I’m not here because of your money.” My words are rushed.

  Cocking his head to the side, Cross leads me to the couch and sits me down. “Then why are you here, Isabella?”

  This is it. This is the moment I’ve been dreading. He’s going to ask me to leave. “I don’t… I… don’t…” know how to explain that he’s my world and I love him, and now, I’m not sure if I should.

  “Tell me, Isabella. Tell me why you’re still here.” It’s my turn to frown because I understand that he wants something, and I think I know what it is, but I’m not sure.

  My head drops and dread fills my heart as he turns, but he doesn’t leave. He comes back, grabs my hand, and ushers me out of the house. My legs are much shorter than his, so I have to jog to keep up to him as we head to the barn.

  Everyone is home for the night, resting after an exhausting day of work. What that actually entails, I’m not sure. I just know they leave after breakfast and don’t come back until the sun is nearly setting.

  “What are we doing?” I whisper as he opens the door to an empty barn. All the horses were transferred up to the newly renovated barn late last night, so this one is now vacant, ready for new life.

  The room is dark, and I feel more than see Cross move to stand behind me. “You’re going to give me what I want, Isabella.” I feel a cool cloth wrap around my eyes as he ties it behind my head. Reaching up, I touch it with my fingertips, the silk soft against my flesh.

  “What’s happening?” I question him again.

  “I need to know why you’re here, Isabella, and I’ve fucking waited so goddamned patiently, but it’s time for you to be real with yourself so you can be real with me.”

  I go to open my mouth, but he places a finger across my lips, stopping anything I would have said.

  “I love you, Isabella Malcolm, have from the day you walked into my life, and I will until the day I die. But what about you? Do you love me, sparrow? Like I love you?”

  My mouth opens again, but he stops me. Not letting me get a word in.

  “I have your body, your name, your soul. Your submission. I have it all. Everything but your heart.” His words are harsh and yet soft at the same time. Shivers race up and down my spine as he slowly removes my clothing, leaving me to stand naked in front of him, my body bare to his perusal.

  I want to speak the words. To share how I feel, why I’ve been so afraid. Now that he’s told me, I shouldn’t have anything to fear, right? I should be free to feel whatever I want and be safe in the knowledge that he’s right there with me.

  So why can’t I get the words out? Why can’t I talk over him and say I love you, too?

  “I know what’s going through your mind, Bella.” He moved in front of me while I was stressing myself out. His hands slowly glide down my thighs, to my calf, and down to my toes, lifting one leg up and over his shoulder. His hot breath
between my legs, against my most intimate area, is intoxicating.

  “I need you to understand this is more than a marriage of convenience.”

  “I do know that.” I interrupt him this time.

  He nips my thigh, making me jump. “Hush. The only words I want to hear from your lips are I love you and only because you want to. Whether it’s today, tomorrow, next week, next month. I don’t care. So long as they come straight from the heart.” I can only nod.

  “This is forever, Bella.” Cross blows warm air across my nether lips and my thighs quiver, barely able to hold me up. “We’re a lifetime of obsession.” I feel his lips kiss the small pearl peeking out for him. “You’re mine, Isabella.” His mouth covers me as I feel his tongue extend and lick across my slit.

  The heat of his mouth, coupled with my growing desire, is a recipe for uncontrollable passion. “Cross,” I cry out into the night.

  “Three words,” he grumbles, continuing to kiss and suck his way along my body.

  Biting my lip, I don’t understand why I can’t say them. “I need you.”

  “You have me.” He picks me up and places me on a scratchy blanket, likely over top of hay, as he draws my hands up above my head. Twisting rope around my wrists, the abrasive material itches my skin, and already, I realize what he’s going to do.

  What we were unable to do the first night.

  We grew too passionate then to execute what he wants now.

  His pants drop to the ground, his heat covers me as he flips my body over. Bending my top half across the barrel, my nipples are treated to the coarse material.

  With steady hands, Cross slowly drags his hardness through my soaked and ready lips, thrusting toward the entrance without taking what we both desire, proving he enjoys teasing as much as he enjoys conquering.

  “What makes you hesitate?” he finally asks when he stops gliding.

  “Fear.” I swallow roughly.

  “Of what?”

  “Being left alone.” The words are torn from my heart, and even his breathing isn’t audible now.