The Contract by Marsh, Nicola (read aloud books .txt) 📕

Goose bumps peppered her body as he continued to alternately lick and blow on her skin, driving all conscious thought from her brain.

“What if she’s not for sale?” She gasped as his fingers slowly undid the buttons of her shirt and in doing so, brushed against her breasts.

“No problem. I’m into acquiring things that are priceless.” He kissed his way lower as she arched towards him, craving his touch like a madwoman and grateful for the newspaper covering the glass windows.

“The back door...” she murmured, as his hands ran rampant over her body.

“Locked. Relax, sweetheart. Enjoy.”

And she did, startled by the intensity of her husband’s lovemaking. She’d never imagined making love on scattered cushions on her shop’s floor could be so good, so wild, so unrestrained. She could barely speak when they finally lay spent, entwined in each other’s arms.

“I’m proud of you,” he whispered against the side of her mouth as he kissed her.

She snuggled up to him, basking in his praise. Though he’d never made her feel second best, Amber felt a strange compulsion to make her husband proud of her. Perhaps it had something to do with their different backgrounds, the fact she’d always felt like she had to prove herself worthy of her dynamic husband.

And now, she had a secret to tell him she hoped would seal the emotional validity of their marriage.

“Steve, I have to tell you something.” She stroked the hard sinews of his back muscles, marvelling at the strength beneath her fingertips.

He rarely had time to go to the gym, yet his body stayed firm. She hoped hers would do the same after nine months on the hormonal roller coaster that pregnancy entailed. Though she looked forward to the changes in her body, knowing they would be a testament to the incredible life growing inside her.

His hand curved around her breast. “Let me guess. The business plan needs revision?”

She drew in a sharp breath as his index finger circled a nipple. “No.”

He traced lazy circles across her stomach, which would soon be distended with their precious child. “More stock is needed?”

Her senses reeled as his fingertips edged lower. “No.”

“You need more of this?” He caressed her, his intimate touch driving all thought from her mind.

“Hell, yeah,” she breathed, giving in to the pleasure of his fingers, his mouth, his body all over again. Her news could wait until later. Much later.

* * *

Amber tidied the well-stocked shelves for the final time before unlocking the front door. Taking a deep breath, she flipped the sign to read OPEN before resuming her position behind the counter. Doubts plagued her. What if no one came? What if people scoffed at her merchandise? Would her stock be too new-age? As the bell above the door tinkled, she looked up with a tentative smile, eager to greet her first customer.

“Hello, Amber.”

Her heart plummeted though she fixed a welcoming smile in place. “How nice to see you again, Mrs. Rockwell.” She resisted the urge to stick her fingers down her throat and make vomiting noises at her falseness. “What are you doing in Brisbane?”

Her mother-in-law pursed her lips in some semblance of a smile. “Didn’t Steve tell you we were coming?”

“We?” Amber looked around, wondering if the old battle-ax had dragged along an invisible playmate or was she using the royal pronoun in yet another pretentious show.

As if on cue, the door swung open and in walked a supermodel. At least, that was Amber’s first thought as a stunning brunette sashayed into the shop as if she owned it.

“This is Brianna. I thought you two should meet, seeing as you have so much in common.” The smirk on her mother-in-law’s expertly made-up face made Amber’s hand itch.

Resisting the urge to slap her husband’s mother and ask what she had in common with this buxom goddess, she gritted her teeth. “Pleased to meet you, Brianna. If you see anything you like, don’t hesitate to ask for help.”

The brunette looked her up and down and Amber could’ve sworn she saw the supermodel look-a-like reel back. “You’re Steven’s wife?”

It didn’t take an Einstein to work out busty Brianna had joined her mother-in-law’s “I hate Amber” fan club.

She forced herself to smile. “Yes, that’s right. We’re very happy.” She almost cringed at her last comment, wondering why she felt compelled to justify her marriage to this bimbo.

The brunette wrinkled her pert nose. “Lucky you. I miss Steven.”

Amber gripped the counter before she did something stupid, like tear the other woman’s eyes out.

Thankfully, her mother-in-law stepped in. “This place is so quaint.” However, her next words chilled Amber to the bone. “It should keep you amused when Steven’s attention wanders.” Her beatific smile at Brianna left little to Amber’s imagination. “A pity you won’t be joining us tonight, Amber. It promises to be a night to remember.”

Nodding at Brianna, Mrs. Rockwell opened the door and the women exited together, leaving Amber feeling nauseous that had nothing to do with morning sickness. The encounter with the poisonous old dragon and her sidekick had left her drained and to make matters worse, she had no idea what they were talking about.

Tonight? Steve had begged off a celebratory dinner for the shop’s opening, citing business. She’d let him off the hook with the proviso they held a private celebration in their bedroom when he returned home. Not just for the opening of Harmony, but for the news she knew would thrill him.

Now, she’d discovered he’d lied to her. So much for honesty; Steve had given her a bollocking after her meeting with that property developer, ranting and raving about trust in a marriage. Too