Our honeymoon was everything it should be. We spent half our time naked and in the hotel room and the other half feasting on ocean delights, playing at the beach, and walking around as tourists.

Jayden was more attentive than he ever had been without his typical routine and distractions of home to keep him busy. I was his primary focus and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Our last night, we ordered room service, eating crab legs while tangled up in the sheets we’d ruined. He cracked a claw with his hands and I marveled at his strength and the skill of his fingers. He dipped the sweet meat in butter and brought it to my mouth before taking a mouth full of my nipple.

“This is heaven,” I remarked as he got carried away, pushing our feast to the side to attend to his growing erection and my needy nipple.

“I agree.” He stopped his assault long enough to look down at me, entwining our fingers and hovering above me.

“What?” I grinned up at him.

“I’m just thinking of what a fuck up I would’ve been if I would’ve let you get away. And now you are my wife. How amazing is that?”

“Another line to add to my long list,” I cooed up at him as he turned my hand over to study my ring. Looking down at our hands, he pulled himself to the side of me, being careful of his bandaged arm. He kissed my ring reverently as I stroked his toned chest with my fingertips. “Won’t be getting away now.”

 

 

“Leisure Travel, this is Hilary Monroe,” I answered, now using my new last name every chance I got.

“Well, if it isn’t my daughter-in-law. I don’t know whether to threaten you or offer you a kidney if you need one.” I chuckled into the phone as Jayden’s mother, still sore from not seeing her only son get married, scolded me.

“I’ll take the kidney if needed. Lord knows with having your son for a husband when I might need it.”

Her answering laugh warmed me. “Good thinking. Listen, honey, I can’t talk long, but Stephen asked me to call Jayden to let him know he couldn’t be at his session this weekend.”

“Session?” I moved my ring around with my thumb, a new habit I’d formed when I’d gotten it.

“Yes, this weekend. Stephen usually goes to the family sessions in my place when I have to work, but I thought you might want to step in seeing as how you are his new life partner.”

I sat up in my chair, immediately on edge. “Family sessions? I thought they were going fishing.”

“Oh...oh shit. I didn’t mean to...I was wondering why Stephen was still front and center. Honey, it’s really not my place to tell you this.”

Heat ran throughout my body as I thought of all the ‘sessions’ they had attended in the year Jayden and I had been together. Instead of reacting badly, I countered with a question.

“Jayden has a shrink?”

“He likes to be called a therapist. Jayden’s opted to use his childhood doctor in lieu of someone more suitable for his age group. He was comfortable with him. Dr. Sawyer agreed, but agreed only to weekend sessions once a month, and family sessions every other month.”

“I’ll make sure he knows,” I said in the most even voice I could muster.

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I could have just called Jayden, but I wanted to say hi. Hell, I’ve screwed up.”

“I see,” I said, completely blown away. Jayden had been so forthcoming these days about everything. I couldn’t imagine why he would keep it from me.

“Mallory, I’m not going to be able to hide that I know. Please allow me this.” Her hesitation put me on high alert. “It’s just...he can’t keep this stuff from me. It’s a different dynamic now that we’re married.”

“I’ll take the fire if it comes my way. Just know that he loves you. He’s been more faithful to these sessions than ever since he met you. Please try not to be too hard on him.”

“I’m hurt, and a little angry,” I admitted freely. “I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t tell me.” I was asking her for answers only my husband could give me and decided to leave it alone. “Don’t worry, Mallory, really. I’ll get over it.”

As soon as he told me the truth, I’d get over it.

I left work that day with a hefty commission check and what was supposed to be good news of a raise. My heart sank as I thought of how elaborate he’d gone to back up his lie. He’d come home more than once with fresh fish in a cooler.

“Mr. Monroe,” I called when I walked through the front door. I could always tell when he was home. Candles were lit sporadically and music was playing. I listened for the song to read his mood and heard Imagine Dragons’ It’s Time.

I wasn’t sure what category to put that one in. “In here, Mrs. Monroe.”

Following his voice to the bathroom, I was determined to get the truth out of him. If he told me freely, I wouldn’t have to throw his mother under the bus.

I took in my husband soaking in a steaming tub and kept my eyes on his face to avoid any weakness. Jayden had been doing more physically all around and was peaking everywhere, and completely covered in muscle. From top to bottom, the man was irresistible.

“Hi,” I said, taking a seat on the toilet cover, peeking around and seeing Jayden’s face only partially showing behind the curtain.

“What, no kiss? Bah, and only after a few months of marriage. What a pity. I had high hopes for you.”

“So, your Mom called,” I started in, completely ignoring his banter. “Said Stephen won’t be able to make the trip.”

“Oh,” Jayden said, picking up a washcloth and rubbing his face. I leaned over. “Now we have each other all weekend. I know you look forward to the fishing trips. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” he replied, picking up a bar of soap.

“We can go together. I mean, you can teach me. I’d love to go,” I offered, my voice still even. “Where is this place?”

“Near Columbia.” Truth. That was the truth he was telling me and I could tell by his quick answer and his tone. “I was going to cancel, anyway. I’m not up for it.” Lie.

“Oh really?” My temperature began to rise as I studied him keeping busy with bathing himself.

“You know I’ll do anything with you, Jayden. Anything.” He looked up at me, a deep sea of blue surrounded by thick wet eyelashes.

“Well, you can start by assuming the position when I get out of the tub. What do you have on there, Mrs. Monroe? It doesn’t seem to have easy access.”

I stood up, looking down at him as he noticed my frown. Pushing my shoulders back, I decided to give him one more chance.

“I’d really like to go. I mean, fishing is not exactly my thing, but I want to know this side of you, too. Just this once?”

“Nah, we can go another time,” he said, putting the washcloth over his face. That was it for him. The subject was closed. Escaping the bathroom with my temper in check, I rounded the corner, walking into the kitchen. And just as suddenly as I had convinced myself that he would tell me in his own time, I thought of how long he had been lying to me. Thinking quickly, I pulled out two empty water pitchers from the cabinets and began filling them with ice. Stomping my way back to the bathroom, ice grenades in hand, I tossed the arsenal of ice cubes into his hot tub. Big blue eyes greeted me in surprise as he screamed out, looking around him as if he had been shot. Wincing and cursing in disbelief, he stood in a bath full of ice.

“What the hell is your problem?”

“I don’t know. It seems I have some anger issues. Maybe I should call Dr. Sawyer!”

Jayden’s face went blank as he stepped out of the freezing tub and wrapped a towel around himself.