She was exhausted. For her last shift of this week, Arizona Sky was already dreaming of snoring in her bed, but she couldn’t speed up with a truck that already had a place in the junk shop. It was her dad’s. She let her father lend her a car to visit her aunt in the other town.Then her daydreaming was interrupted by Old Bob’s group of flock passing by the street. She remembered Old Bob hired a new and inexperienced shepherd. Then an ear-splitting squealing brake followed by the crumbling in the weeds caught her attention.As a nurse, her instant action was to call an ambulance, but then, she was already jumping out of the truck toward the car before she even realized it.The man was already beside the road, breathing heavily as he leaned on his knees, throwing curse after curse. He was wearing a white shirt, sleeves rolled up his elbows, too fancy to be working at the local firm, and his pants were too perfect on his strong thighs. Ari noticed it right away.With a hard swallow, Ari
“And I’m actually in a hurry. I forgot that I left my door open. My cat would probably go out if I can’t get back sooner,” she lied. She was allergic to a cat’s dander. She smiled sweetly to Charleigh and stole a glance at Tripp who looked mightier in his blue shirt, it should be illegal.Surprisingly, he was smiling at her—wickedly. Unfortunately, Tripp knew about her allergy. She fought hard the urge not to smile back despite how contagious it was that her stomach fluttered.“Well.” Charleigh sensed something was off. Ari knew she didn’t buy her excuse. “Then the least I could do is to offer you coffee and cupcakes.”That, she couldn’t resist. Charleigh was already grabbing a medium box, while Diane, the cashier started pouring coffee into a large cup.After she grabbed the box and the coffee, she thanked Charleigh. “You don’t have to do this. Here, in this town, we helped everyone in need.” It was ridiculous. Not so true.The fact that she left Tripp alone in the middle of the road
“That’s for touching me without my permission. The moment you left me that day, you cut the right to touch me.” She pointed her finger on his face.Tripp was watching her closely, eyes flickering to hers, down her plump lips.“And you can’t just come over and talk to me like you own me. We were over, Tripp. What we had are far long gone. And yeah, I’m not married, but it doesn’t mean that I sent myself to become a nun, or I’ve been waiting for you.” She looked at him from head to toe.Tripp was more confident than before — overconfident and more gorgeous than ever, but he was also a self-absorbed bastard.“I don’t have to get married to satisfy my needs. I am sure you’re also not a saint. And I slept with men who didn’t leave me after they got what they wanted.”Tripp was still rooted in his place as he watched Ari walk away from him. He felt his chest squeezed painfully, and the fact that he might have gotten a first-degree burn, but every inch of his body ached, including his dick a
A loud knock interrupted her attention from the tomato sauce in the saucepan. Ari lowered the fire and checked the time on the wall clock before she headed toward the door. She wasn’t expecting her dad would arrive early and he had his own key to her house.She internally prayed it wasn’t who she was thinking, or God forbid. After what she did outside Clereigh’s, he wouldn’t go that far, would he?Her luck was not on her side today. Clearly, her fate and the universe were conniving bitches. They had their ways of mocking her boring life.Tripp certainly didn’t give a damn about her warning earlier. She rolled her eyes, unlocked the screen door, and crossed her arms over her chest.“Nice house.” Tripp was already down the porch as he studied her small modern farmhouse from top to bottom. Maybe he was about to leave if Ari didn’t rush toward the door.If she only knew he was the one behind the door, she would rather ignore him and she didn’t have to deal with him right now.For a succes
“You are my wife, Ari.”She knew he was only teasing her, but that was the fact, and it sounded perfect coming from him. It made her heart flutter.She was legally married to him according to the Las Vegas law. Her only mistake was, that she never filed a divorce. Instead, she chose to remain loyal to him even though he literally ended the marriage when he found out Dax was her cousin.His question about why she didn’t file a divorce earlier would have caught her off guard, but it didn’t happen, because she already knew the answer. She wore her ring whenever she went outside the town to ward off guys from hitting her.She couldn’t say she was beautiful, but she wasn’t ugly either. For her, marriage was sacred, and she couldn’t even think of any man touching her other than Tripp. It was pathetic, really. She gave her virginity to him, and she was only going to sleep with her husband. Call her old-fashioned, but that was what she thought was right.While she was in deep thought, Tripp h
He’d been wanting to kiss those lips the moment they started exchanging banters. He’d been wanting to run his hands along her long neck to the curves of her body to feel her soft skin against his fingertips. He missed her that he didn’t want to let her go out of his sight—that was one of the reasons why he went to see her in the first place.When he saw the same hunger in her eyes, he let go of his self-control and pressed his lips against hers. As he was expecting, there was a gasp of shock from Ari. Tripp thought it was adorable. But then she kissed him back.His desire ignited. His hand flew to the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. He wanted more. He wanted to ravish her, take her inside the house, press her against the door, and let her feel the raging hard-on he had right now.Then his dream just vanished into thin air when Ari pushed him away, a hand on her lips, glaring at him like he just committed murder, not that he was kissing his wife.Maybe what he did was rush, b
Ari was in the middle of reading a mystery-thriller book in her hand when she received a call from Spencer, her best friend. She was too hooked, she didn’t realize she’d been reading for about an hour. “Damn.” She was too caught up in finding out who was the killer. Her initial suspect was the girlfriend. Then there was also the ex who came from a very well-connected family, and if the rumors were true, her grandfather was the head of a crime family in Ireland. Judging by her posts on social media, she seemed wasn’t yet over with him. “It’s the ex.”She closed the book and answered the call. “Hey, Spence. Wanna get mani-pedi?” She looked down at her boring colored toenails.“You should come to the hospital, Ari.”Her heart skipped a beat. Her mind rushed to her father. The last time she received a call from the hospital was about her mother, and that was a very long time ago, even this time it was a call from her best friend. Still, it made her stomach churn. “W-why? Is everything ok
Ari let her father go home as soon as she confirmed Tripp was the patient. She would settle with Tripp’s family if they wanted to sue her father, and she would take the fall.It had been twelve hours. The twelve long freaking hours of her life. She came back to the hospital when she received a text that Tripp had woken up. She just waited outside the private room where Tripp was confined. The fact that she was his wife, she should be there inside, holding his hands, assuring him that he would be okay, instead she was left out while Charleigh, Dax, and Bryce were there visiting him.“So my wife is studying nursing.” Tripp twirled her coppery hair around his forefinger as they lay in bed.Ari blushed a crimson red. “No. I graduated, but I’m still waiting for the result of my exam.”“Congratulations in advance, baby. I do not doubt the result. You’re gonna be a licensed nurse.” Tripp kissed his wife’s lips.“Thanks. I hope so.”“So, if I’m gonna be sick, would you be my private nurse?”H
Four months laterLater in that beautiful afternoon“By the power vested in me as the the city mayor of Hopes Spring, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.” Dax smiled at Tripp and Ari as they were about to kiss in front of their one hundred guests, in front of their newly renovated house.Everyone erupted as they applauded the bride and groom. “I love you, Ari. Always.” Tripp closed his eyes as his lips touched hers.The kiss lingered for a moment as he cherished the feeling that, for the second time, they officiated their marriage, and this woman still belonged to him as he belonged to her. The kiss was so incredibly romantic that their guests kept on applauding.This time, they kissed in front of the people they loved and cared about. No more secrecy.The reception was just in their cozy backyard— a moonlight garden theme. Instead of tents,Tripp designed a glass house with iron scaffolding for the reception dinner that fitted one hundred guests. It h
“Jesus! What’s wrong with getting pregnant? I can take care of you, of both of you, if in case. I can provide whatever our child may need. I can hire a nanny if you think you would get distracted in your study while taking care of our child. It’s our child, Ari.” He was pissed off. His chest heaved as he loosened his tie.“Tripp—”“I don’t believe in an unplanned pregnancy. Why would they fuck unprotected if they don’t want to get pregnant? And I won’t let you get distracted either, but if you happen to be pregnant right now, I would be the luckiest man on earth. And you won’t dare ask me to get rid of it because I won’t let you do that.”They didn’t talk about having their own family, but Tripp was getting there. He worked hard on it.Starting a family was something that didn’t come to his mind before he met Ari again, but the idea of having his wife and kids laughing in their home was the biggest fucking dream of his life. Who would have thought it would be easy for him to dream abo
The goodbyes were pretty emotional for Ari.Leaving her father, her best friend, her friends, and her home where she grew up was hard for her. But she also considered her husband and his work, and their future.It might be difficult in the beginning, but she could not take it away from the love of her life. She knew the moment she gave Tripp and their relationship a second chance, it came with a price, and it required sacrifices she’d be willing to take.“Oh, God. I’m so terrible.” She groaned and tried to open her eyes when she felt a soft kiss on her lips and the familiar smell of his perfume wafting in the air.“I should really start waking up early before school starts.” She was so drained, and the fact that she wasn’t used to taking the morning shift, she felt guilty for Tripp. “Get some more sleep, sleepyhead. See you later.” It was the voice of her hot husband before she felt a kiss on her forehead. Then she was back to her slumber.She woke up with a satisfied smile on her li
They were back to Hopes Spring on Teagan’s birthday. Surprisingly, Tripp was welcomed by the old man with open arms, calling him son.Again, Dax, Charleigh, and Bryce were around as the old man blew the candle on his cake from Clereigh Cakeshop.When everyone left, Teagan settled on the chair on the porch. Tripp was planning to corner him while Ari was busy in the kitchen.“So, are you really taking her away from me?”He sighed. Relief flooded in his system and finally, Teagan was being civilized with him.“I am not taking her away from you. She’s still your daughter, and nothing’s gonna change that. And I am sure Ari would not allow that if that was my plan. She still thinks about your well-being, Teagan. Everyday. And you are always welcome to come with us.”He stared at him. “And leave my home?”“Then you are welcome to visit us. Just let me know ahead of time so that I can arrange your flight.”“I would love to visit cities once in and while. Thank you.”“And I want to talk to you
Ari gasped, then sucked in a deep breath as she felt her being so full and stretched.Tripp stilled for a moment as if giving her time to adjust, but that wasn’t what she wanted.She loved this position, and so as Tripp. She was on four and felt so tight around his cock from behind that made her dizzy with needs.He groaned when she pushed her ass back, demanding him to move, giving him a squeeze on his thigh restlessly. He held her shoulder as he pulled it all out. His cock was coated with her wetness, causing Ari to groan from the sudden emptiness.Tripp slid his hands down her back, holding her hips, and then in one long thrust, he was inside her again.Her head lowered voluntarily while his hands tightened around her hips as he bucked forward, pushing deeper, and she took him in. He began pumping his hips forward and back harder, causing her walls to clamp around him, Tripp saw stars.“Ah! Don’t stop.” He liked the way she utterly lost when she was with him, not caring how greedy
Tripp’s anger filled his chest. His chest was heaving. “Or maybe you can give it to your mistresses instead.”“Careful, son.”“You better go and don’t come back. Let’s keep between us professionals or business rivals if we cross our paths again.” He was about to turn back when his father mentioned something that made his blood boil.“So you’re keeping tabs on me now? What about it?”“You’ve been married—”“My personal life is none of your fucking business.”“Watch your tone, son,” he said firmly.Tripp just got under his skin. “Or what? You look so desperate, father. Can’t say that I’m surprised. You should let the younger people handle the designs because it looks like you can’t keep up anymore.” He watched his father fidget for the first time. For him, it looked like a small victory to celebrate. “And my marriage is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”“It won’t work. Trust me.” He just showed how disgusted he was.“You know the problem is? I don’t care.” He shrugged. “Not
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” he asked Ari one more time before he looked out through the windshield. They parked in front of the Weine Cornwell School of Medicine. “You could use this.” He leaned down to kiss her on her lips. “Relax. I know you don’t need good luck. I’ll see you later?”Tripp could feel the nervousness vibrating under her skin, but he believed in her. She took a deep breath and smoothed her pants before she squeezed his thigh and climbed out of the car.“Wait.” She rounded to Tripp’s side and leaned over.Tripp rolled down the window. “Yeah?”She took something from her bag. Her notebook. “I think this belongs to you. I can’t see I’m surprised how good you are at what you do.”He took it from her with a smirk on his lips. “See? You were also snooping.”“That’s my notebook.” She rolled her eyes. “Those are great, Tripp. Don’t give up until you make that into a real yacht. I believe in you, husband.”“Thank you, baby. That means a lot. See you later.” He waved goodby
“I’m still working there until I pass in the interview in Weine Cornwell.”“Cornwell? As in medical school?” His mouth dropped. His eyes lit up with pride. “Jesus, baby. I couldn’t be prouder.” She was rewarded with a loud kiss on her lips. “You will nail it. Why did you not ever mention this to me?”She shrugged, feeling suddenly shy. “I’m not sure I would be selected out of six thousand applicants, but I wanna keep my head down. They only invited seven hundred fifty for this interview.”“Wow. I would have never doubted you. So if you will pass, you will resign from your job. That means you will be here with me permanently. How about your house? Is this okay with your dad?”She stood up from his lap, still fully naked. Tripp held her hand. “Let’s soak in the tub. Then we will talk more about your school.”Once the tub was full, he poured a good amount of his body wash. “We will go shopping for your stuff after your interview.”She joined him in the tub, settling between his thighs. “
*Flashback aheadWith one smooth thrust of his hips, he was all inside her. She screamed his name in shock at the feeling of being so full and stretched, and her womb shook. Tripp groaned against their mouths as he kept her unmoving, relishing the feeling of them fitting so perfectly.He broke the kiss, pressing his forehead against hers, his breathing was heavy against her face.Everything was overwhelming him, clogging in his throat. It felt unreal even though he knew and felt this was happening. He and Ari were one, and their souls were intertwined forever.“Christ, Ari. It feels fucking amazing.” Then he pulled his cock out completely. “Tripp.” Ari sighed at the loss of contact, wanting to feel him inside her and having to feel being stretched again. She bit her bottom lip, and it would almost draw blood against her teeth.Moments later, Tripp slammed into her again, hitting her clit. Her nails clawed into his flesh as she could not stop shaking.She moaned at the sensation. Her