It only took a moment for me to recall what had been interrupted. “Kids.”

She nodded. Her expression wasn’t neutral, but it was guarded. “Kids. Do you want them?”

I scrubbed my face. “Yeah, I mean of course. It’s just…a bad time.” I winced. “God, I know I’ve said this before, but I’m working on it. I really am. If this goes through, if we can restructure the company, then it’ll be different. It’ll be different.” Would saying it twice make it true?

Her gaze intensified, and her jaw worked like she was chewing the inside of her cheek. She could claim nothing had changed and she’d be right. I still worked long hours. I still hardly saw her. We talked more when I was around. That was about it.

I’d asked her for time once. She’d given it to me. And I was asking for more time again.

Her jaw quit moving. She’d come to a decision and her multifaceted eyes filled with resolve.

This was it. She had every right to issue an ultimatum. This relationship had been one-sided since the beginning, and I was asking her to stay the course.

But she didn’t say anything. Instead, she eased off the couch to her knees and prowled toward me.

“Kate?”

She stopped at my feet. The heaviness of our conversation kept my body from fully reacting to her proximity, and especially her position. “I like where we’re at. It’s enough, Aiden. It’s enough.” She ran her hands up my legs and my restraint was obliterated. My erection went from a few extra pumps of blood to a raging hard-on. “I’ve been wanting to do this. Just this, just because.”

She didn’t initiate sex. I’d realized it, but I’d never wanted her to feel uncomfortable, so I’d never mentioned it. If she needed me to make the first move, I’d happily do it. She was my wife, of course she’d sucked my dick before, but it’d been during sex, as if she felt like returning the favor after I’d made her come on my tongue. I hadn’t thought that she enjoyed it. I’d never asked for her to suck me off, and I hadn’t dared let myself dream in case blow jobs were on her I’d-rather-not list.

And here I’d thought she’d call me out for requesting more time, again. This was special. Just like her.

I kept my hands on the armrests, afraid sudden movement would turn her boldness into embarrassment. “I’m all yours.”

She pulled her glasses off and set them on the end table. This was the sexiest foreplay of my life. When she curled her fingers under my waistband, I couldn’t remember looking forward to something so much.