She’d gone too far this time, destroying his best pair of boots. And for that, he had to retaliate. Most husbands would punish their wives, but he had a more pleasurable punishment in mind.

He slid a fraction of himself inside her.

“Stephen?” she whispered, her tone begging.

He withdrew, caressing her folds gently. Softly. Tormenting her in the darkest form of sexual pleasure. “Was there something you wanted?”

“You,” she breathed.

He exhaled upon her bare skin, watching her breasts tighten with excitement. “Do you want me to kiss you?”

Emily nodded, lifting her lips to his. Eager and urgent, she reached for him. He took possession of her mouth, and she pressed her body close to his.

His mouth vanquished her lips, and Emily moaned in surrender. If this was his idea of punishment, she intended to be disobedient every day for the rest of their marriage. She had missed this. Like a luscious slice of chocolate cake, he tempted her past all reason.

He ran his mouth over her neck, down to her collarbone and shoulders. His warm tongue tasted her sensitive skin, drawing close to her breasts but not granting her what she needed.

Her womanhood grew damp, and he startled her when he pushed her knees back to her chest. Spreading her apart, he moved on top of her and penetrated deeply. Shocked, she cried out at the wicked sensation.

He drew himself out, excruciatingly slow. Then he thrust within her once again. He pulled back, moving with such tormenting ecstasy that it bordered on pain.

She didn’t know when she had surrendered to him or when she’d allowed him to command her. Somehow, he had regained the upper hand. The new position gave him complete mastery of her body, letting him slide against every inch of her until she thought she would go mad.

She shattered in his arms, the pleasure intensifying with each stroke. He kept up the driving force until she broke apart again, spiraling pleasure fisting deep within. Waves of need burst forth until at last he took his own release.

He wrapped the sheets around her, holding her close. She wept silent tears, for this was what she’d wanted all along. Her husband, loving her again.

But she had tried to use sexual pleasure as a weapon, to keep him from sending the children away. Worse, he knew it.

Her body felt wearier than ever before. Safe in his arms, she closed her eyes. Only for a moment, she thought. She’d sleep for just a moment.

Later that morning, bright sunlight pierced through the bed curtains. Emily awoke, filled with dread at the empty sheets beside her. But when she went to find Stephen and the children, they had already gone.