“Lila? Who is Lila? No feeling up my hair and wearing that sappy look when talking about another woman.” She covered his hand.
“I know her from the hospital. Well, actually, she doesn’t work there. She works for the ME office out of Delko Street with the police.” He chuckled, then said, “She had some good advice on how to deal with you.”
“Really?” Regina lifted an eyebrow. “A woman who doesn’t know me offered advice to you, who do, on how to deal with me. I wonder how that is possible. What did she say?”
Although Regina’s tone was curious, Spencer heard the underlying emotion she wasn’t expressing. “Now…Reggie, it can’t possibly be that you don’t trust me.”
“Humph. It’s her I don’t trust.” Regina grinned. “I’m just curious about this woman. Lila, is it?”
Spencer chuckled again as she said the same words he had when he saw her with Blake. Regina curious wasn’t a good thing at all. It tended to lead to trouble, and he wanted to avoid that.
“I thought you trusted me.”
“Oh, Spence, of course I do.” Regina slid her hand down to his ass, then squeezed. “But this luscious ass makes women think things that they shouldn’t. Especially about a married man.
My man
.” She kissed him fiercely, then stepped back.
“He really does have a cute butt,” Jennifer said, close to where they stood.
Spencer looked at her, shocked. She had a grin on her face, and that unholy light in her eyes was so familiar to her aunt’s it was eerie.
“How much like your aunt are you?” Spencer demanded.
“She has no filter. That, I think, comes with her age. Like she said. ‘I’m too old to worry about censoring my words’.” Jennifer chuckled and waved. “She’s actually been blunt since she was a kid—that’s what my dad said. They had to defend her so many times. That is, until they taught her to fight for herself.”
Spencer tried to imagine the classy lady Mrs Moses fighting with anyone.
“From your expression, I can see you don’t believe me. She had a mean right hook. Taught me all she knew. My dad hated it and tried to stop her, but trying to stop auntie was like trying to stop the sun from rising each day. Impossible.” Jennifer winked, then looked at Regina. “So about this butt…”
“Don’t make me have to hit you, Jenn?” Regina moved away and held up her fist. “You’re not the only one your aunt showed how to box. I showed her my moves and she showed me hers.”
“Reggie.” Spencer was surprised.
“What? You didn’t think all the times I went for tea that was actually what we were doing?”
Spencer scowled.
“Oh, Spence. There is only so much tea. Then we got down to the fun.” Regina laughed. “We had some great times. Mrs Moses likes your butt too.”
Spencer blinked, not knowing what to say to that. He just thanked God she’d never told him so directly. He could only imagine how colorfully she’d have said it.
“He really is cute. Auntie said he was ‘a nice man who works too hard’.” Jennifer crossed her arms over her chest. “He has a good physique, too.”
“Yeah. He looks lanky, but that is muscle, and he’s stronger than he looks.” Regina mirrored her, and they studied him. Spencer frowned at the two women as they commented on his body. He shook his head. Regina had a friend who was as weird as her and equally devilish—Jennifer would fit right in with the crazy group.
“I’m not listening to this anymore. I’m taking a walk.” He turned and continued along the sidewalk.
The women trailed him, still talking about his body. Spencer ignored them and enjoyed the walk, waving at the neighbours just coming home, or outside enjoying the day.
“Nice to see you, Spencer. The two of you,” was the greeting of many when they saw him and Regina together.
Spencer was surprised that so many said something, and they all sounded genuinely happy to see them together.
“You shouldn’t look so shocked,” Regina whispered as they left the driveway where they had been talking with another of their neighbours. “Our friends were coming to you about us. I had to contend with the neighbours.”
Spencer stared at her. “What do you mean?”
“Most—at one point or another—stopped by to see me bearing some kind of food or something else. The conversation eventually led to you, and how you were doing. Those who didn’t come by waited to catch me when I got out for a walk.” She fiddled with her earring. “Which was rare, since you left. That was when they tried to causally find out how you were or commented on seeing you in passing.”
Spencer remembered seeing some of the neighbours here and there, but he hadn’t thought anything of it when they’d mentioned Regina to him. Now, with what she said, he saw it in a different light.
“Seems like we have a lot of people willing to talk. Too bad it isn’t between the ones who need to.” Spencer pointedly watched her.
Regina frowned, then grinned. “I’m more than willing to talk. How about you coming by our room tonight?” She slid closer, placing her hand on his hip. “We can have a conversation then. Let our bodies do the talking.”
Spencer glanced briefly back at Jenn who was still behind them talking with a neighbour before he replied. “Behave, Reggie.”
“One day, I’d like to hear you say ‘Misbehave, Reggie’. That would be so much more pleasurable.” She slowly moved her hand off him, digging in her fingertips slightly.
Spencer shivered and chuckled low in his throat. “Naughty, naughty.”
“Damn right, and proud of it.” She removed her hand from him.
Spencer wanted her to keep touching him, but his mind was saying that was a bad idea. Regina was confusing him, and he didn’t know what she would do next.
As the days passed, Spencer was even more baffled by Regina. She didn’t push to seduce him, but she might have as well have. Her constant fleeting touches and random innuendos kept him on edge.
* * * *
Spencer paced at the base of the steps, then stopped by the banister. “Aren’t you ready yet, Reggie?”
“I’m coming. Hold your horses!” Regina yelled from upstairs.
If only that was true. Coming would be nice. Stop thinking about that.
Spencer continued to pace as he waited for Regina.
“Stop wearing a line in our floor,” Regina said.
“That’s not even pos—” Spencer turned to face the steps, and his words stalled in his throat.
Regina descended the stairs, the deep rich red of her halter-top pantsuit making her seem regal. The sweetheart neckline and the pants that ended mid-calf tempted Spencer to touch, and her high-heeled sandals—the same red as her clothing—were so sexy. She reached him and held out her hand. Spencer took it and guided her as she took the last few steps to stand by his side.
“Aren’t you a little overdressed for pillow shopping?” He wanted her to go back upstairs and change. Hell, who was he kidding? Even in a black garbage bag, she would be sexy. He had it bad, and he wanted nothing more than to take his wife upstairs and have her.
“This is overdressed?” Regina frowned, looking down at her clothing. “You bought me this from Simply Essential about six years ago. It was for when we went on that cruise.” Regina tilted her head to the side and studied him. “This is one of my casual outfits. You know that and never had a problem with me wearing it before.” Regina moved closer, and Spencer locked his knees as he got a whiff of roses.
“It’s fine. But you—” He didn’t even know what to say. He narrowed his eyes, not buying her innocent expression.
“I what?” Regina put her hand on his chest, running her fingers down the centre line of his button down shirt. “Am I disturbing you in some way, Spencer?”
“You know you are.”
“Good.”
“You admit it.”
“Of course. I’m disturbed in such good ways when I’m around you.” Regina shifted closer, pressing against him.
“I—” The sound of his cell made him jump and he fumbled for it, recognising the ringtone as work’s. “I need to get that. It’s the hospital.” He stepped back and answered the call. “Jacobs.” Spencer listened absently as he stared at Regina. She licked her lips and he mouthed, “
Behave, Reggie.”
She pouted playfully and winked. Spencer chuckled quietly, then said into the phone. “I’ll be right there.” He disconnected the call, then spoke with Regina. “I have to go.”
“Escaping from our pillow shopping?” She tugged on his collar.
“We can do it next weekend,” he offered.
“The party is next weekend then I’m back to working events. It’s going to be hectic.” Regina pursed her lips. “It’s okay. I’ll take care of it. Although I had hoped to get you across the bed from me when we made it up.”
“Did you plan to try to tempt me into it?” Spencer snickered. Regina stared at him, eyebrow arched. “Okay. That was a dumb question.”
“Yep.” She kissed him briefly. “Be safe.”
“Always.” He said his standard reply, feeling warm that they had come back to some semblance of normal.
Regina turned him and they walked towards the front door. She picked up his messenger bag and handed it to him. Spencer kissed her quickly, then opened the door and went outside. He rushed down the steps to his vehicle before he glanced back. Regina stood framed in the doorway, watching him leave as she had done countless other times. It was another thing he’d missed in their year apart. Spencer got in his car and started it before he honked and drove away.
I’m going to talk to her when I get home. We need to reclaim all we are. Time to talk about what happened. What made us so fractured?
* * * *
Hours later, Spencer opened the kitchen doorway before he punched in the alarm code, closing the door behind him. By the door were bags with the old pillows peeking out the tops of them. There was only one light in the kitchen on—the one over the kitchen island was on dim. A multitude of bags were on the island and he went to them, observing the bags with logos for the candle and candy shop. He pulled the Ellis Shoppe bag towards him and glanced in. When he spotted the colours and different shapes, he took out one of the containers. He popped open the top and grabbed one of the candies before unwrapping it, putting it in his mouth and chewing. Spencer moaned at the taste of coconut, caramel and the crunch of almond. The variety of flavours made up Sinner’s Delight—one of the Ellis Shoppe’s signature candies, and its best seller. Holding the canister in one hand, he grabbed the BG Scents bags and went to the door. As he went up the steps, he heard the music playing from upstairs—he tried to place it but couldn’t. He recognised the singer as Justin Timberlake, but hadn’t heard it before. He liked the lyrics and the melody was good.
At the landing, he went towards the bedroom. He paused in the doorway, gaze captured by Regina. She was leaning across the bed, seeming to be fixing the sheet. With her doing that, he knew she’d already washed the bedding. To her right on the chair closest to the bed was the pile of new pillows, already covered. She’d changed and was now in a short white housedress. Spencer’s shaft hardened as he watched her moving to fix the bed. She seemed unaware he was there. He put down the bags of candles on the floor by the chair beside the door but kept a few candies, then placed the canister on the seat of the chair. He slowly approached her from behind. When he was near her, he pressed against her back. Regina stiffened, letting out a squeak, before she relaxed.
“If you’re not my husband, we better hurry. He’ll be home soon,” she said playfully. Regina pushed back into him, rolling her hips. “I’m supposed to behave.”
Spencer leant down, moulding his body to her back, bracing one hand against the bed. He nuzzled against her hair, pushing it away to speak in her ear, “Misbehave, Reggie.”
She shuddered. “Oh, God…not the voice. Don’t tease me, Spence.” Her breathlessness made him smile.
“Mine, Reggie,” he whispered against her side of her face.
“You better not be playing with me, Spencer.” She turned her head, meeting his gaze. The green of her eyes were fierce as she studied him.
Instead of replying, he slid his other hand down the front of her housedress, then moved his hand under it. Regina shivered, then bit her lip. Spencer kept his eyes locked on hers as he touched bare skin. “No underwear, Reggie? Did you have plans for us?”
She shook her head. “I…we usually shower…after we make the bed. I don’t usually wear underwear.… I…didn’t think to change that.”
“Do I make you nervous, Reggie?”
“Damn you, Spence.” Her tone hitched and she widened her legs.
“What do you want, Reggie?”
“I…” She blew out a breath, almost panting.
Spencer slid his finger along the top of her pussy lips. She moaned and clenched the tip of his finger. Spencer moved lower, rubbing over the knot of flesh. He played with her clit, enjoying each of Regina’s hitches and moans.
“Spence…plea…se. I need. Damn it.” She rocked against his hand.
Her slick wetness coated his fingers, and he licked his lips imagining her taste. He pushed deeper and she shook, almost forcing out his fingers.
“Spence, don’t tease me,” she demanded.
He ignored her. Spencer moved his hand in a slow, deliberate motion deeper inside her, knowing it would drive her wild.
“Yes…more. Touch me.” Regina’s voice became guttural as she continued to babble.
Spencer pushed deeper, moving in and out of her clutching pussy, revelling in the scent of her. There was nothing that turned him on more than when she was like this—all wet, open and needing him. Only he could fill her and give her what she needed. He rocked against her ass, moving his fingers inside her, the wetness making him want to be deep within her.
“Spence.” Regina’s urgent tone and pitch was that familiar signal he knew so well.
He straightened, continuing his caress, and placed his arm around her shoulders, holding her up with him. Spencer lifted his head and blinked, startled as he saw them in a mirror beside the bed. He hadn’t ever seen the mirror or watched them before. He moved his fingers that was buried deep inside her and watched as her breath hitched, causing her bosom to rise in her dress. They looked so sexy in the mirror. Regina’s dress was raised up, showing her bare mound with his hand on her. She spread wider and he groaned, watching as he touched her.